
Class. 



Book_ 






GoRiigtoW- 



CORMISHT DEPOSEfc 




St 



Martial Heeds 



OF 



ENNSYLVANIA. 



BY 



Samuel P. Bates. 



The field of history should not merely be -well tid.d, but well peopled. None is delightful to me, or 
interesting, in which I find not as many illustrious names as have a right to enter it. We might as well in a 
drama place the actors behind the scenes, and listen to the dialogue there, as in a history push valiant men 
back, and protrude ourselves with husky disputations. Show me rather how great projects were executed, great 
advantages gained, and great calamities averted. Show me the Generals and the Statesmen who stood foremost , 
that I may bend to them in reverence ; tell me their names, that I may repeat them to my children. 

Landob's Peeicles and Aspasla. 



AUTHOR'S EDITION. 




Philadelphia : 
T. T£. DAVIS & CO. 



Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 

SAMUEL P. BATES, 

In tbe Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 







• 



PREFACE. 




AVING had unusual facilities, while acting as State Histo- 
rian, for gaining an intimate acquaintance with the part 
which Pennsylvania bore in the late National struggle — a 
Avar before which every other waged upon this continent 
is dwarfed, and in the territory over which it spread was 
never equalled — it has seemed a duty which could not with 
justice be set aside, to place in an enduring form, while the 
memory is fresh, and many avenues to information still open, 
though daily closing, a full and careful chronicle of events. 
Such a statement is fairly due to the Commonwealth which displayed such 
vast resources and power, and to the faithful soldier who endured hardship 
and privation at the call of patriotism or laid down his life a willing sacrifice. 
The day of anger and resentment, if it ever existed between the combatants, 
has passed, and the soldier only regards with pride his achievements, and 
the State with complacency its honorable record. 

A brief account of Pennsylvania history from the time of settlement, its 
physical geography, its material resources, and the origin of its people, 
seemed a fitting introduction, and the facts in the National history which 
led to rebellion — stated without partisan feeling and supported by citations 
from acknowledged authorities — a necessity to the proper understanding of 
the mighty convulsions which ensued. 

The battle of Gettysburg, the most important in many respects of the 
whole war, having been fought on Pennsylvania soil, and the victory there 
gained having saved the State from being overrun by a conquering foe, was 
deemed worthy of generous space and minute description. Having studied 
the field by frequent visits and under the most favorable auspices, and 
mastered its various details, it is trusted that the language employed will 
convey an accurate conception. Of the preliminaries to the battle, and its 
management on the part of both the contending armies, the descriptions 
and opinions expressed have been given with sincerity and candor, with no 
desire to detract from the just fame of any, or to commend beyond due 
desert, 



/ 






? 



' 



6 PREFACE. 

The biographical sketches comprise notices of nearly all the prominent 
officers who were killed in battle, and with few exceptions the living also. 
Mention of a very few, for lack of sufficient data, after reasonable efforts 
made to obtain it, had to be omitted. The number of these, however, is 
insignificant. There were innumerable privates and officers of lesser grade, 
many of whom fell honorably in battle, who were equally deserving of men- 
tion ; but the officers, generally by the voice of the privates, were made to 
occupy representative positions. An honest effort has been made in this 
part to do justly by all, though the scantiness of material which had any 
particular significance prevented, in some cases, making the notices as long 
as might have been desired. 

The third part, which contains a large amount of miscellaneous matter, 
is quite as important to the illustration of the Martial Deeds of the State, 
as portraitures from the field. The Governor, who held for six years the 
executive power, the Secretaries of War who managed complicate and 
stupendous measures necessary to conquer a peace, and the Great Com- 
moner, ever in the van and dying at his post, all merit recognition. 

Old John Burns, the civilian, who fought at Gettysburg, a type " of 
the past x>f the nation ; " an agent of the State, one of a class who 
bore in their persons the thoughtful care of the Commonwealth ; repre- 
sentatives of the Christian and Sanitary Commissions — he who wielded 
the agencies which brought together the vast resources demanded for 
their wide-spread operations; the Christian woman at the front bearing 
tender care and consolation among the sick, the wounded, and the dying ; 
and the no less devoted and Christian agent at home, wearing out her 
life in wearisome days and nights of labor, are all types of a service which 
was as patriotic as that of the soldier who bore the musket. 

The Refreshment Saloons of Philadelphia furnish examples of a charity 
as broad in their operations as the philanthropic sentiment by which their 
projectors and supporters were moved. Like charities were established at 
Pittsburg and Harrisburg, but on a less imposing model. It has been im- 
possible to treat of all the topics which might with propriety have found a 
place in this volume ; but it is believed that in the form in which it is now 
given, it presents a fair image of the Agency of Pennsylvania in the 
Great Struggle. 

S. P. B. 
Meadville, April 16, 1875. 










s i 



CONTENTS. 



I 



PART I. 
GENERAL HISTORY. 

CMAPTER PAGE 

I. — Re"sume* of Pennsylvania History ■. 17 

II. — Origin of Kebellion 44 

III. — Outlook at the Opening of the Rebellion 74 

IV. — Attempts at Pacification — The President-elect in Pennsylvania 88 

V.— The First Campaign 116 

VI.— The Great Uprising 141 

VII. — Preliminaries to the Battle of Gettysburg under Hooker 15S 

VIII. — Preliminaries to the Battle of Gettysburg under Meade 188 

IX.— First Day of the Battle of Gettysburg 207 

X. — Marshalling for the Second Day at Gettysburg 238 

XI. — Severe Fighting on the Left at Gettysburg 255 

XII.— Fighting on the Eight at Gettysburg 282 

XIII.— The Final Struggle at Gettysburg 298 

XIV.— The Retreat of Lee from Gettysburg 313 

XV.— The Conduct of the Battle of Gettysburg 325 

XVI. — Numbers engaged at Gettysburg 341 

XVII. — The Militia — Capture of Morgan — Burning of Chambersburg — Final Triumph 

—Death of the President 362 



PART II, 
BIOGRAPHY. 

I. — Edward D. Baker — John T. Greble — Seneca G. Simmons — Charles Ellet, Jr. — 
James Cameron — Amor A. McKnight — Mark Kern — Peter B. Housum — 

Lansford F. Chapman — John W. McLane 387 

II. — George D. Bayard — Strong Vincent — Charles F. Taylor — J. Richter Jones — 
James H. Childs — Washington Brown — William Bowen — Samuel Croasdale 
— Henry I. Zinn — Henry W. Carruthers — Richard H. Woolworth — George 
A. Cobham, Jr. — Richard A. Oakford — Thomas M. Hulings — Edwin A. Glenn 
—Guy H. Watkins— W. L. Curry— Edwin Schall— Joseph S. Chandler- 
Thomas S. Brenholtz 427 






8 CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTEB \ PAGE 

III. — John F. Reynolds — Henry golden — Hugh W. McNeil — John M. Gries — James 
Miller — James Crowther-f Joseph A. McLean — Frank A. Elliot — William S. 
Kirkwood — John W. Moore — Gustavus W. Town— Garrett Nowlen — A. H. 
Snyder — John B. Miles — Harry A. Purviance — Charles I. Maceuen — H. Boyd 
McKeen — O. H. Rippey — George Dare — Eli T. Cornier — Francis Mahler — 
Elisha Hall — Edward Carroll — Richard P. Roberts 467 

IV. — Alexander Hays — John B. Kohler — Charles A. Knoderer — Robert B. Hampton — 
Thomas S. Bell — F. A. Lancaster — Calvin A. Craig — Henry J. Stainrook — Mil- 
ton Opp — J. W. Crosby — Hezekiah Easton — Robert P. Cummins — George C. 
Spear — Henry M. Eddy — C. Faeger Jackson — Samuel W. Black — Theodore 
Hesser — Richard C. Dale— William G. Murray — John D. Musser — John M. 
Gosline— Martin Tschudy — Dennis CKane — Geo. W. Gowen — Peter Keenan.. 509 
V.— David B. Birney — Charles F. Smith — Robert Morris, Jr. — Charles R. Ellet — 
Henry C. Whelan— Thomas A. Zeigle — Joseph H. Wilson — Thomas Welsh- 
Joshua B. Howell — John B. Conyngham — David Morris, Jr. — Prosper Dalien. 556 

VI. — Geo. G. Meade— James Q. Anderson — Hugh S. Campbell — Win. M. Penrose— 
Wm. R. Gries — Wm. A. Leech — Rob't L. Bodine — Elisha B. Harvey — Oliver 
B. Knowles— Andrew H. Tippin — Alfred B. McCalniont— George A. McCalL 590 
VII. — John W. Geary— Charles J. Biddle— A. Schemmelfimiig — John Clark— Joseph 
Roberts — S. A. Meredith — A. S. M. Morgan — Owen Jones — William D. 
Dixon — John F. Ballier — James Starr — D. C. McCoy — James A. Beaver — 

Langhorne Wister 628 

VIII. — John F. Hartranft — Richard Coulter — A. Buschbeck — Charles P. Herring — 
Matthew S. Quay — Jacob H. Dewees — Everard Bierer — Robert Thompson — 
Joseph H. Horton — Joseph W. Hawley — John H. Cain — H. N. Warren — 
Samuel B. M. Young— John Markoe — John B. Mcintosh 662 

IX. — Winfield S. Hancock — Thomas J. Jordan — William McCandless — St. Clair A. 
Mulholland — Samuel M. Jackson — William J. Bolton — John I. Curtin— 
Joseph P. Brinton — Vincent M. Wilcox — DeWitt C. Strawbridge — Robert 
L. Orr — Samuel D. Strawbridge — John M. Mark — Thomas F. B. Tapper — 
William M. Mintzer — Thomas J. Town — William R. Hartshorne — Norman 
M. Smith — Horace B. Burnham — Marcus A. Reno — William A. Robinson — 

John F. Glenn— Charles M. Betts— W. B. Franklin 698 

X. — Andrew A. Humphreys — George W.Cullum — Alfred Sully — Thomas H. Neill — 
George Shorkley — Levi Maish — Lemuel Todd — D. Watson Rowe — Hiram L. 
Brown — John S. McCalniont — Daniel W. Magraw — E. S. Troxell — John M. 
Wetherill — James F. Ryan — T. F. Lehmann — Hiram C. Allemann — Michael 
Kerwin — John P. Nicholson — John W. Phillips — David McM. Gregg 73G 

XL — Samuel P. Ileintzelman — Isaac J. Wistar— R. B. Ricketts — W. W. EL Davis — 
(liarles M. Prevost — William E. Doster — Gideon Clark — Samuel M. Zulick — 
Thomas A. Rowley — George W. Gile — David M. Jones — John S. Littell — T. 
Ellwood Zell — E. Morrison Woodward — R. Butler Price — James L. Selfridge 
— John Devereux — Joshua T. Owen — William H. Lessig — Edmund L. Dana. 773 



/ 



CONTENTS. 9 

CHAPTEB PAGE 

XII. — Samuel W. Crawford — Charles Albright— Ira Aver, Jr. — Henry J. Sheafer— 
James G. Elder — James F. Weaver — Peter H. Allabach — David B. McCreary 
— James A. Galligher — Benjamin F. Winger — Richard B. Roberts — Charles 
H. Buehler — Charles C. Cresson — Henry B. McKean — David M. Armor — 
Jacob G. Frick — David Miles — Henry G. Elder — Edward R. Bowen — John 

E. Parsons — Robert C. Cox — Henry S. Huidekoper — Jacob M. Campbell — 
Horatio G. Sickel 810 

XIII. — William W. Averell — John I. Gregg — Roy Stone— Hector Tyndale— G. W. 
Merrick — Thomas E. Rose — James Tearney — Amor W. Wakefield — Dennis 
Heenan — Edward J. Allen — Henry R. Guss — Joseph S. Hoard — James T. 
Kirk— Thomas F. McCoy— Edward O'Brien— Carlton B. Curtis— C. A. 
Lyman — Isaiah Price — J. William Hofmann — Edward Overton, Jr. — William 

F. Small— James Gwyn— William H. Boyd— F. S. Stumbangh— O. S. Wood- 
ward — Robert M. Henderson — Isaac Rogers — Tilghman H. Good — Geo. E. 
Johnson — J. W. H. Reisinger — A. J. Warner — L. Cantador — John Ely — 
Edwin E. Zeigler — Asher S. Leidy — Thomas L. Kane 848 

XIV. — Galusha Pennypacker — William J. Palmer — Samuel K. Schwenk — Martin D. 
Hardin — Henry M. Hoyt — John P. S. Gobin — J. Bowman Sweitzer — John 
Flynn — Charles H. T. Collis — James M. Thomson — John H. Taggart — Joseph 
Jack — Franklin A. Stratton — George S. Gallupe — John A. Danks — Louis 
Wagner — Thomas J. Ahl — Joseph M. Knap — William C. Talley — James 
Nagle— M. T. Heintzelman— A. W. Gazzam— R. E. Winslow— J. P. Taylor— 
W. M. McClure — William Rickards — William Sirwell — Seneca G. Willauer — 
A. L. Majilton— C. C. McCormick — Benjamin C. Tilghman— Peter C. Ell- 
maker — F. B. Speakman — Loren Burritt — Daniel Leasure — Charles T. Camp- 
bell — George P. McLean — C. W. Diven — John Harper — Charles Kleckner — 
Joseph B. Kiddoo — George F. Smith — David B. Morris — Henry M. Bossert — 
Edward Campbell — T. Kephart — F.O. Alleman — Daniel Nagle — A. Blakeley — 
J. W. Fisher — Noah G. Ruhl — James Carle — James S. Negley — James Miller 
—Thomas F. Gallagher— J. R. Everhart— B. M. Orwig— Robert Patterson. 896 



part in. 

CIVIL AND MISCELLANEOUS. 

I. — Andrew G. Curtin — Simon Cameron — Edwin M. Stanton — Thaddeus Stevens. . . 957 
II. — Old John Burns — Francis Jordan — George H. Stuart — Mrs. John Harris — 

Mrs. Hannah Moore 988 

III. — The Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon — The Cooper Shop Volunteer 

Refreshment Saloon 1023 

IV— The Fort Pitt Works— The Petersburg Mine— Libbv Prison Tunnel 1041 



JO CONTENTS. 

CHArTEB PA0E 

V.— The Gettysburg Cabbage-Patch— The Fall of Henry D. Price— Narrative of 
Thomas F. Roberts in Rebel Prisons—" Sitting in the same position, the straw hat 
on his head, the pipe in his mouth, dead "—Shot on Picket— The Swamp Angel 
— A Surgeon's Adventure in the Rebel Lines — Daring Escape from Captivity— 
The Devoted Wife before Mr. Lincoln — Incidents Related by Dr. Palm— Sallie, 
the Faithful Brute — Death of Robert Montgomery — Rev. Dr. Brown's Account of 
Chantilly — Captain William Hyndman— Jenny Wade, the Heroine of Gettys- 
burg 10S1 



INDEX TO MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



REPULSE OF THE LOUISIANA TIGERS AT GETTYSBURG. . ..(F 

FR OM FREDERICKSB URG TO GETTYSB URG To /ace page 1 5 3 

FIELD OF THE FIRST DA Y AT GETTYSBURG 214 

FIELD OF THE SECOND DA Y A T GETTYSBURG 248 

FIELD OF THE THIRD DAY AT GETTYSBURG . 

HISTORICAL MONUMENT A T GETTYSB URG 



INDEX TO PORTRAITS. 



ALBRIGHT, CHARLES To face pa 

ALLEMAN, HIRAM C _^ 

ALLEN, EDWARD J 468 

A VERELL, W. W. 

BAKER, EDWARD D 

BAYARD, GEORGE D 428 

BEAVER, JAMES A I >53 

BIRNEY, DA VID B 256 

BURNS, JOHN L g 

CAMERON, SIMON. 

CARRUTHERS, H W 441 

CLARK, GIDEON 510 

CLARK, JOHN 64 1 

COLLIS, CHARLES H. T. 91,; 

COULTER, RICHARD 

COX, ROBERT C. 

CRA WFORD, SAMUEL WYLIE 

CURTIN, ANDREW G 74 

DANA, EDMUND L 1058 

DAVIS, W. W. H 

EVERHART, J. R ur, ; 

FALES, SAMUEL B 1Q24 

GEARY, JOHN W. 2^_> 

GREBLE, JOHN T. 4 _ 

GUSS, HENRY R 865 

HANCOCK, WINFIELD S _ • 

HARTRANFT, JOHN F 

11 



12 INDEX TO PORTRAITS. 

HEINTZELMAN, SAMUEL P To face page 44 

HUMPHREYS, ANDREW A 730 

HO YT, HENRY M 590 

JACKSON, SAMUEL M. 698 

JONES, DA VID M 628 

JONES, OWEN 698 

JORDAN, THOMAS J. 698 

KNuDERER, CHARLES A 510 

KNO WLES, OLIVER B 314 

^URE, DANIEL 628 

LITTELL, JOHN S 1058 

MACEUEN, CHARLES 1 498 

McCLAMONT, ALFRED B 590 

MrCALMONT, JOHN S 556 

) Y, D. W. C 656 

M< LANE, JOHN W 510 

MEADE, GEORGE G 188 

MERRICK, GEORGE TV 468 

MILES, JOHN B 468 

NEGLEY, JAMES S... 950 

WEN, JOSHUA T 468 

PA TTERSON, ROBERT 110 

PENNYPACKER, GALUSHA 890 

PRICE, ISAIAH. ..y. 874 

REYNOLDS, JOHN F 208 

RI< KELTS, ROBERT' B 628 

K 'HERTS, JOSEPH. 550 

. THOMAS E 105S 

RO WE, D. WATSON 550 

8t HWENK, SAMUEL K 900 

SELFRIDGE, JAMES L 802 

SHORKLEY, GEORGE 550 

SICKEL, HORATIO G 302 

STANTON, EDWIN M 970 

STEVENS, THADDEUS 982 

SI RA WBRIDGE, D. W. C 698 

SIRATTON, FRANKLIN A 510 

STUART, GEORGE II • 1004 

TO \VN, GUSTA VUS W 590 

TYNDALE, HECTOR 80O 

Jr. I RNER, ADONIRAM J 880 

WETHERILL, JOHN M 556 

WILLA UER, SENECA G ' 510 

WIST. 1 A", ISAAC J 778 

DWJ RD, A'. MORRISON 628 

SAMUEL B. M. 105s 

ZULICK, SAMUEL M 468 



PART I. 

GENERAL HISTORY. 



15 



MARTIAL DEEDS 



OF 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



CHAPTER I. 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 




HE inhabitants of mountainous regions, it is ob- 
served, have always manifested an ardent love of 
liberty, a quick perception of its peril, and nerve 
to strike in its defence. Beneath the shadows of 
Israel, along the shores of the Adriatic, amid the 
rocks of Uri, and under the glaciers of Switzerland 
that spirit has prevailed. It was exhibited in the 
late struggle for the Union and universal liberty, 
by the populations along the Allegheny range, ex- 
tending through West Virginia, East Tennessee, 
even far into Georgia, where, amid the storms of a 
threatened revolution, sweeping and convulsive, an 
undying love for freedom was preserved, and, while 
hunted down like wild beasts, and subjected to tortures by their 
enemies, they maintained a faith unshaken. Betaking themselves 
to their native fastnesses, the Refugees of this mountain district 
showed a heroism unsurpassed by the martyrs of old. 

The causes which operate to produce this inspiring influence 
have been traced by modern science to the rural occupations 
which such regions prescribe, to the grandeur of the scenery per- 
petually spread out to view, to the limpid waters of the streams, 
and more than all, to the purity and invigorating airs distilled 
upon the mountain tops. This influence is strikingly figured by 
2 17 



18 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

a writer in Harpers Magazine, just returned from a mountain 
tour: "There is no delight in travel so electrical as that of the 
Swiss mornings. Their breath cleanses life. They touch mind 
and heart with vigor. They renew the loftiest faith. They 
quicken the best hope. Despondency and gloom roll away like 
the dark clouds which the Finster-Aarliorn and the Jungfrau 
spurn from their summits. Nowhere else is life such a con- 
scious delight. No elixir is so pure, no cordial so stimulating, as 
that Alpine air. . . . The Alpine purity and silence seem to 
penetrate the little commonwealth. It is such a state as poets 
describe in Utopia, and Atlantis, and Oceana. The traveller in 
Switzerland sees a country in which the citizen is plainly careful 
of the public welfare ; and he is glad to believe that this spirit 
springs from freedom, and that freedom is born of the lofty inspi- 
ration of the mountain air, which dilates his lungs with health, 
and fills his soul with delight. Indeed the hardy and simple vir- 
tues are a mountain crop." 

In Pennsylvania, the Allegheny range spreads out to its grandest 
proportions, and towers to its loftiest heights ; and it is a notice- 
able circumstance, that the troops gathered from its rugged moun- 
tain regions, and by the flashing streams of its forests, were 
among the most resolute and daring of any that served in the 
late war. It may seem fanciful that the geographical features of 
a country, its soil, and climate should affect the character of its 
inhabitants ; but if a population is allowed to remain long enough 
in a locality for these to have their legitimate iniluence, their 
impress will be found in the prevailing characteristics. 

Who are the people of Pennsylvania ? What the situation, 
extent, and physical features of the region they inhabit? What 
the peculiarities of its soil in its varied parts, and its equally 
varied climate and productions? What the treasures hidden be- 
neath its surface, about which the} 7 dream, for which they delve, 
and which they transmute to cunning workmanship ? From 
what families and nations of men have they sprung ? How has 
been the growth of education, religion, civil polity? What their 
attitude in the troublous times of other days ? And finally, what 
were their numbers, and the spirit which actuated them at the 
moment of entering the great civil strife? 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 19 

Pennsylvania is situated between latitude 39° 43' and 42° north, 
and between longitude 2° 17' east and 3° 31' west from Washing- 
ton, giving it a mean length of 280.39, and a breadth of 158.05 
miles. Its form is that of a parallelogram, its sides being right 
lines, with the exception of its eastern boundary, which follows 
the course of the Delaware river, nearly the form of an elongated 
W, its top pointing westward, with a slight curtailment at the 
boundary of Delaware, and an enlargement in its northwestern 
corner where it meets the lake. The Appalachian system of 
mountains, generally known as the Alleghenies, comprising several 
parallel ranges, trending from northeast to southwest, hold in their 
folds more than half the territory of the State. The southeastern 
corner, known as the Atlantic coast plain, 125 miles wide in 
its greatest stretch, is gently rolling, has a mild climate, a fertile 
soil, impregnated with lime, kindly to grains and the vine, is kept 
under a high state of cultivation, and is filled with a dense popu- 
lation. The valleys of the mountain region in the south are like- 
wise fertile, and in characteristics and productions are similar to 
the coast plain; but to the north, where they were originally 
covered with forests of pine and hemlock, as they are cleared and 
brought under the hand of cultivation, are better adapted to 
grazing than to grain, where, the year through, copious streams 
are fed by fountains of living waters, and the population, more 
sparse, given to felling the forests and subduing a ruggeder clime, 
is itself more resolute and hardy. The rolling table-lands of the 
northwest are not unlike the latter in soil, in climate, in produc- 
tions, and in men. Farther south, bordering upon West Virginia, 
the warm season is longer and more genial, the surface is rolling, 
flocks are upon the hills, and everywhere are orchards and green 
meadows. No region is more picturesque than this; not the 
vine-covered hills of the Rhine or the Anio. 

The coast and mountain regions of the east and south are 
drained by two great river courses — the Delaware, whose principal 
tributaries are the Schuylkill and the Lehigh, and which finds its 
way to the ocean through Delaware bay, and the Susquehanna, 
fed by the East and West Branch, which unite at Northumberland, 
whose chief tributary is the Juniata, pouring into it a few miles 
above Harrisburg, and linked to the sea by the waters of the 



20 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Chesapeake. Contrary to the law which almost universally 
governs the directions of rivers, these streams, instead of follow- 
ing the valleys, defy the most formidable barriers, cut through the 
mountain chains, and run at right angles to their courses. These 
huge rents or gaps in the rock-ribbed sides of the mighty ridges, 
as though cleaved by the stroke of a giant, show, in their abut- 
ments close in upon the streams, their formation, and give an awe- 
inspiring aspect. 

Draining the western slopes are the Monongahela from the 
south, rising in West Virginia, with the Youghiogheny as a prin- 
cipal tributary, and the Allegheny from the north, fed by the 
Venango on its right, and the Clarion and the Conemaugh on 
its left — which, uniting their floods at Pittsburg, form the Ohio. 
Still further west is the Shenango, a tributary of the Beaver river, 
draining one of the most fertile and populous valleys of the State. 
Upon the summit, along the water-shed between the basin of the 
great lakes and that of the Mississippi, is a system, of minor lakes 
and marshes, among which are the Conneautee and the Conneaut 
lakes, the latter the largest in the State, and the Conneaut and 
Pymatuning swamps, these being but a part of a continuous line 
stretching through New York, embracing the Chatauqua, the Can- 
andaigua, the Seneca, the Cayuga, and the Oneida, and westward 
through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; the Chicago river in the latter 
State connecting with Lake Michigan, and at the same time with 
the tributaries of the Gulf. 

Such is the configuration of the surface of Pennsylvania ; but 
under that surface were hidden from the eye of the early explorer 
treasures of which he had little conception. Beneath the hills 
and rocky ridges of the northeast, the central, and southern central, 
following the general course of the mountains, were buried, in 
ages far remote beyond the ken of the scientist, vast lakes of 
anthracite coal ; and in the northern central, extending down far 
past its southwestern verge, were piled up Titanic masses of bitu- 
minous coal. The latter, cropping out as it did from every hill- 
side, easily mined, and burning freely like the resinous woods, was 
earliest used, both for fuel and in the arts. Until the year 1820 
the existence of the former was scarcely known, or if known, 
passed unregarded. In all that region, where now a busy popula- 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 21 

tion, deep down in the caverns of the earth, hidden away from 
the light of the sun, toil industriously in mining, not a chamber 
had then been opened, and the echo of a pick was scarcely heard. 
In that year the Lehigh Canal was completed, and 365 tons from 
the Lehigh mines were transported to market. Ten years later 
the product was only 100,000 tons. But since that period the 
means of production and transportation have multiplied, so that 
in 1870 nearly 16,000,000 tons were produced and found a 
market, being distributed to the great furnaces, where, night and 
day, the smothered blast is kept raging, and to the frugal fires of 
the remotest hamlets. 

In close proximity to the coal, throughout nearly all the regions 
indicated, and spreading out in many parts far beyond, are found 
inexhaustible deposits of rich iron ore ; and, stimulated by the 
demand for this metal in the multiplied and diversified uses to 
which it is put in the mechanic arts, and in the construction of 
railroads, its production has gone on increasing until from its 
eastern to its remotest western boundaries, along all its valleys 
and far up on its mountain heights, the fiery tongues of flame from 
innumerable craters are perpetually leaping. 

But what shall be said of that almost miraculous gushing forth 
of oil from the rock at the smiting of the hand of the explorer ? 
Years ago, even as early as the occupation of the northwest by 
the French, it was known that upon a little lake a few miles 
northwest of Titusville, shut in on all sides by towering hills, 
shaded by the silent hemlock forest, a mysterious oil, exhibiting 
in the sunlidit the most brilliant and variegated colors, was known 
to float. Clean wool absorbed the oil and rejected the water, and 
in this way quantities were gathered upon the lake and the stream 
which flows therefrom, and being carefully bottled and labelled 
Seneca or rock oil, it was sold both in this country and in Europe, 
its remarkable curative properties in many diseases being widely 
heralded. Cradles were dug along the swamps that border this 
stream, either by the French or the Indians, for collecting it. Of 
its origin none knew. The Indians had a superstition that these 
were the tears of a departed chieftain mourning the loss of a favor- 
ite squaw who was murdered in the sombre shadows of the forest 
near the lakelet's margin. In 1859, Mr. E. L. Drake, with a faith 



■22 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and a perseverance akin to that of the greatest inventors and 
explorers, bored into the bowels of the earth, and lo ! there gushed 
forth from the since famed third sand copious streams of this pun- 
gent, healing, mysterious fluid. The current thus diverted has 
ixone the world over. It lights the ship upon the ocean, the cabin 
of the pioneer, and even the tent of the Arab. It spangles the 
head-light of the engine, and lubricates the many spinning wheels 
of the lightning train. It has well nigh restored a lost art in 
rivalling the far-famed Tyrian dye. Endless billows of this ele- 
ment seem to have accumulated beneath the hills and along the 
valleys of this now noted creek, and the lands fringing the Alle- 
gheny far down its stream. The production in the year 1872 
was estimated at 6,500,000 barrels. 

The territory of Pennsylvania, whose physical features and 
resources have been thus hastily touched, at the time it was first 
viewed by the eye of a European, was a wilderness, unbroken, 
save here and there by a precipitous rocky barren upon the moun- 
tain side, or where, fast by some crystal spring, the dusky son of 
the forest had erected his rude hut, and made an opening for the 
cultivation of a few vegetables and a little maize. The Lenni 
Lenape, or the First People, called by the Europeans Delawares, 
held sway from the Hudson to the Potomac, and from the ocean 
to the Kittatinny hills. The Shawnese, a ferocious tribe, occu- 
pied the southwest, and along the centre were the Tuscaroras, 
originally driven from North Carolina and Virginia, who became 
one of the Six Nations, or Iroquois, and had their chief habitation 
between Champlain and the great lakes. William Penn, who 
came to know them well, writing to the Society of Free Traders 
in England an account of the country, thus describes them: "In 
liberality they excel; nothing is too good for their friend. Give 
them a fine gun, coat, or other thing, it may pass twenty hands 
Id 'fore it sticks. Light of heart, strong affections, but soon spent. 
The most merry creatures that live; feast and dance perpetually. 
They never have much, nor want much; wealth cirCulateth like 
the blood; all parts partake; and though none shall want what 
another hath, yet exact observers of property. . . . They care 
for little because they want but little; and the reason is, a 
little contents them. In this they are sufficiently revenged on us. 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 23 

If they are ignorant of our pleasures, they are also free from our 
pains. They are not disquieted with bills of lading and exchange, 
nor perplexed with chancery suits and exchequer reckonings. 
We sweat and toil to live ; their pleasure feeds them ; I mean 
their hunting, fishing and fowling, and this table is spread every- 
where. They eat twice a day, morning and evening. Their 
seats and table are the ground." 

The earliest visitors and settlers upon the Delaware were not 
men who had been driven from home by persecution, and who 
were seeking an asylum and a habitation in the New World, but 
who were attracted thither in the hope of gain. The whale 
fishery upon the coast, and the rich furs and skins which the In- 
dians brought and parted with for a few worthless trinkets, first 
excited their cupidity. Delaware bay and river were discovered 
and entered on the 28th of August, 1609, by Hendrich Hudson. 
By a general charter granted on the 27th of March, 1614, by the 
States General of Holland, the privileges of trade upon the Hudson 
and Delaware were given, and the merchants of Amsterdam and 
Hoorn fitted out several expeditions from which grew settlements 
at Albany, New York, and temporary ones ; — little more than 
trading posts for occasional visitation — upon the Delaware. On 
the 3d of June, 1621, the Dutch West India Company was incor- 
porated, and under it settlement was strengthened upon the 
Hudson, but only trade upon the Delaware, the latter being as yet 
tributary to the former ; one little colony planted there having 
been cut off and massacred in 1631. 

In the spring of 1638, a company of Swedes and Finns, under 
charter of a Swedish West India company, granted by the illus- 
trious monarch of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus, came in two small 
ships and settled on the south bank of the Delaware, the Dutch 
having for the most part occupied the north bank. Others fol- 
lowed, and for a time the little colony prospered. But the Dutch, 
who still held the northern bank, and kept a Vice-Governor there, 
finally undermined the Swedes in their trade with the natives, and 
compelled them, in 1655, by force of arms, to submit to Dutch 
rule. The Swedish colonists, however, remained upon the lands 
they had subdued, which they had come to look upon as their 
homes, and contributed to the risins; state an element of 



24 .MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

strength, intelligence, and virtue, as the best blood in Europe 
then flowed in the veins of the people who had been ruled by 
Gustavus. 

In L664, settlements upon the Delaware having in the mean- 
time been steadily growing, the English, who had always claimed 
the country upon the Hudson and all the intervening territory, 
took forcible possession, and appointed governors over both colo- 
nies, establishing rule in the interest of the British crown. Be- 
yond the persons of the governors and the forms of procedure, 
there was hut little change in the constitution of society. In 
it')?.'), the Dutch rescued the government from the English, but 
only held it for a year, when it again passed, and now perma- 
nently, under the dominion of the latter. In the meantime many 
English Quakers, who had suffered sore persecutions at home, had 
come hither and settled in the Jerseys and south of the Delaware. 
and in 1672, George Fox, the founder of the sect, visited them, 
preaching and strengthening their faith. West New Jersey had, 
by purchase from the' British Government, fallen into the hands 
of a Quaker by the name of Byllinge, who becoming bankrupt, 
was obliged to make an assignment of his property, and William 
Penn became one of the three assignees. Penn was a Quaker, and 
had Buffered for his faith ; but that faith was founded in the inner- 
most recesses of his heart, and he quailed before neither principal- 
ities nor powers. He was steadfast as the rock to the promptings 
oi' duty, but not fanatical or bigoted. He had a clear insight of 
human nature — a man of great head and still greater heart. 
Difficulties, which smaller minds would have made fruitless war 
against, he may for the time have bent before, but never yielded 
to. and in the end was always triumphant. With such a man 
whatever responsibility might be assumed for another, it would be 
managed with the care of a personal matter. Hence, in executing 
the trust for his unfortunate friend, he threw his whole soul into 
it. and drew for the government of Byllinge's province in the New 
World a constitution conceived in the utmost liberality and 
v\ isdom. 

Penn had another motive for regarding with interest the infant 
settlements. He knew by a bitter experience the trials to which 
the people of his faith were subjected, and he looked with a long- 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 25 

ing eye for some better country, some more favored habitation, 
where each man should have perfect freedom in the manner of 
his worship. His attention being thus called to settlements in 
America, he became possessed of an idea of founding a State on 
his own account, in new territory, hitherto unoccupied by civil- 
ized man. Penn's father had been an Admiral in the British navy, 
and in an engagement upon the Dutch coast had rendered signal 
service, the victory there gained securing to the British Govern- 
ment the possession of New Netherland, the name by which all 
territory claimed by the Dutch beyond the Atlantic was known. 
Besides a deep debt of gratitude* for his heroism, the Crown owed 
the Admiral sixteen thousand pounds in hard money. Upon the 
death of the Admiral, the obligation passed to his son William, 
who now sought the payment of this claim in lands in the New 
World. King Charles, who was upon the English throne, lent a 
ready ear to this application, and " after many waitings, watch- 
ings, solicitings and disputes in council," says Penn, " my country 
was confirmed to me under the great seal of England. God will 
bless it and make it the seed of a nation. I shall have a tender 
care of the government, that it be well laid at first." By the 
terms of the charter, which was dated March 4th, 1681, it was to 
contain three degrees of latitude and five of longitude, west from 
the Delaware. On account of obscurity in the language in be- 
ginning the description of the boundaries, owing to ignorance of 
the geography of the country on the part of the royal secretary, 
a dispute arose about its southern limit, which lasted many 
years. It was finally settled in the interest of Maryland, result- 
ing in the serious curtailment of the grant. The limit thus 
agreed upon was subsequently traced by two surveyors, Mason 
and Dixon, who unconsciously made for themselves wide noto- 
riety, this ultimately marking the dividing line between freedom 
and slavery. 

Penn wished that the country should be called New Wales ; but 
the king, desirous of commemorating the name of the father, was 
inflexible in his purpose of naming it Pennsylvania. Penn also 
purchased from the Duke of York the counties of New Castle, 
Kent, and Sussex, lying south of the Delaware, now the State of 
Delaware, which thus became a part of Pennsylvania, and con- 



26 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tinued so till the year 1702, when a final separation took 
place. 

Penn meditated deeply respecting the government he should 
establish. He knew by experience the evils of arbitrary power. 
His aspirations were to make authority in the spirit of religion, 
of goodness, and love. " I purpose, for the matter of liberty, I 
purpose that which is extraordinary, to leave myself and succes- 
sors no power of doing mischief, that the will of one man may not 
hinder the good of a whole country." In his advertisement for a 
Free Society of Traders, which was formed, he says : " It is a very 
unusual society, for it is an absolute free one, and in a free coun- 
try. Every one may be concerned that will, and yet have the 
same liberty of private traffique as though there were no society 
at all." 

Sending forward a deputy to assume and exercise authority 
over the colony, and commissioners who should treat for land and 
select a site for a great city, he made preparations to follow and 
take up his abode in the new State. Upon their arrival, the com- 
missioners, with the Governor and Surveyor-General, readily con- 
cluded a purchase of land from the Indians ; but it was not so 
easy to find a suitable site for a city. Penn had been particular 
in pointing out the needful conditions. It must have ten thou- 
sand acres in a compact tract. " Be sure," he says, " to make 
your choice where it is most navigable, high, dry, and healthy ; 
that is, where ships may best ride, of deepest draught of water, 
if possible to load or unload at the bank or key's side, without 
boating or lightening of it. It would do well if the river coming 
into that creek be navigable, at least for boats, up into the coun- 
try, and that the situation be high, at least dry and sound, and 
not swampy, which is best known by digging up two or three 
earths and seeing the bottom." 

We can imagine the progress of these men as they moved up 
and down the Delaware, during the seven weeks in which we are 
told' the search continued, digging to test the nature of the soil, 
travelling back and forth through the dense forest which reached 
down to the water's edge, save here and there where a trading 
post had been established, or the Swedes and Finns had made the 
beginning of a little burg. Upland, in Delaware county, now the 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 27 

old town of Chester, was one of these, and Penn had hoped that 
this might prove suitable for the purpose. But it was discarded, 
perhaps unwisely, as well as the ground above Bristol, afterwards 
the site of Pennsburg Manor, and that upon the banks of 
Poquessing creek. Finally, the present site of Philadelphia was 
adopted. It had not ten thousand acres in a compact body ; but 
it was between two rivers, the ground was high, and the river in 
front deep. It was called by the Indians Coaquannock. Two or 
three families of Swedes had gained a foothold there, but it was 
still covered by a forest of lofty pines. The sites of great cities 
are generally governed by the necessities of trade and commerce, 
and their early growth has been without plan, streets taking the 
course of cow-paths, as in the city of Boston. It is recorded that 
Romulus, yoking a heifer with a bull, marked with a brazen plow- 
share the limits of his new city, making it comprise so much land 
as he could thus encircle between the rising and the setting of the 
sun. But with this exception, tradition preserves the record of 
no city having been so formally laid out. 

Penn arrived in the colony in October, 1682, and after resting 
at Upland, ascended the Delaware in a small open row-boat, and 
when four miles above the mouth of the Schuylkill, where it 
pours its waters into the Delaware, he was pulled up the rugged 
bank by the Swedish settlers, and welcomed to the hospitalities 
of a gloomy forest, in time to become the gathering place of a 
great people, and the chief city of the continent. But when the 
site had once been determined, and had received the stamp of 
Penns approval, its transformation was rapid. " There is noth- 
ing," says Bancroft, " in the history of the human race like the 
confidence which the simple virtues and institutions of William 
Penn inspired. In August, 1683, Philadelphia consisted of three 
or four little cottages ! The conies were yet undisturbed in their 
hereditary burrows ; the deer fearlessly bounded past blazed trees, 
unconscious of foreboded streets; the stranger that wandered 
from the river bank was lost in the thickets of the interminable 
forest; and, two years afterward, the place contained about six 
hundred houses, and the schoolmaster and the printing-press had 
begun their work. In three years from its foundation, Philadel- 
phia gained more than New York had done in half a century." 



28 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

One of the first cares of Perm was to establish amicable rela- 
tions with the Indians. In his conferences and dealings with 
them he treated them as men, and they reciprocated his confi- 
dence. He made a purchase of land of them. It was known as 
the walking purchase. He was to pay a stipulated price for as 
much territory as could be walked over in three days. Penn was 
himself of the party, that no advantage should be taken by 
attempting a great walk. Commencing at the mouth of the 
Neshaminy, they walked up the Delaware. They proceeded 
leisurely, " after the Indian manner, sitting down sometimes to 
smoke their pipes, to eat biscuit and cheese, and drink a bottle of 
wine." In a day and a half they reached a spruce tree near the 
mouth of Baker's creek, a distance of thirty miles. Concluding 
that this would be all the land he would at present need, he pro- 
posed to stop there, and let the remaining portion be walked out 
at some future time. This was not executed until September 20th, 
1733, fifty years lately when the Governor then in office employed 
three of the most expert walkers, one of them, Edward Marshall, 
walking in a day and a half eighty-six miles, a procedure which 
the natives took very unkindly. 

One of the most interesting events in Pennsylvania history is 
the concluding of the Great Treaty of peace and friendship with 
the Indians, under the wide sweeping elm, known as the Treaty- 
Tree, at Kensington, which has been made immortal by the paint- 
ing of West. There were no weapons of carnal warfare. Penn, 
in his plain garb and benignant countenance, and the noble 
chieftain, Taminend, were the central figures. The chiefs of 
tribes, with their counsellors, aged and venerable men, were dis- 
posed to right and left. In rear, in the form of a half moon, sat 
the young braves and some of the aged matrons; and farther 
back, in widening circles, were the youth. When the council fire 
had been lighted, and all was in readiness to confer, Taminend, 
putting on his crown, which terminated in front in a small horn, 
announced to Penn, through an interpreter, that the nations were 
ready to hear him. " The Great Spirit," says Penn, " who made 
me and you, who rules the heavens and the earth, and who knows 
the innermost thoughts of men, knows that I and my friends have 
a hearty desire to live in peace and friendship with you, and to 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 29 

serve you to the uttermost of our power. It is not our custom to 
use hostile weapons against our fellow creatures, for which reason 
we have come unarmed. Our object is not to do injury, and thus 
provoke the Great Spirit, but to do good. ... I will not call 
you children or brothers only ; for parents are apt to whip their 
children too severely, and brothers sometimes will differ ; neither 
will I compare the friendship between us to a chain, for the rain 
may rust it, or a tree may fall and break it ; but I will consider 
you as the same flesh and blood as the Christians, and the same 
as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts." 

To the words of Perm the Indians did not make immediate 
reply, but deliberated apart. "When their answer was agreed to, 
their speaker, in the name of Taminend, who remained silent, 
taking Penn by the hand, pledged friendship, and said, with his 
expressive gesture, that the Indians and the English must live in 
peace and affection so long as the sun and the moon perform their 
courses. This treaty, simple in form, but emanating from the 
best impulses of the heart, was held sacred by the natives, and 
they treasured the words of Penn by means of strings of beads, or 
amulets; and Heckewelder, the Indian missionary and historian, 
says : " They frequently assembled together in the woods, in some 
shady spot, as nearly as possible similar to those where they used 
to meet their brother Miquon (Penn), and there lay all his words 
and speeches, with those of his descendants, on a blanket or clean 
piece of bark, and with great satisfaction go successively over the 
whole." 

As we have already seen, the first settlers in the province were 
emigrants from Holland. Then came the sturdy Swedes, and now 
the English Quakers. The latter came in large numbers, many 
doubtless to better their fortunes, but more to escape oppression. 
As an illustration of the extent to which religious persecution was 
carried, it was estimated that 15,000 families had been ruined 
for dissent since the Restoration, that 5000 had died in the 
loathsome prisons, and that in 1686, through the intercession of 
Penn with King James, 1200 Quakers " were liberated from 
the horrible dungeons and prisons where many of them had 
languished for years." Of the character of the first element 
Bancroft savs : " The emigrants from Holland were themselves 



30 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the most various lineage ; for Holland had long been the 
gathering place of the unfortunate. Could we trace the de- 
scent of the emigrants from the Low Countries to New Nether- 
land, we should be carried not only to the banks of the Rhine 
and the borders of the German Sea, but to the Protestants who 
escaped from France after the massacre of Bartholomew's eve, and 
to those earlier inquirers who were swayed by the voice of Huss 
in the heart of Bohemia. Its settlers were the relics of the first 
fruits of the Reformation, chosen from the Belgic provinces and 
England, from France and Bohemia, from Germany and Switzer- 
land, from Piedmont and the Italian Alps." 

Penn remained in the colony but about two years, when he was 
called to England to settle, before the home Government, the 
southern boundary of his province with Lord Baltimore, and thus 
secure uninterrupted navigation of the Delaware, and to intercede 
with the king for his suffering brethren. Though many Quakers 
had emigrated to the colony, and for a considerable period held 
ascendancy in the Legislature, yet they were far from forming a 
majority of the population, and some of the Governors appointed 
by Penn, and even his sons, were of the established Church of 
England. Bitter contentions arose between the Quakers and the 
party hostile to them. It was alleged that pirates, taking advan- 
tage of a Government unsupported by the sword, ran into the bay 
and made war, from this as a base, upon helpless shipping, and 
that a colony so ruled invited attack. So loud was the clamor at 
Court, that in 1693, in the reign of William and Mary, the gov- 
ernment was taken from Penn and his deputies, and lodged in the 
hands of Benjamin Fletcher, Governor of New York. For two 
years it so remained ; but at the end of that time, being convinced 
that the character of Penn and his followers was misrepresented, 
his province was restored to him. 

In 1099, he returned, apparently with the intention of spending 
the remnant of his days in the midst of his people. But before 
two years had elapsed, he found that the Crown was again dis- 
posed to dispossess him and appoint royal Governors. He accor- 
dingly hastily departed to defend his rights at Court, and never 
returned, being afflicted in 1712 with a stroke of paralysis, of 
which he died in 1718, his entire stay in America having been 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 31 

less than four years. During liis last residence here he spent the 
greater part of the time in perfecting a new constitution and frame 
of government, it heing under discussion in the council and in his 
own meditations for eighteen months. This was completed before 
he left, and is a noble monument to his genius. His presence in 
the colony was indeed short, but how vast has been his influence 
upon the subsequent growth and development of the Common- 
wealth ! How he moulded laws and customs, sentiment and 
opinion, and set upon them his impress ! How easy and resist- 
less was his sway over the natives of the forest, who, under the 
name of savages, in other colonies were found so difficult to treat" 
with or subdue ! His words were like those of the Saviour of 
mankind, and his great heart was moved by compassion and pity, 
tenderness and love, akin to His. Blessed be the name of Wil- 
liam Penn ! 

After his death his widow, Hannah Penn, a woman of great 
power of mind and strength of character, ruled in place of the 
Proprietor, as his executrix, selecting Governors and framing their 
instructions with the skill and foresight of a veteran diplomatist. 
Under her rule Sir William Keith administered the government, 
and it was in his time that an unknown youth came to Philadel- 
phia; who subsequently became a great power in the State, and 
the most honored for intelligence and virtue of any American of 
his day, Benjamin Franklin. William Penn had issue by his first 
wife, Gulielma Maria Springett, of three sons — William, Springett, 
and William, and four daughters — Gulielma, Margaret, Gulielma, 
and Letitia; and by the second, Hannah Callowhill, of one 
daughter — Margaret — and four sons — John, Thomas, Richard, 
and Dennis. In 1727, the British Court decreed, that after the 
death of William Penn, Jr., and his only son Springett, the Pro- 
prietor's interest in Pennsylvania passed by inheritance to the 
sons of the last wife, and they became joint proprietors. With 
these three, and John Penn, son of Richard, who was for a time 
Governor, the proprietary interest remained until the fourth year 
of the Revolutionary war, November, 1779, when the Colonial 
Legislature passed an act vesting the titles to their interest in the 
province, in the Commonwealth. The surviving .proprietors 
returned to England, and the British Government, in considera- 



32 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tion of being unable to defend and vindicate their vested rights, 
gave them an annual pension of four thousand pounds, which is 
paid to their descendants to this day. 

In the meantime the State was being rapidly improved. The 
territory itself was luscious, tempting cupidity, and many were 
the designs to pluck it. Maryland, from the first, grasped for its 
southern borders, and succeeded in gaining a goodly belt. Later, 
disputed jurisdiction occurred in the Cumberland Valley, wherein 
Maryland attempted to make still further gains, but was success- 
fully repelled. Still later, Virginia laid claim to the territory 
'upon the Ohio, and was perfecting measures to assert authority, 
when it was discovered and foiled, but not until the Ohio Com- 
pany had gained a considerable foothold upon the soil. Finally, 
Connecticut came in upon the north, actually planted a colony in 
the Wyoming Valley, pointing to chartered rights for authority 
which antedated the grant of Penn, and calling upon the British 
Government to vindicate it. Town government after the Connec- 
ticut manner was constituted, and hostile collisions to defend it 
occurred. The claim was not settled until after the Revolution, 
when the Confederate Congress decided in favor of Pennsylvania. 

But though jealous in defending and preserving the integrity 
of its territory, no restriction was laid upon emigration, and popu- 
lation flowed in rapidly from every quarter. The sturdy Scotch- 
Irish, descendants of the Roundheads of the English Revolution, 
settled in the delightful Cumberland Valkry, and pushing across 
the Alleghenies, filled many of the rich intervales and fertile roll- 
ing grain lands of the west. The well-schooled and industrious 
German Protestants sat down upon the limestone territory of the 
coast range, but many families wended their way into almost 
every nook and corner of the Commonwealth. The Catholic ele- 
ment, both Irish and Continental, later in coming, for the most 
part found a habitation in the mining and manufacturing districts, 
and did not, consequently, acquire the rich farming lands. From 
New England came the industrious, frugal sons of the Pilgrims, 
who chiefly chose the grazing lands of the north and the north- 
west. 

There came also, near the close of the seventeenth and early 
in the eighteenth century, sects akin, in their principles of peace 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 33 

and non-resistance, to the Quakers. Chief among these were the 
Mennonists, or German Baptists. They had been persecuted and 
driven about from one country to another in Europe on account 
of their religious opinions. Finally, attracted by the reports of 
freedom and contentment among the colonists in Pennsylvania, 
they emigrated in large numbers, and found rest at last and full 
liberty of worship. The Dunkards also came, and subsequently 
founded houses at Ephrata bearing some resemblance to monas- 
teries and convents. 

From all of these varied nationalities and diverse religious sects 
have come the present population of Pennsylvania, a people dis- 
similar in many respects from their progenitors, and yet preserving 
some of the family types. One of the most potent influences in 
developing and giving direction to their character has been its 
system of education. Penn had a clear idea of State device when 
he put in the organic law, that provision should be made for 
teaching' the poor gratis, thus bringing it within the power of all 
to be educated. Early in the history of the colony the Society of 
Friends established a public school in Philadelphia. In 1731, 
inspired by Franklin, fifty persons subscribed forty shillings each 
for the establishment of a public library, who, in 1742, were in- 
corporated as the Library Company of Philadelphia, now in pos- 
session of one of the great collections of the land, fortunate and 
prosperous. In 1749, under the patronage and support of some 
of the leading men of the province, was established an Academy 
and Charity School, which, though humble and unpretentious, was 
the germ of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1753, it was in- 
corporated and endowed by the Proprietors, and two years later 
was authorized to confer degrees under the title of the " College, 
Academy and Charity School of Philadelphia." From this time 
until the close of the century the energies of the people seem par- 
ticularly to have been directed to founding and making some 
provision for the support of colleges ; Dickinson College having 
been chartered in 1783, Franklin — since Franklin and Marshall 
— in 1787, and Jefferson in 1802. To preside over these men of 
great learning and erudition were tempted across the ocean. 
Notable among them were William Smith, LL. D., President of 
the University of Pennsylvania, and Charles Nisbet, LL.D., 



34 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

President of Dickinson College. The pupils of these men gave 
a great impulse to liberal education in the next generation, 
the Rev. Doctor Brown, a pupil of Nisbet, becoming President of 
Jefferson. 

But the colleges, while they gave a high degree of culture to a 
few of the favored, failed to reach directly the masses. The popu- 
lation was as yet far too sparse to admit of a general system of 
common schools. Hence, to meet the difficulty so far as practica- 
ble. County Academies were chartered, and direct appropriations 
of money varying from two to 'five thousand dollars for the erec- 
tion of buildings at the county seats, and grants of lands for their 
support, were secured. Academies in forty-one counties were 
established during the first thirty years of this century. As the 
population increased, and spread over a wider area, it became 
necessary, in order to carry out the wise design of the founder, 
that more enlarged provision for instruction should be made. 
The colleges and coimty academies answered well the purpose of 
their foundation ; but that class which w T as most in need of in- 
struction, and which if allowed to increase generation after gen- 
eration without any facilities for learning would become dangerous 
to society, was still unprovided for. Hence, in 1S09, a law was 
enacted providing for the "education of the poor gratis." The 
assessors in their annual valuations of property were required to 
enroll the names of indigent parents and the number of children. 
The tuition of all such was paid out of the county treasury. But 
this was only a partial remedy ; for many parents, possessed of the 
natural pride and spirit of freemen, were unwilling to allow their 
names to be recorded among the most abject class. Besides the 
adoption of even this system was not general, it being in many 
places entirely disregarded, and in others complied with only upon 
the application of societies or individuals. Emigrants from the 
nationalities of Europe settled in colonies, and continuing to speak 
their native tongue, insisted on having their children taught in 
that language. German newspapers were published, for this was 
the language most prevalent among continental emigrants; but 
there were few books, and in the midst of constant and harassing 
labor in clearing away the forests and establishing for themselves 
abiding places, education was attended with many difficulties. 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 35 

The consequence was that the number of those who could neither 
read nor write rapidly increased. A mental lethargy was sinking 
down upon the people which was alarming. The generation 
which succeeded had far less culture than that which had emi- 
grated from the old world. 

During the administration of George "Wolf, that sturdy Gover- 
nor, by the earnest appeals of his messages, aided by the efforts 
of. broad-minded legislators, prominent among whom were Thad- 
deus Stevens, Samuel Breck, and Dr. George Smith, succeeded in 
arousing public sentiment, and in securing the passage of a law, 
in 1834, providing for the establishment of a general system of 
common schools. This law was amended and vastly improved in 
1836, under the administration of Governor Joseph Ritner, a man 
no less determined in his purpose, or warm in his support of the 
system than his predecessor. He was greatly aided in this by the 
counsel of his eminent Secretary and ex-officio Superintendent of 
Common Schools, Hon. Thomas H. Burrowes; and from that 
period dates an era of general awakening upon the subject of 
popular education, which has not abated to this day. At first the 
people were allowed to vote on the adoption or rejection of the 
law, that it might in reality be popular, and might win its way to 
favor by its intrinsic merits. In the first year, of 907 districts, 
only 536 adopted it. But the number steadily increased, and in 
1841, out of 1072 districts, it was in successful operation in 917. 
It is at present universal, with 16,305 schools, and an aggregate 
of 834,020 scholars. 

About the year 1850, County Teachers' Institutes were com- 
menced, and two years later the State Teachers' Association. In 
1854, the school law was revised, and the County Superintendency 
engrafted upon it. An elaborate School Architecture was pre- 
pared and published at the expense of the State, and presented to 
each district. The Pennsylvania /School Journal was made the 
organ of the School Department, and sent at the expense of the 
State to each School Board. In 1857, the office of State Superin- 
tendent, which had previously been exercised by the Secretary of 
the Commonwealth, was established, giving it far greater power 
and efficiency. In 1859, a law providing for the foundation of 
twelve Normal schools, for the training of teachers, in as many 



36 MARTIAL DEEDS OE PENNSYLVANIA.. 

districts into which the State was divided, planned upon the most 
enlarged and liberal basis, was enacted. 

All these various agencies for training and instructing the 
rising generation are in full play. Not a nook nor a corner of this 
great Commonwealth now exists where these are not felt, and 
their humanizing and benignant influence is not exerted. There 
is no excuse for a single child throughout its broad domain grow- 
ing up to man's estate without being instructed in reading and 
writing, and all the common branches of education. 

The original frame of government, drawn by the hand of Penn, 
and discussed and amended in Council from time to time, was 
most liberal and just. In his first communication to the colonists 
after receiving his charter, he had said : " You are now fixed at the 
mercy of no Governor who comes to make his fortune great. You 
shall be governed by laws of your own making, and live a free, 
and, if you will, a sober and industrious people. I shall not 
usurp the right of any or oppress his person. God has furnished 
me with a better resolution, and given me his grace to keep it." 
What Penn here promised, he faithfully kept ; for it was not in 
the power of human nature to be more tender of his people, or 
more willing to listen to their advice in moulding and perfecting 
a form of government for their just guidance. 

That Penn should be a feudal lord, and at the same time the 
executive of a democracy, seems incongruous. It was a defect in 
the system, which resulted in no evil while he governed; for he 
always appeared in the character of the executive of a democracy, 
voluntarily yielding all the claims of a feudal sovereign. But 
when he was no more, it was the occasion of endless bickerings 
between the proprietary Governors and the Council, the popular 
legislative branch. 

On the 15th of July, 177G, the Provincial Convention which 
had been chosen to frame a new Constitution, met and elected 
Benjamin Franklin President. It at once assumed the govern- 
ment of the colony, and vested it until the new Constitution 
should be completed, and power organized under it, in a Council 
of Safety, composed of twenty-five members, of whom Thomas 
Rittenhouse was chairman. The American Revolution was in 
progress, and it was dangerous to attempt to stem the tide of 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 37 

popular will. The proprietary Government remonstrated against 
the action of the Convention, but submitted to what it had no 
power to control, and soon found its authority, which, for nearly a 
century had borne sway, at an end. The new organic law was 
completed in September, and on the 4th of March, 1777, the elec- 
tions having been held in the meantime, was put in operation. It 
provided for the election of an annual Assembly, and a Supreme 
Executive Council, to consist of twelve persons, the President of 
which was virtually Governor. Thomas Wharton, Jr., who had 
presided in the Council of Safety, was chosen first President, and 
was inaugurated with imposing ceremonies, amidst the ringing of 
bells and the booming of cannon. In 1790, a new Constitution 
was framed, which provided for the election of a Governor by the 
people, and two deliberative bodies — a House and Senate. It was 
again revised in 1838, during the administration of Governor 
Ritner, and while this is being written, another revision, made 
during the year 1873, is being promulgated for a popular vote in 
December. To break up "omnibus legislation" was one of the 
chief objects in the revision of '38, and that now before the people 
is understood to be to prevent special legislation, curtail the power 
of great corporations, and to secure to the people of the Common- 
wealth immunity from unjust and exorbitant charges for trans- 
portation on railroads and canals. 

The founder of Pennsjdvania was a Quaker, sincerely devoted 
to the cause of peace and amity among men and nations. His 
mild and gentle manners, the benignity of his countenance, and 
sincere benevolence manifested towards the Indians, secured the 
infant colony from their savage attacks, from which other colonies 
suffered unutterable horrors. Daring the early years of its his- 
tory the peace element was predominant, though the great pros- 
perity of the city of Philadelphia and the colony at large attracted 
men of all religious beliefs, many of whom cared little whether a 
peace or a war policy prevailed, provided it insured safety to the 
State. Hence the peace party had frequent struggles to maintain 
its ascendancy in later years, the Governor being against it. 
Even during Perm's lifetime Governors were appointed who were 
opposed to the principles of the Quakers, and strange as it may 
seem, of all his sons and grandsons who, after his death, came 



38 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to rule in the colony, not one preserved the religion of the 
founder. In several instances the Governors attempted to coerce 
the Assembly into their policy; but the Quaker party, which 
controlled in it, had their revenge by refusing to vote money 
to carry on the government, or even for the Governor's salary. 
Indeed, the withholding of appropriations became their favorite 
weapon. 

In 1714, war was declared between France and Great Britain, 
and the wave of hostilities soon reached the colonies of the two 
nations, planted side by side in the New World. The Indians 
were nominally a neutral party between them, but generally 
inclined to the side which could show the highest and most valua- 
ble pile of presents, and ready at any time to take up the hatchet 
upon small provocation. War had no sooner broken out, than 
like the wild beast, aroused by the taste of blood, the Indian 
became troublesome. Governor Thomas, then in the guberna- 
torial chair, called out the militia, who came to the number of ten 
thousand men, of one regiment of whom Franklin was made 
Colonel. They were obliged to arm themselves at their own 
ex [tense. The dominant party in the Legislature would vote no 
money except to the Crown of England, to which it looked for 
protection and safety. 

In October, 1748, peace was concluded by the treaty of Aix-la- 
Chapelle, between France and England; but the peace there 
declared did not reach the New World, the French covertly 
striving to connect the Mississippi Valley with the Canadas, by a 
chain of forts stretching along the Ohio river, up the Allegheny 
and the Venango, to Le Boeuf, where the French commandant 
had taken post, and was secretly inciting the Indians to hostilities 
against the English. The policy of Pennsylvania towards the 
Indians had always been one of conciliation. But the mild and 
peaceful sway of Penn had been gradually obliterated, and in 
place of it had come a system of subsidy, which in time grew to 
be burdensome. Other colonies spent money in large amounts 
to fight the savages; but Pennsylvania employed the means that 
would have been used in repelling hostile attacks in providing for 
i heir physical comfort, and the gratification of their taste for 
trinkets and showy apparel. The Indians had early asked to 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 39 

meet the agents of the Government to brighten the chain of 
friendship, which meant that presents would be acceptable to 
them. Finding the Government willing in that way to purchase 
peace and amity, they found frequent occasions for brightening 
the chain. Indeed, the links of that chain must have been com- 
posed of imperishable stuff, to have endured for the hundred 
years that it was wrought upon. At a council held at Albany, in 
1747, in which Maryland and Virginia were induced to join, 
Pennsylvania alone distributed goods to the amount of one thou- 
sand pounds. 

When it was finally discovered from the report of Washington, 
who had been sent in the fall of 1753, by Governor Dinvviddie, of 
Virginia, to remonstrate with the French, at Fort Le Boe-uf, near 
Lake Erie, for encroaching upon English territory, that the 
colonies and military forces of that nation were designing to take 
and hold the entire Valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries, 
the British Ministry determined to resist. Prevented now by the 
proprietary instructions from appropriating money, the Assembly 
resolved to borrow five thousand pounds on its own account, for 
the support of the troops, of whom three thousand had been 
called from Pennsylvania. General Braddock was sent with two 
regiments of the line from Cork, Ireland, to Alexandria, Virginia, 
and having been joined by the colonial forces and a wagon train 
secured in Pennsylvania through the enterprise of Franklin, 
moved across the country early in March, 1755, towards the 
present site of Pittsburg, where the French, under Contrecceur, 
had fortified the year before, and were now in forcible possession. 
When arrived within seven miles of that place, Braddock was 
attacked by the French and Indians, who awaited their approach 
in ambush, and after a sanguinary struggle, in which Braddock 
was killed, and more than three-fourths of his officers and half his 
men were killed or wounded, his command was completely routed. 
Washington, who accompanied Braddock as an aid, showed the 
greatest coolness and courage, having two horses killed under 
him, and four bullet holes through his coat, but himself escaped 
unharmed, and brought off the column. 

The frontier now lay all exposed, and the Indians, incited and 
supported by the French, pushed the work of devastation. A 



40 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

chain of forts and block houses " as erected and manned along 
the line of the Kittatinny hills, under the direction of Franklin, 
in January, 175G. Governor Morris, seeing his people powerless, 
and the work of slaughter going on, declared war against them, 
though in opposition to a vigorous protest from the Quakers in 
the Assembly, who, going among the savages, by mild and inof- 
fensive modes, finally won their hearts and induced them to bury 
the hatchet. But the quiet was only temporary, the English 
being determined to dispossess the French, and the Indians being 
easily drawn into the conflict. So aggravating had their conduct 
become, and so sickening their butcheries, that Governor John 
Penn, son of Richard, and grandson of the founder, in July, 
17G4, was induced to offer the following rewards, far removed 
from the spirit of his revered grandfather, but the more excusable 
from the terrible exigences of the occasion : " For every male 
above the age of ten years, captured, $150; scalped, being killed, 
$134 ; for every female Indian enemy, and every male under the 
age of ten years, captured, $130 ; for every female above the age 
of ten years, scalped, being dead, $50." 

When the Revolution came, in 1775, the pacific influence of 
the Quakers, as well as that of the proprietors, was overborne. 
Though some, in their religious zeal, adhered to the royalist cause, 
yet there was as stern and just a patriotism in the breasts of 
certain members of that Society as of any other in the Province ; 
and when the soldiers of Washington, half starved and indiffer- 
ently clad in wintry weather, were shivering upon the plains of 
Trenton, or by the banks of Delaware, it was the hard money of 
the provident Quakers of Philadelphia that brought comfort to 
those heroic men. General Mifflin, one of the foremost in the 
patriot army, was a Quaker. Washington, having been driven 
from Long Island, from Harlem, and from White Plains, retired 
th rough New Jersey and across the Delaware. Suddenly recross- 
ing this stream, now at flood tide, and filled with floating ice, 
on the night of the 25th of December, 1776, he struck a heavy 
blow at Trenton, and followed it up at Princeton. This boldness 
and vigor on the part of the American leader, caused Lord Howe 
to pursue a cautious policy, and put an end to his project of cross- 
ing the Delaware and occupying Philadelphia. It also enabled 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 41 

Congress, which, in expectation 'of that event, had, on the 20th 
of December, assembled at Baltimore, to return to Philadel- 
phia. 

On the 11th of September, 1777, Lord Howe, who had gone in 
transports to the mouth of the Delaware with a large army, but 
who had entered the Chesapeake instead, and debarking, had 
commenced the march across the country, was met upon the 
Brandywine by Washington, and after a severe battle, which 
lasted nearly the entire day, the Americans were defeated, the 
youthful Lafayette, who had just joined the army, receiving there 
his first wound. Nine days after, on the 20th, a detachment of 
the British army, led by General Grey, under cover of profound 
darkness, stole noiselessly upon an encampment of the Americans, 
under General Anthony Wayne, near Paoli, Chester county, and 
having silenced the guards, put the soldiery to the sword. This 
is known as the Paoli massacre. On the following morning fifty- 
three of the patriots were buried in one grave, over which a neat 
marble monument was erected forty years later by the Republican 
Artillerists of Chester county. Howe now occupied Philadelphia, 
Congress moving first to Lancaster, and subsequently to York, 
where it passed the winter. Washington attacked the enemy's 
forces at Germantown, on the 3d of October, but was too weak to 
effect his purpose, and withdrew. Howe settled down in winter 
quarters in a luxurious city, while Washington, at Valley Forge, 
during a winter remarkable for the intensity of its cold, endured 
all the hardships and sufferings which privation in every form 
could entail. The fortunate result to the American forces under 
Gates, in September and October, at Saratoga, whereby Burgoyne, 
with his whole army, was forced to lay down his arms and sur- 
render, greatly strengthened the hope of the patriots, and induced 
the French to form an alliance with the colonies, which brought 
a powerful French fleet to American waters. The English 
Government, discovering that its destination was the mouth of 
the Delaware, dispatched a fast sailing vessel, bearing orders for 
the British army to immediately evacuate Philadelphia, which 
was accomplished before the arrival of the French. 

On the day following the departure of the enemy, a regiment 
of veterans, under General Arnold, entered the city, and the 



42 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

population, who had been driven out, soon returned to their 
homes. " The damage done by the enemy," says Westcott, " had 
been as wanton as it was extensive. The royal troops found 
Philadelphia a cleanly and handsome city; they left it reeking 
with filth, ruinous, and desolate." Congress now came back 
from York, and the State Legislature from Lancaster, where the 
session of 1777-8 was held, and occupied their old quarters in 
the city. 

Early in July, fiendish torics, with bands of Indians whose 
ferocity they had whetted, under the lead of one John Butler, 
entered the Wyoming Valley and commenced an indiscriminate 
slaughter. Most of the young men and the strong were absent 
in the army of Washington ; but a small force under Colonel 
Zebulon Butler, a Butler of other blood, composed of boys 
and aged men, with a few veteran soldiers, went out to meet 
them. The Indians, under skilful leaders, were in superior 
numbers, and were triumphant, scattering the patriot band, 
which retired to Forty Fort, at Wilkes-Barre, where a stout 
resistance was made. Finally, they agreed to surrender on condi- 
tion of being assured of safety, and at evening the entire com- 
pany, men, women, and children, who had gathered in for miles, 
departed to their homes in fancied security. But the shades of 
night had no sooner settled down upon that beautiful valley than 
the sound of the war-whoop was heard, and the dusky savages 
were at their trade of blood. The shrieks of women and children 
as they were mercilessly slaughtered pierced the midnight air, 
and the lurid flames of burning cottages told that the work of 
devastation was complete. The few who escaped betook them- 
selves to the mountains, and perished miserably of hunger and 
fatigue. 

After the close of the war, the Quaker element disappeared 
almost entirely from politics, being no longer known as a distinc- 
tive party either in the State or in the Legislature. Even during 
the Revolution, Pennsylvania, with the exception of two States, 
furnished a greater number of men in proportion to its enrolled 
population than any other. In the war of 1812, the volunteers 
from Pennsylvania swelled the ranks of the army, and were fore- 
most in constructing and manning the little fleet upon Lake Erie, 



RESUME OF PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY. 43 

which, under the gallant Perry, won the most complete victory 
of the war, and enabled him to send forth the message which 
thrilled the heart of every American — " We have met the enemy, 
and they are ours ! " In the war with Mexico, the number of 
soldiers required of Pennsylvania was promptly supplied, and 
many who sought a place in the ranks of the departing regi- 
ments were denied. 

Such has been the martial character and attitude of Pennsyl- 
vania, in the perilous days of the Republic ; and yet no people 
are more ready, yea anxious, to return to peaceful pursuits, and 
the ordinary avocations of life. The teachings of the founder 
have not been lost upon the men who have come to occupy the 
land he gave to freedom, the land he loved so well, thought and 
labored for so earnestly, and for which he so devoutly prayed. 
They have at times been slow to move ; but, like the giant, when 
aroused, making mighty strides. Though the State is traversed 
by immense mountain chains, which, like the vast billows of 
the sea, seem interminable, and by rugged rolling lands reaching 
out beyond, apparently locking the east from the west by any 
system of artificial water or rail communication, yet by the skill 
of her engineers, the faith of her capitalists, and the patient toil 
of her denizens, the canal has ploughed its way. to her remotest 
bounds, and the locomotive has scaled even the summits of the 
Alleghenies. Trunk lines of railway, the equal if not the supe- 
rior of any in the land, extend from east to west, from north to 
south. For coal and iron the whole country is tributary to her, 
and the products of her soil are unsurpassed. Nor are her ener- 
gies confined to the development of her material resources. Of 
her native born population of the present generation, few are 
unable to read or write, and her system of public instruction is 
universally acknowledged to possess unexampled vitality and 
power. The erudition of her bench, the purity of her pulpit, the 
elegance and refinement of her cultivated classes, and the social 
relations of her people throughout all her border, will compare 
favorably with an equal population selected in any part of the 
civilized world. 



CHAPTER II. 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 




N the 15th of April, 1861, the State of Pennsylvania 
contained a population of three millions, sedulously 
devoted to the arts of peace, having no hatreds nor 
animosities towards the people of any other section 
of the common country, contented and happy under 
the common government, and unwilling to believe, 
or even think, that the quiet which reigned would 
be disturbed. But on that day a proclamation 
from the Executive of the nation, declaring that a 
little body of seventy soldiers garrisoning a fort of 
the United States in Charleston Harbor had been 
attacked and forced to surrender, and calling for 
men to defend and preserve the national integrity, 
rung like a clarion note throughout its borders. So long as dif- 
ferences which arose were fairly discussed, and left to the peace- 
ful decision of the ballot-box, they were content. To that deci- 
sion, whether for them, or against them, they quietly bowed. 
But when the flag of the nation, the emblem of freedom and 
justice, known and honored on every sea, in every land, under 
which was peace and prosperity and happiness, w r as fired upon, 
the feeling of condemnation was aroused in every patriot breast. 

What men were called, with alacrity went, and many more 
stood ready to follow at the lightest word. The torch fires of 
civil discord, once enkindled, spread with marvellous rapidity. 
Fields ran red with the blood of contending hosts. Herald after 
herald was sent forth, until 366,000 of Pennsylvania's bravest 
and best had gone. Death held high carnival, and for four 
long years the wasting and bloody work went on. Many a 
hearthstone was made desolate, and in every household were 
breasts wrung with anguish. The widow and the orphan 

44 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 45 

mourned, and parents endured the bereavement of sons lost; 
and when, at length, a peace was conquered, but a frag- 
ment of all that host that went forth in strength and beauty 
returned. 

What principle was involved in this mighty struggle ? What 
were the differences which enlightened statesmanship and the 
mild influences of Christianity were unable to settle? What 
was the question at issue that demanded so costly a sacrifice ? 
At the beginning of the dispute it was thought impossible that 
a collision could occur. As it progressed, the civilized world stood 
amazed that the people of a common country could be led into 
a .struggle so desperate. 

When the American Colonies were first settled, they were 
entirely independent of each other, and were only subordinate 
to the Crown of England. The first idea of union originated in 
the necessity of protecting themselves against a common enemy 
in the French and Indians. At the suggestion of the English 
Government, that a system of taxation, uniform throughout all 
the colonies, should be adopted to provide for defence, a Congress 
was called to meet at Albany in 1754. Franklin was a delegate 
from Pennsylvania, and went with his pockets loaded down with 
a scheme of union, that he had, as usual, been cogitating in 
advance, which he offered, and which was adopted substantially 
as he presented it. It provided for the appointment of a Presi- 
dent General by the Crown, and a council of forty-eight delegates 
to be chosen by the colonies. It came to nothing, as it was 
distasteful to both parties, each desiring more power than it 
conferred. But the meeting had the effect of making known 
to each other the leading statesmen in the several colonies, and 
preparing the minds of the people for a general Congress 

The next subject which secured united effort, was opposition 
to an act of Parliament to impose a uniform tax throughout 
the American Colonies. It was known as the Stamp Act, and 
a Congress was called, which met at New York in 1765, to 
protest against its imposition. The subject of taxing America 
continued at issue until 1774, when the first Continental 
Congress met in Philadelphia, and after having framed suitable 
petitions and addresses, adjourned to meet again on the follow- 



46 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ing year, provided the British Government refused to heed 
their requests. The king turned a deaf ear, and the meeting- 
was held. In the meantime, Avar was opened upon the 
colonies, and at the session of the 4th of July, 177G, the 
Declaration of Independence was adopted, which resulted in 
the final severance of the colonies from the mother country by 
the treaty of peace of 1783. The authority previously exercised 
by the crown passed in a measure to the Congress, with this 
difference, the king and parliament had power to enforce their 
edicts, but the Congress had none. It could pass acts, but 
unless they w r ere approved by the Legislatures of all the colonies 
they had no effect ; a single colony, even the most insignificant, 
having in its power to defeat the most important legislation. 
Congress in one instance endeavored to provide for the payment 
of the interest on the debt contracted in support of the Revolu- 
tionary armies, by laying moderate duties on imports, which the 
voice of Rhode Island defeated. While the war continued, this 
inconvenience and weakness was less felt, as the people were 
united in the feeling of patriotism, and the consent of all to 
wholesome legislation for .meeting a common enemy was easily 
obtained. But when peace was secured and the varied interests 
of the several States came in collision, the articles of Confederation, 
adopted by Congress in 1777, but not approved by all the States 
until 1781, were seen to be entirely inadequate to the govern- 
ment of the new nation. Indeed, with the exception of a few 
subjects, over which Congress was supreme, there were thirteen 
independent nationalities. 

To remedy this, the present Constitution of the United States 
was framed by a convention of delegates which met in Phila- 
delphia in 1787. That convention was called to revise the old 
Articles of Confederation ; but so defective were they found to be 
that an entirely new frame of government, providing for execu- 
tive, legislative, and judical departments, independent of the 
States and supreme over all, was framed and submitted for 
rat ideation. In nearly every State it encountered violent opposi- 
tion. It was objected, that the individual States would be shorn 
of their sovereignty, if this Constitution were adopted, and the 
National Government, thus set up, would be supreme. The pre- 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 47 

amble of the Constitution, which sets forth the object of the instru- 
ment, opens with the expression, " We, the people of the United 
States, in order to form a more perfect Union." In the Virginia 
Convention, Patrick Henry opposed the adoption, in the most 
determined manner, and with his characteristic impassioned elo- 
quence. " That this is a consolidated Government," he said, " is 
demonstrably clear. . . . But, sir, give me leave to demand what 
right had they to say 'We, the people?' . . . Who authorized them 
to speak the language of ' We, the people,' instead of ' We, the 
States?' States are the characteristics and soul of a Confederation. 
If the States be not the agents of this compact, it must be one great, 
consolidated, National Government of the people of all the States. 
. . . Have they made a proposal of a compact between States ? 
If they had, this would be a Confederation : it is, otherwise, most 
clearly a consolidated Government. The whole question turns, 
sir, on that poor little thing, the expression, l We, the people,' 
instead of, 'the States of America.'" 

The opponents of a consolidated Government clearly perceived 
that the only remedy for the establishment of such a power was 
in the rejection of this Constitution ; that when it was once 
adopted, it became the supreme law of the land, and could never 
be. revoked or broken up, save by revolution. But the friends of 
the new code, in order to sugar-coat the pill which they found 
distasteful to its opponents, suggested that, in case the rights of a 
State were infringed, that State could recall its delegated powers, 
and thus become once more sovereign. " We will assemble in 
convention," said Mr. Pendleton, the President of the Virginia 
Convention, " wholly recall our delegated powers, or reform them 
so as to prevent such abuse, and punish our servants." This was 
the first breathing of the doctrine of Secession, in 1788, before the 
Constitution itself had been adopted. But Mr. Henry scouted the 
idea that a State, when once this Constitution was accepted, could 
recall its delegated powers, and showed, most clearly, that the 
language of the instrument gives no such authority, and that, on 
the contrary, it provides, in the most ample manner, for meeting 
such a contingency. "What resistance," he exclaimed, " could 
be made ? The attempt would be madness." 

The theory of Secession, founded upon the idea that a State 



48 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

had the ability to withdraw the powers delegated to the National 
Government after the adoption of the Constitution, and again 
become sovereign, was from time to time revived. The Alien and 
Sedition Laws — the former empowering the President to send out 
of the country foreigners who were found endeavoring to draw the 
nation into European complications, and violate the principles of 
neutrality which the Government had adopted, and the latter 
providing for the prosecution and punishment of persons found 
publishing matter abusive of the members of the Government — 
were both strongly opposed, and gave rise to the noted resolves 
of 1798. These resolves were first passed by the Kentucky Legis- 
lature, and subsequently reaffirmed, in substance, by Virginia, 
and asserted that these laws are unauthoritative, void, and of no 
force, and concluded by calling on the other States of the Union 
to " concur in declaring these acts void and of no force, and each 
take measures of its own, in providing that neither these acts, 
nor any others of the General Government, not plainly and inten- 
tionally authorized by the Constitution, shall be exercised within 
their respective territories." " None of the States," says Victor, 
" responded favorably to the resolutions ; but, on the contrary, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Con- 
necticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ver- 
mont, disavowed the doctrine set up, of a right in the State Legis- 
latures to decide upon the validity of acts of Congress." These 
resolutions embodied the doctrines of Secession in a more com- 
pact and imposing form than they had ever before assumed, and 
constitute nearly the entire faith of the disciples of that school 
since. 

The Embargo Act of 1809, and later, the Declaration of War 
against Great Britain, the alleged neglect of the General Govern- 
ment to protect certain sections, and the devises adopted for rais- 
ing men to fill the ranks in the War of 1812, all excited strong 
opposition. The discontent culminated in the Hartford Conven- 
tion, whose utterances were similar in tone to the resolutions of 
1798. " In cases of deliberate, dangerous, and palpable infractions 
of the Constitution," is the language of the report, "affecting the 
sovereignty of a State and the liberties of the people, it is not only 
the right, but the duty of such State, to interpose its authority 



OBIGIN OF REBELLION. 49 

for the protection in the manner best calculated to secure that 
end." As in the case of the Kentucky resolutions, the several 
States were invited to unite in enforcing the principles enunciated. 
To this call no State responded, and the proceedings were re- 
garded with marked disfavor by the mass of the people, even in 
that section where the convention had originated. So strong was 
the almost universal regard for the Union, that no greater odium 
could attach to a man than that of having been a member of the 
Hartford Convention, or of having countenanced its proceedings. 
The Richmond Enquirer, of November 1st, 1814, said, in noticing 
this Convention : " No man, no association of men, no State or 
set of States, has a right to withdraw itself from the Union of 
its own account." 

The tariff laws of 1828, which Pennsylvania and the other 
•middle States had been instrumental in enacting, were the next 
subjects of opposition. Louisiana, on account of the protection 
afforded to the production of sugar, favored a tariff. But the 
cotton States opposed it; and the New England States, especially 
those upon the seaboard, being largely engaged in foreign com- 
merce, regarded with disfavor any policy which should encourage 
home manufactures. The principal opposition to this measure, 
however, came from the politicians of South Carolina. The Legis- 
lature of that State issued a manifesto, known as the South Caro- 
lina Exposition, which asserted the unconstitutionality of a pro- 
tective tariff, and claimed Nullification as a reserved rislit of 
the State. This document became the text of that memorable 
discussion in which those Titans of eloquence, Calhoun, Hayne, 
and Webster wielded the bolts of argument. The whole debate 
hinged upon the question, if the National Government should 
enact a law that the Legislature of a State should declare to be 
unconstitutional, could it be enforced? Mr. Hayne argued that 
it could not, because the State would be robbed of its sovereignty. 
Mr. Webster by an ingenious illustration, drawn from the very 
measure in dispute, showed the futility of this position. " Sir," 
he said, " the human mind is so constituted, that the merits of 
both sides of a controversy appear very clear and very palpable 
to those who respectively espouse them ; and both sides usually 
grow clearer as the controversy advances. South Carolina sees 



50 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

unconstitutionality in the tariff; she sees oppression there also; and 
she sees clanger. Pennsylvania, with a vision not less sharp, looks 
at the same tariff and sees no such thing in it ; she sees it all con- 
stitutional, all useful, all safe. The faith of South Carolina is 
strengthened by opposition, and she now not only sees, but resolves, 
that the tariff is palpably unconstitutional, oppressive, and danger- 
ous ; but Pennsylvania, not to be behind her neighbors, and equally 
willing to strengthen her own faith by a confident asseveration, re- 
solves also, and gives to every warm affirmative of South Carolina 
a plain, downright Pennsylvania negative. South Carolina, to 
show the strength and unity of her opinion, brings her assembly to 
a unanimity, within seven voices. Pennsylvania, not to be out- 
done in this respect, any more than in others, reduces her dissen- 
tient fraction to a single vote. Now, sir, again I ask the gentle- 
man, What is to be done? Are these States both right? If not, 
which is in the wrong? or, rather, which has the best right to de- 
cide ? And if he, and if I, are not to know what the Constitution 
means, and what it is, till those two State Legislatures, and the 
twenty-two others, shall agree in its construction, what have we 
sworn to when we have sworn to maintain it?" 

In addition to the absurdity of allowing twenty-four separate 
arbitors, which was the number of States at that time, to construe 
and pass upon acts of the General Government, he pointed to the 
provision of the Constitution itself, which explicitly describes the 
manner in which the disputed validity of law should be decided. 
"The Constitution," he says, "declares that the laws of Congress, 
passed in pursuance of the Constitution, shall be the supreme law 
of the land. No construction is necessary here. It declares also, 
with equal plainness and precision, that the judicial power of the 
United States shall extend to every case arising under the laws 
of Congress. This needs no construction. Here is a law then 
which is declared to be supreme; and here is a power established 
which is to interpret that law." 

On the 19th of April, 1832, a convention of the people of South 
Carolina passed an ordinance declaring the tariff laws of the 
General Government void, and prohibited the payment of duties 
to United States revenue officers. This ordinance was to be con- 
firmed by the State Legislature, and if the national authorities 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 51 

should attempt forcibly to collect the revenues, a further provision 
was made that, " The people of the State would thenceforth hold 
themselves absolved from all further obligation to maintain or 
preserve their political connection with the people of the other 
States, and will forthwith proceed to organize a separate govern- 
ment, and do all other acts and things which sovereign and inde- 
pendent States may of right do." Andrew Jackson, who was then 
President, perceiving that forcible resistance to the laws would be 
attempted, quietly ordered General Scott to Charleston Harbor 
accompanied by a military and naval force, with instructions to 
assist the regular agents of the Government, if necessary, in col- 
lecting the revenues, and then issued his famous proclamation 
showing the futility of the doctrine of Nullification, commanding 
all persons to obey the laws of the General Government, and 
expressing his determination to execute them. In the iron hand 
of Jackson, Nullification, which was another word for Secession, 
was crushed. 

The final attempt to thwart the General Government in the 
exercise of its powers, and to break up the Union, occurred in 
1860-61. It was undertaken under the specious name of Secession, 
because it was easier to carry the masses of the people into the 
mad scheme with this plea, than by the direct and real designa- 
tion of revolution, which was its true character. The enact- 
ment of no objectionable law, as in former cases, was awaited ; 
but the election of a President, legally and rightfully chosen, the 
principles of whose supporters were distasteful, was seized as the 
occasion. The real cause, however, lay far back of that event. 

When the colonies were originally settled, that section which 
was occupied by the States that joined in the Rebellion had a 
prospect of predominance. While the North, and especially 
New England, had a thin and rockbound soil, which yielded its 
increase only after patient and well-directed toil, and lay beneath 
a cold, bleak sky, icebound for nearly half the year, the sunny 
South, the land of the cane and the cotton, possessed of a deep, 
luxuriant soil, and a soft, balmy atmosphere, produced plentiful 
harvests with little labor. For a time that predominance was 
maintained. At the opening of the American Revolution the 
population of Virginia was nearly double that of either of the 



52 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

other Colonies. * When the Articles of Confederation were 
adopted, and later, when the Constitution was framed, there 
seemed a certain prospect that the South would remain in the 
ascendancy. The census of 1790 showed that its population was 
considerably above that of the North, the former being 2,618,901, 
and the latter only 1,968,455. The exports and imports of 
Maryland and Virginia alone, at that period, were many times 
greater than those of all the New England States, and for nearly 
fifty years, commencing with 1797, were larger than those of all 
the Northern States combined. Of the first five Presidents four, 
each for two terms, a period of thirty-two years, were from Vir- 
ginia, while only one, for a period of four years, was from the 
North. 

But the two sections finally settled down into the employment 
of widely diverse systems of labor. In the North, manual labor 
was performed by instructed, white freemen; in the South, by 
ignorant, negro slaves. In~the North, the laboring man could in 
time become a freeholder, acquire an independent competence, and 
his son, perchance, arrive at fortune and eminence. In the South, 
the slave was sold in the shambles, like a beast of burden, with 
often a hard lot for the present, and no hope of betterment for 
the future. 

The effect of these two systems upon society was soon appa- 
rent. Free labor stimulated enterprise. Success in husbandry, 
which was at first the occupation of the greater portion of the 
inhabitants, could only be attained by the practice of the strictest 
habits of temperance, industry, and economy. The habits imposed 
by the necessities of the soil were carried into other avocations, 
and were everywhere the fruitful elements of success. To their 
quickening influence is due the rapid rise of commerce and manu- 
factures, and the vast proportions which they have subsequently 
assumed. It extended even to letters. The same enterprise 
which gave triumph to the husbandman, to the merchant, to the 
manufacturer, rewarded the scholar. It originated systems of 

*New Hampshire, 80,000; Massachusetts, 360,000; Rhode Island, 50,000; Connecticut, 
200,000; New York, 180,000; New Jersey, 130,000; Pennsylvania, 300,000; Delaware, 
!>,000; Maryland, 2'2O,O00; Virginia, 500,000; North Carolina, 260,000; South Carolina, 
180,000; Georgia, 30,000.— Tucker's United States, vol. i. p. 96. 



ORIGIN of rebellion: 53 

public instruction which are the marvel of the age which pro- 
duced them. It founded colleges and professional schools, gave 
birth to a literature that has won the favor of the learned in 
every country, and nurtured a statesmanship, which, tried by the 
standard of success, must place it in the very front rank, the 
nation under its guidance having come, in a comparatively short 
time, to be a first-class power. 

The system of slave labor, whose products could in no way 
enrich or contribute to the happiness of the laborer, was one of 
drudgery, eked out under the eye of a taskmaster. With a soil 
of unsurpassed fertility, abundant harvests were secured with the 
most indifferent and unskilled labor. But slavery did little 
towards repairing the wastes engendered by repeated harvests. 
To secure the largest present return was the most that was antici- 
pated. Skilled husbandry was unattempted, and its improved 
implements were unsought. When old fields were worn out, new 
ones were turned to. The most fertile lands were gradually 
absorbed by the most prosperous planters, and the increase in the 
number of slaves kept pace with that of domain. The staple 
products of the soil brought large income, and there was, conse- 
quently, little inducement to engage in manufactures, where labor 
was unskilled, and where ventures would be hazardous ; nor was 
there greater encouragement to tempt the seas in the pursuit of 
commerce. Little or no attention was given to popular education. 
Ignorance was considered a prime quality in a slave, and was 
secured by law. The poor white population were so scattered, 
except in the towns, that a public sj-stem was for the most part 
impracticable, and this class came in time to set little value upon 
mental culture. The children of the planters were instructed by 
the governess and the family tutor, and were often sent to the 
boarding- schools and colleges of the North. 

Of the effect of Slavery upon society, Mr. George M. Dallas, 
Vice-President of the United States in the administration of Mr. 
Polk, and one of the most worthy and esteemed of the sons of 
Pennsylvania, in a speech delivered in the Senate, on the 27th of 
February, 1832, said: "I refer, sir, to the character of Southern 
labor, in itself, and in its influence on others. Incapable of 
adaptation to the ever-varying changes of human society and 



54 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

existence, it retains the communities in which it is established in 
a condition of apparent and comparative inertness. The lights 
of Science and the improvements of Art, which vivify and accele- 
rate elsewhere, cannot penetrate, or if they do, penetrate with 
dilatory inefficiency among its operatives. They are not merely 
instinctive and passive. While the intellectual industry of other 
parts of this country springs elastically forward at every fresh 
impulse, and manual labor is propelled and redoubled by count- 
less inventions, machines, and contrivances, instantly understood 
and at once exercised, the South remains stationary, inaccessible 
to such encouraging and invigorating aids. Nor is it possible to 
be wholly blind to the moral effect of this species of labor upon 
those freemen among whom it exists. A disrelish for humble and 
hardy occupation ; a pride adverse to drudgery and toil ; a dread 
that to partake in the employments allotted to color may be 
accompanied also by its degradation, are natural and inevitable. 
The high and lofty qualities which, in other scenes, and for other 
purposes, characterize and adorn our Southern brethren, are fatal 
to the enduring patience, the corporal exertion, and the pains- 
taking simplicity by which only a successful yeomanry can be 
formed. When in fact, sir, the Senator [Mr. Hayne] asserts that 
' slaves are too improvident, too incapable of that minute, con- 
stant, delicate attention, and that persevering industry which are 
essential to manufacturing establishments,' he himself admits the 
defect in Southern labor by which the progress of his favorite 
section must be retarded. He admits an inability to keep pace 
with the rest of the world. lie admits an inherent weakness; a 
weakness neither engendered nor aggravated by the Tariff — 
which, as societies are now constituted and directed, must drag in 
the rear, and be distanced in the common race." 

In one respect, however, this system of labor gave the domi- 
nant class a great advantage. The large wealth accumulated, 
afforded abundant leisure for travel, and for social and intellectual 
culture. Whatever could pamper the appetite and gratify the 
taste, was at their command. Rarely has the world seen a state 
of society in which such advantages have been enjoyed. Mr. 
Buckle, in his History, places this as the measure of civilization, 
declaring that the progress of a people is dependent in the first 



OBIGIN OF REBELLION. 55 

instance upon the accumulation of wealth, as without it there can 
be little leisure. 

An idea early prevailed among the Southern leaders, borrowed 
doubtless from the crooked diplomacy of Europe, that a balance 
of power must be preserved between the North and the South. 
Instead of regarding the whole as one great, common country, 
with common interests and common privileges, opportunities were 
sought for arraying one section against the other, and of pressing 
the question, " In the interest of which section shall the General 
Government be administered?" The baneful influence of this 
attempt to maintain a balance of power has been manifest in all 
the subsequent internal troubles of the country. When the Con- 
stitution was adopted, the subject which created the greatest 
diversity of opinion was that of representation, the political 
status of the slave coming in question in settling the organic law. 
It was claimed by the public men of the South that slaves were 
chattels, and should not be allowed the right of suffrage ; but 
that they should be counted as population in determining repre- 
sentation. It was contended on the part of the North that, if 
slaves were chattels and had not the right of suffrage, they should 
not be allowed representation in the National Government, as the 
Constitution expressly forbids property representation. This was 
one of the first practical issues between the two sections. The 
long and impassioned discussion upon this issue in the Convention 
which framed the Constitution, was finally settled by a compro- 
mise, practically identifying the slave with two natures, in part 
chattel and in part man, whereby three-fifths of a slave was 
allowed to count as human in determining representation in Con- 
gress and the number of votes in the electoral college, and the 
remaining two-fifths as chattel, but giving neither the three-fifths 
nor the two-fifths element the right of suffrage, thus yielding to a 
ballot in the South a preponderance of power over a ballot in the 
North. 

As the old States increased in population, a disposition was 
manifested to push forward into the new and unsettled territories. 
The free laborer of the North did not desire to emigrate to a ter- 
ritory which would eventually become a slave State, nor would 
the planter from the South settle upon lands which could by any 



50 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

possibility become free. The occupation of the territories consti- 
tuted a second issue between the two sections. 

The cession to the General Government by the old States, 
which claimed vast stretches of country to the westward of their 
limits under their charters from the British Crown, of their right 
to such territory, brought a vast virgin domain to the common 
use. In 1784, immediately after the deed of cession had been 
executed, Mr. Jefferson introduced an ordinance for the govern- 
ment of the territory northwest of the Ohio, one article of which 
prohibited slavery. It failed of passage at that session ; but three 
years after, an ordinance drawn by Nathan Dane, of Massa- 
chusetts, founded upon the draft of Mr. Jefferson, was enacted. 
This postponed the conflict for a score of years, Ohio, Indiana, 
and Illinois, in the meantime, filling up with population and being 
admitted as free States, and Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana 
being settled and organized in the interest of slavery. 

When the wave of emigration crossed the Mississippi river, and 
entered upon territory over which there was no principle regu- 
lating settlement, the issue of freedom or slavery was again pre- 
sented. On the soil of Missouri the two classes of settlers met. 
Previous to the acquisition of the vast territory called Louisiana 
from the French in 1803, Saint Louis had become a trading post 
of considerable importance, having been settled by French Creoles 
from New Orleans. The nucleus of a slaveholding population had 
thus been formed before the soil had become a part of the United 
States. Accordingly, a Territorial Government was organized in 
the interest of slavery. Geographically, Missouri extends con- 
siderably to the north of any of the older slave States. Many of 
its inhabitants were emigrants from the North, whose interests 
would be in a measure sacrificed by its becoming a slave State. 
When the question of admission as such came up for considera- 
tion in Congress, it was violently opposed. The dominant party, 
however, favored the measure, and it was admitted accordingly, 
though its admission was coupled with another measure, called 
the Missouri Compromise, which provided that slavery in all ter- 
ritory north of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes of north latitude, 
commencing upon the western boundary of Missouri, and extend- 
ing through to the eastern boundary of Mexico, should be forever 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 57 

prohibited. This was supposed to settle the troublesome question 
for all time to come. 

But the population of the North increased much more rapidly 
than that of the South. The preponderance which had prevailed 
in the South began from the opening of the present century to 
change in favor of the North. There seemed little affinity 
between free and slave labor. The free, skilled laborer of the 
North, and of Europe, the never-failing element of national 
power, could see little to tempt to emigration in a country where 
the habits and institutions of the people were based upon the 
degradation of labor. Hence, the principal source of increase in 
the South, beyond the natural one by birth, was the clandestine 
importation of negro slaves from Africa, and from the neighboring 
Antilles. The free institutions of the North, on the contrary, 
were peculiarly fitted to attract emigration. Abundance of food, 
cheap land, taxation only nominal, no standing army, free schools, 
a free press, the manhood of every class respected, to every one 
accorded a fair opportunity in the race of life, — were golden pros- 
pects towards which the oppressed in all lands turned with 
longing eyes. The emigrant who sought and secured a home in 
the land of freedom, wrote to his friends and neighbors whom he 
had left behind in the Fatherland, such glowing accounts of his 
fortunes and prospects, that many were induced to follow him. 
Thus, in addition to the increase of population by birth, there 
was a tide of emigration pouring into the free States, comprising 
the young and hardy and enterprising, and contributing the best 
elements of vitality and power. The intelligence and inde- 
pendence born of the free institutions of the North attracted 
attention in all lands. Dr. Franklin, the son of a tallow-chandler, 
and early the hard-working apprentice to a Philadelphia printer, 
when finally he appeared at the Court of St. James, and the 
Palace of Versailles, was a living demonstration of the excellence 
of the institutions of which he was the representative and the 
constant reminder. 

The census of 1810 showed an excess of population in the free 
States of 278,008; in 1820, 067,453; in 1830, 1,159,997; in 
1840, 1,399,487; in 1850, 3,825,491; and in 1860, 6,813,040. 
The census of 1830, and again that of 1840, notwithstanding the 



58 



MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



rich rewards of cotton-growing after the invention of the cotton-gin, 
and the consequent tendency to multiply population, showed so 
unmistakably the increasing preponderance of numbers in the free 
States, that the advocates of an equality of power between the 
two sections became alarmed. Until 1840 the number of States 
had remained very evenly balanced, as will be seen by the 
following table : 





1800 


1810 


lS'JH 


1830 


1*40 




It 

9 


13 

11 


13 

13 


13 
14 


15 




14 



In the Senate, therefore, where each State had two members, 
equality was substantially preserved ; but in the popular branch, 
power had steadily gravitated to the side of the North. The 
admission of Iowa and Wisconsin into the enumeration of 1840, 
and the certain prospect that before another census would be 
taken, Minnesota would be included, made the Southern leaders 
restive, and eager to devise some scheme by which their theory of 
a balance of power could be maintained. 

Stretching away to the southwest from the Sabine river, the 
boundary of the United States, was the vast territory of Texas, 
rich in physical resources, with a small white population, mostly 
emigrants from the United States, and with boundaries unsettled 
or only partially defined. Nominally, it was under the control 
of Mexico. Towards this virgin country the longing eyes of 
Southern leaders were turned. Various projects and overtures 
were made for its purchase, but without success, until in March, 
1836, its independence was declared, and in 1845, upon the eve 
of President Tyler's administration, it was annexed to the United 
States. One of the terms of annexation was that new States of 
convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to 
Texas, might be formed out of this acquired territory. Attempts 
made to exclude slavery from a portion of this acquisition were 
fruitless, the provision for extending the Missouri Compromise 
line being gratuitous, as no part of the new territory extended so 
far north. The door thus opened for slavery expansion seemed 
to promise the restoration of the long contended for balance of 
power. 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 59 

The annexation of Texas involved the country in a war with 
Mexico, which resulted in its occupation by United States armies, 
and in a treaty of peace, whereby a large extent of additional do- 
main was acquired. When the bill providing for the settlement 
of the terms of the treaty was under consideration in Congress, 
David Wilmot,* member of the lower House, from the Bradford 
district of Pennsylvania, offered a proviso, afterwards widely 
known as the Wilmot Proviso, forever excluding slavery there- 
from. In all former acquisitions of territory, as that of Florida, 
Louisiana, and Texas, slavery already existed. But Mexico had 
abolished it in her domain some twenty years before, and it came 
to the United States free. The Wilmot Proviso was defeated ; 
but its discussion in Congress, upon the stump, and in the news- 
paper press, occasioned a large development of the sentiment that 
the newly acquired territory, being already free by the laws of 
Mexico, should remain free when it came under the flag of the 
Union, and that slavery should be restricted to the domain in 
which it was already legalized. This sentiment finally culminated 
in the formation of the Republican party. 

The immediate result of the annexation of Texas was the ac- 
quisition of a vast area of fertile soil, and the flattering prospect 
to the South of its speedy settlement entirely in the interest of 
slavery. 

But an event soon transpired which suddenly clouded the 
roseate view so complacently regarded, verifying the oft-repeated 
sentiment of the poet : 

"The best laid schemes 0' mice an' men, 
Gang aft a-gley." 

Gold was discovered in California. Attracted by the glittering 
prospect, thousands flocked to this new El Dorado. To mine gold 
required skilled labor, and a class who could endure great hard- 

* On the tomb of Wilmot, in the cemetery at Towanda, where his remains lie buried, is 

this inscription : 

David Wilmot, 

Born January 20, 1814 ; 

Died March 16, 1868 ; 

Aged 54 years. 

"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in any part of said territory, except 
for crimes whereof the party shall first be duly convicted." 



60 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ship. Neither of these conditions could be met by the employ- 
ment of slaves. Again was the superiority of the labor of the 
North over that of the South apparent. Thus, a law of nature 
determined the character of the population, in defiance of the laws 
of politicians. Attempts to establish a territorial government over 
the northern part, under the name of California, and the southern 
under that of New Mexico, the latter to be open to slavery, were 
overborne by the demand for a State organization rendered abso- 
lutely necessary by its vast and rapidly accumulating population. 
In June, 1819, a convention assembled, at the call of the military 
Governor of the Territory, and a State Constitution was framed, 
wherein slavery was prohibited; and in August, 1850, California 
was admitted as a free State, with a population of 1G5,000. 

The territory of the new State extended north to the forty- 
second parallel, which forms the northern boundary of Pennsyl- 
vania, and south to the thirty-third parallel, which cuts the cen- 
tral part of Mississippi, Alabama v and Georgia. The largest part 
of the State is thus seen to lie south of the line of the Missouri 
Compromise. Its admission with these boundaries was strenu- 
ously opposed, because it infringed with a free population upon 
domain claimed for slavery, and gave to the North another power- 
ful new State, already excelling in number of States. So strong 
was this opposition, that, had the advice of a party at the South, 
under the leadership of General Quitman, a United States Senator 
from Mississippi, been heeded, violent measures would then have 
been adopted to convulse the Union and rend it in twain ; but, 
the conservative people of that section, headed by Henry Clay, 
were still too much attached to the national unity to give the 
advocates of violence promise of success. 

The admission of California was a part of a series of measures 
which together were known as the Compromise Measures of 1850, 
of which Mr. Clay was the author and advocate. California was 
to be a free State with boundaries as proposed ; the compact with 
Texas, for the admission of new slave States, was to be faithfully 
executed ; territorial governments were to be established over 
Utah and New Mexico, without the Wilmot Proviso ; the boun- 
daries of Texas were to be fixed excluding New Mexico from its 
domain, receiving as compensation therefor $10,000,000 from 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 61 

the national treasury ; a more efficient law for the rendition of 
fugitive slaves escaping into the free States was to be enacted ; 
and slavery was to remain undisturbed in the District of Colum- 
bia, though the slave-trade in the District was to be prohibited 
under a heavy penalty. Upon these conditions, the leaders of the 
two great political parties, the Whig and the Democratic, united ; 
and they were proclaimed as the final settlement of the Slavery 
question. 

But this vexatious matter, so often settled, would not remain 
settled. The next field of conflict was on the plains of Kansas. 
A proposition, presented in Congress, abolishing the Missouri Com- 
promise, and legislating slavery into all the Territories of the 
United States, caused intense excitement throughout the North. 
Finally, on the 24th of May, 1854, after eliciting the most earnest 
discussion, and the violent denunciation of the press of the free 
States, a bill somewhat modified, providing that the people of the 
Territories should be left free to form and regulate their institu- 
tions in their own way, subordinate only to the Constitution of 
the United States, that the titles to slaves, and the right to per- 
sonal freedom, should be referred to the local tribunals, subject to 
appeal to the Supreme Court of the Nation, was passed. 

Thus was the work of 1820 undone, and the doctrine of Squat- 
ter Sovereignty substituted. The winds were let loose. The 
status of the proposed new State of Kansas was to depend upon 
its settlement by free or slave labor. The race of colonization 
was commenced by emigrants from the neighboring slave State of 
Missouri, aided by parties from several of the States of the far 
South. It was followed up by a large emigration from the North, 
of men seeking a permanent home in the new territory. The two 
parties met; and, though the territory was wide enough for all, 
yet the presence of free labor threatened the ultimate permanence 
and security of slavery, and collisions and deadly encounters fol- 
lowed. Jealousy and hatred ripened into bitter animosity and 
well meditated revenge. Pillage and arson and murder were of 
frequent occurrence. Through the long dreary years of the early 
settlement, the inhabitants were kept in a constant ferment, while 
a most harassing petty warfare was persevered in, with the hope 
that the one party or the other would achieve a triumph. The 



62 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

revolting details of these struggles form one of the blackest pages 
in territorial history. Finally, overborne by numbers, the slave 
party was obliged to yield, and Kansas and Nebraska were in 
due time admitted as free States. 

While these scenes of violence were passing in the territory, 
the two sections of the country were rocking with excitement as 
in the throes of an earthquake. The press teemed with highly 
wrought descriptions of the horrors perpetrated on either side, and 
with appeals to the passions and prejudices of the people, against 
the wrongs to which the unhappy settlers were subjected. Be- 
fore this maelstrom of sectional strife the solid foundations of 
political parties, which from the origin of the Government had 
been preserved throughout the entire length and breadth of the 
nation, were rapidly being swept away. 

With the Presidential canvass of 1852, wherein a Free Soil party 
headed by Martin Van Buren, in addition to the Whig and the 
Democratic, made its appearance,^ the Whig party disappeared 
from the arena of politics. Upon its ruins arose a new organiza- 
tion, at first called the Anti-Nebraska, and subsequently the 
Republican party. In 1856 Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Fremont 
were the candidates respectively of the Democratic and Republican 
parties, and Mr. Fillmore of the American, joined by the rem- 
nants of the old Whig party. Mr. Buchanan was successful; but 
so strong was the voice of the opposition that it was plainly seen 
that at the next election it would undoubtedly be triumphant. 
Accordingly the Southern leaders busied themselves during the 
four years to elapse before that event would occur, in preparations 
for founding a Southern Confederacy, — "A great slave-holding 
Confederacy," was the language of the address put forth by South 
Carolina. 

The defeat of their favorite theory of a balance of power, and 
the prospect of seeing the Government pass into the hands of a 
party bent on confining slavery to its then limits, induced them 
to seek independence. They called their method Secession, but 
it was in effect violent revolution. Mr. Lincoln, in his message 
of July 4th, 1SG1, says of this: "At the beginning, they knew 
they could never raise their treason to any respectable magnitude 
by any name which implies violation of law. They knew their 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 63 

people possessed as much of moral sense, as much of devotion to 
law and order, and as much pride in, and reverence for, the his- 
tory and Government of their common country, as any other 
civilized and patriotic people. They knew they could make no 
advancement directly in the teeth of these strong and noble 
sentiments. Accordingly, they commenced by an insidious 
debauching of the public mind. They invented an ingenious 
sophism, which, if conceded, was followed by perfectly logical 
steps, through all the incidents, to the complete destruction of the 
Union. The sophism itself is, that any State of the Union may, 
consistently with the national Constitution, and therefore lawfully 
and peacefully, withdraw from the Union, without the consent of 
the Union, or of any other State. The little disguise that the 
supposed right is to be exercised only for just cause, themselves to 
be the sole judge of its justice, is too thin to merit any notice. 
With rebellion thus sugar-coated, they have been drugging the 
public mind of their section for more than thirty years ; and 
until, at length, they have brought many good men to a willing- 
ness to take up arms against the Government, the day after some 
assemblage of men have enacted the farcical pretence of taking 
their State out of the Union, who could have been brought to no 
such thing the day before." 

The sentiment of pride in the Government and reverence for its 
history here referred to was deep rooted even in the minds of 
those who eventually aided to destroy it. Alexander H. Stephens, 
who afterwards became Vice-President of the Confederacy, in 
an elaborate address at Milledgeville on the 14th of November, 
18G0, after denouncing Secession, and pleading most earnestly for 
delay and deliberation, said: "My countrymen, I am not of those 
who believe this Union has been a curse .up to this time. 
True men, men of integrity, entertain different views from me on 
this subject. I do not question their right to do so ; I would not 
impugn their motives in so doing. Nor will I undertake to say 
that this Government of our fathers is perfect. There is nothing 
perfect in this world, of a human origin — nothing connected with 
human nature, from man himself to any of his works. You may 
select the wisest and best men for your judges, and yet how many 
defects are there in the administration of justice? And it is so in 



64 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

our Government. But that this Government of our fathers, with 
all its defects, comes nearer the objects of all good governments 
than any other on the face of the earth is my settled conviction. 
. . . Where will you go, following the sun in its circuit round our 
globe, to find a government that better protects the liberties of 
its people, and secures to them the blessings we enjoy ? I think 
that one of the evils that beset us is a surfeit of liberty, an exuber- 
ance of the priceless blessings for which we are ungrateful. . . . 
When I look around and see our prosperity in everything, agricul- 
ture, commerce, art, science, and every department of education, 
physical and mental, as well as moral advancement, and our col- 
leges, I think in the face of such an exhibition, if we can, with- 
out the loss of power, or any essential right or interest, remain in 
the Union, it is our duty to ourselves and to posterity to — let us 
not too readily yield to this temptation — do so. I look upon 
this country with our institutions as the Eden of the world, the 
paradise of the universe. It may be that out of it we may become 
greater and more prosperous, but I am candid and sincere in 
telling you, that I fear if we rashly evince passion, and without 
sufficient cause shall take that step, that instead of becoming 
greater or more peaceful, prosperous, and happy — instead of 
becoming gods, we will become demons, and at no distant day 
commence cutting one another's throats. ... I believe in the 
power of the people to govern themselves when wisdom prevails 
and passion is silent. Look at what has already been done by 
them for their advancement in all that ennobles man. There is 
nothing like it in the history of the world. Look abroad from one 
extremity of the country to the other — contemplate our greatness. 
We are now among the first nations of the earth. Shall it be said, 
then, that our institutions, founded upon principles of self-govern- 
ment, are a failure? 

" Thus far it is a noble example, worthy of imitation. The 
gentleman, Mr. Cobb, the other night, said it had proven a failure. 
A failure in what? In growth? Look at our expanse in national 
power. Look at our population and increase in all that makes a 
people great. A failure ? Why, we are the admiration of the 
civilized world, and present the brightest hopes of mankind. Some 
of our public men have failed in their aspirations; that is true, 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. (55 

and from that comes a great part of our troubles. No, there is 
no failure of this Government yet. We have made great advance- 
ment under the Constitution, and I cannot but hope that we shall 
advance higher still. Let us be true to our cause." 

But while there were a few men at the South not entirely car- 
ried away with the madness of the hour, the great body of the 
leaders were intent on establishing a new Government whose ruling 
interest should be Slavery. " Its corner-stone," they said, " rests 
upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white 
man ; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his 
natural and normal condition. . . . This stone, which was first 
rejected by the first builders, 'is become the chief stone of the 
corner' in our new edifice." Slavery made the South a homo- 
geneous people. A system of labor like this, pervading all parts, 
and a condition of society and habits of life which are its inevita- 
ble result, bound the dominant race to a common interest. The 
lack of general education among the masses of the poor whites 
made them fit subjects to be duped by a comparatively small 
number of landed aristocrats, rejoicing in their retinues of slaves. 
Hence, any enterprise which could command the united support 
of the slave-holders, was sure to have the concurrence of the com- 
bined white population. Of the 12,000,000 of people in the 
South, a careful estimate made for 1850, showed that there were 
less than 170,000 men who owned more than five slaves. The 
influence of these was everywhere supreme, and so skilfully had 
their views been made to permeate and leaven the entire mass, 
that the very class who were most degraded by slavery, and whose 
highest interests would have been conserved by universal free- 
dom, were most clamorous for, and even mad with the desire for 
Secession. For a score or more of years, they, had been made 
familiar with the theme. They had been told that the poverty 
and wretchedness of the South was due to the tariff laws, the 
fishing bounties, and the navigation policy of the General Gov- 
ernment; and so effectually had these ideas been dinned into 
their ears, that they had come to look upon Secession as the 
panacea for all ills, and that if adopted, a golden sunshine would 
daw r n upon all that beclouded and abused region. The stump 
and the bar had long echoed with the call, and even the pulpit 



(16 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

had taken up the refrain. From the day Jackson crushed at- 
tempted rebellion, in 1832, and summarily silenced the cry of 
Nullification, the leaders seem to have cherished a hatred of the 
National authority, and secretly labored for its overthrow. A 
republican form of government was not the one best suited to 
Southern society. To a small but powerful aristocracy, holding 
a vast laboring population as their slaves and vassals, a monarchy 
was better adapted. This, the foremost of their writers were not 
backward in proclaiming. Mr. Garnett, member of Congress 
from Virginia, declared : " Democracy, in its original philosophical 
sense, is indeed incompatible with Slavery, and the whole system 
of Southern society." Mr. Lossing, in a note to his " History of 
the Civil War in America," has quoted the following paragraphs 
from De Boies Review, a leading Southern magazine, in confirma- 
tion of this truth : 

" The right to govern resides in a very small minority ; the 
duty to obey is inherent in the great mass of mankind." 

" There is nothing to which the South [the ruling class] enter- 
tains so great a dislike, as of universal suffrage. Wherever for- 
eigners settle together in large numbers, there universal suffrage 
will exist. They understand and admire the levelling democracy 
of the North, but cannot appreciate the aristocratic feeling of a 
privileged class, so universal at the South." 

" The real civilization of a country is in its aristocracy. The 
masses are moulded into soldiers and artisans by intellect, just as 
matter and the elements of nature are made into telegraphs and 
steam-engines. The poor who labor all day are too tired at night 
to study books. If you make them learned, they soon forget all 
that is necessary in the common transactions of life. To make 
an aristocrat in the future, we must sacrifice a thousand paupers. 
Yet, we would by all means make them — make them permanent, 
too, by laws of entail and primogeniture. An aristocracy is patri- 
archal, parental, and representative. The feudal barons of Eng- 
land were, next to the fathers, the most perfect representative 
government. The king and barons represented everybody, be- 
cause everybody belonged to them." 

" The real contest of to day is not simply between the North 
and the South; but to determine whether for ages to come our 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 67 

Government shall partake more of the form of monarchies or of 
more liberal forms." 

To accomplish their purpose, the advocates of these doctrines 
were busy in fomenting sectional strife, and in nurturing in the 
minds of the masses of the Southern people a deep-seated hatred 
of the North and its institutions. So successful were they that 
even the slaves came to share it. The people of the North had no 
conception of the bitterness of this feeling previous to the break- 
ing out of the Rebellion. Hence, up to the very last moment, 
they could not be induced to believe that a civil war was possible; 
for the feeling towards the people of South Carolina and Louisiana 
was the same among them as between the inhabitants of New 
York and Pennsylvania. Indeed, a warmer feeling of friendship 
seemingly existed in Pennsylvania for the dwellers in the neigh- 
boring States on the south, than for those on the north. Not so 
at the South. The whole section was knit together as by a 
common tie, and their hatred of the North was intense. 

The evidence that such feeling existed is now beyond question. 
William H. Russell, a distinguished correspondent of the London 
Times, was travelling in the South during the early stages of the 
war, and on the 30th of April sent a communication to that 
journal, of which the following are extracts: 

" Nothing I could say can be worth one fact which has forced 
itself upon my mind in reference to the sentiments which prevail 
among the gentlemen of this State. I have been among them for 
several da}-s. I have visited their plantations. I have conversed 
with them freely and fully, and I have enjoyed that frank, cour- 
teous and graceful intercourse which constitutes an irresistible 
charm of their society. From all quarters have come to my ears 
the echoes of the same voice. . . . That voice says, ' if we could 
only get one of the royal race of England to rule over us, we 
should be content.' Let there be no misconception on this point. 
That sentiment, varied in a hundred ways, has been repeated to 
me over and over again. . . . The admiration for monarchical 
institutions on the English model for privileged classes, and for a 
landed aristocracy and gentry, is undisguised and apparently 
genuine. . . . An intense affection for the British connection, a 
love of British habits and customs, a respect for British sentiment, 



68 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

law, authority, order, civilization and literature, preeminently dis- 
tinguish the inhabitants of this State, who, glorying in their 
descent from ancient families on the three islands, whose fortunes 
they still follow, and with whose members they maintain, not 
unfrequently, familiar relations, regard with an aversion of which 
it is impossible to give an idea to one who has not seen its mani- 
festations, the people of New England and the populations of the 
Northern States. . . . There are national antipathies on our side 
of the Atlantic which are tolerably strong, and have been, 
unfortunately, pertinacious and long-lived. The hatred of the 
Italian for the Tedesco, of the Greek for the Turk, of the Turk for 
the Russ, is warm and fierce enough to satisfy the prince of dark- 
ness, not to speak of a few little pet aversions among allied powers, 
and the atoms of composite empires ; but they are all mere indif- 
ference and neutrality of feeling compared to the animosity 
evinced by the 'gentry' of South Carolina for the 'rabble of the 
North.' 

" The contests of Cavalier and Roundhead, of Vendean and 
Republican, even of Orangeman and Croppy, have been elegant 
joustings, regulated by the finest rules of chivalry, compared with 
those which North and South will carry on if their deeds support 
their words. 'Immortal hate, the study of revenge' will actuate 
every blow ; and never in the history of the world, perhaps, will 
go forth such a dreadful vce victis as that which may be heard 
before the fight has begun. There is nothing in all the dark 
caves of human passion so cruel and deadly as the hatred the 
South Carolinians profess for the Yankees. That hatred has been 
swelling for years, till it is the very life-blood of the State. It has 
set South Carolina to work steadily to organize her resources for 
the struggle which she intended to provoke, if it did not come in 
the course of time. 'Incompatibility of temper' would have been 
sufficient ground for the divorce, and I am satisfied that there has 
been a deep-rooted design conceived in some men's minds thirty 
years ago, and extended gradually year after year to others, to 
break away from the Union at the very first opportunity." 

Having thus whetted the minds of the people, and prepared 
them for sudden enterprise; having emptied the arsenals of the 
North, and filled those of the South with arms and ammunition ; 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 69 

having condemned large quantities of good percussion muskets 
and sold them to militia companies forming all over the South, 
and to private parties there, at a merely nominal price; having dis- 
persed the small fragment of a standing army which the nation 
had, and sent its ships of war to the ends of the earth, the leaders 
stood ready when the time arrived for another presidential elec- 
tion, to set their craft afloat. To effect the disruption and division 
of the political party with which they had for a long time acted, 
in the nominating convention, was easy. When that was done 
there was certainty of the election of a Republican President, and 
as soon as the popular voice had pronounced in favor of Mr. 
Lincoln, that circumstance was seized as the pretext for the forma- 
tion of a Southern Confederacy, and the call to arms for its 
defence. 

It was but a pretext ; for had they not held a controlling influ- 
ence in the Government from its foundation, and might they not 
still have continued to do so had they been united ? Mr. Stephens 
said, in the Secession Convention of Georgia: 

"What right has the North assailed? What interest of the 
South has been invaded? What justice has been denied? and 
what claim founded in justice and right has been withheld ? Can 
either of you to-day name one governmental act of wrong, delib- 
erately and purposely done by the Government of Washington, 
of which the South has a right to complain ? I challenge the 
answer. . . . When we of the South demanded the slave-trade, or 
the importation of Africans for the cultivation of our lands, did 
they not yield the right for twenty years? When we asked a 
three-fifths representation in Congress for our slaves, was it not 
granted ? When we asked and demanded the return of any 
fugitive from justice, or the recovery of those persons owing labor 
or allegiance, was it not incorporated in the Constitution, and 
again ratified and strengthened by the Fugitive Slave Law of 
1850 ? But do you reply that in many instances they have vio- 
lated this compact, and have not been faithful to their engage- 
ments? As individuals and local communities, they may have 
done so ; but not by the sanction of Government ; for that has 
always been true to Southern interests. Again, gentlemen, look 
at another act; when we have asked that more territory should be 



70 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

added, that we might spread the institution of Slavery, have they 
not yielded to our demands in giving us Louisiana, Florida, and 
Texas, out of which four States have been carved, and ample 
territory for four more to be added in due time, if you, by this 
unwise and impolitic act do not destroy this hope, and, perhaps 
by it lose all, and have your last slave wrenched from you by 
stern military rule, as South America and Mexico were ; or by 
the vindictive decree of a universal emancipation, which may 
reasonably be expected to follow ? 

" But again, gentlemen, what have we to gain by this proposed 
chancre of our relation to the General Government ? We have 

o 

always had the control of it, and can yet, if we remain in it, and 
are as united as we have been. We have had a majority of the 
Presidents chosen from the South, as well as the control and 
management of most of those chosen from the North. We have 
had sixty years of Southern Presidents to their twenty-four, thus 
controlling the Executive Department. So of the Judges of the 
Supreme Court; we have had eighteen from "the South, and but 
eleven from the North ; although nearly four-fifths of the judicial 
business has arisen in the Free States, yet a majority of the 
Court has always been from the South. This we have required 
so as to guard against any interpretation of the Constitution 
unfavorable to us. In like manner we have been equally watch- 
ful to guard our interests in the Legislative branch of the Govern- 
ment. In choosing the presiding Presidents pro tern, of the 
Senate, we have had twenty-four to their eleven. Speakers of 
the House we have had twenty-three, and they twelve. While 
the majority of the Representatives, from their greater popula- 
tion, have always been from the North, yet we have generally 
secured the Speaker, because he, to a great extent, shapes and 
controls the legislation of the country. Nor have we had less 
control in every other department of the General Government. 
Attorney-Generals we have had fourteen, while the North have 
had but five. Foreign Ministers we have had eighty-six, and they 
but fifty-four. While three-fourths of the business which de- 
mands diplomatic agents abroad is clearly from the Free States, 
from their greater commercial interests, yet we have had the 
principal embassies, so as to secure the world markets for our 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 71 

cotton, tobacco, and sugar, on the best possible terms. We have 
had a vast majority of the higher offices of both army and 
navy, while a larger proportion of the soldiers and sailors were 
drawn from the North. Equally so of clerks, auditors, and con- 
trollers, filling the Executive Department; the records show for 
the last fifty years that of the 3000 thus employed, we have had 
more than two-thirds of the same, while we have but one-third 
of the white population of the Republic." 

After showing that three-fourths of the revenue collected for 
the support of the Government has been raised in the North, and 
that the revenue for carrying the mails at the North was in excess 
of expenditures by $6,000,000, while at the South there was a 
deficit of over $0,500,000, he concludes in the following impas- 
sioned strain : " Leaving out of view, for the present, the count- 
less millions of dollars you must expend in a war with the North, 
with tens of thousands of your sons and brothers slain in battle, 
and offered up as sacrifices upon the altar of your ambition — and 
for what? we ask again. Is it for the overthrow of the American 
Government, established by our common ancestry, cemented and 
built up by their sweat and their blood, and founded on the broad 
principles of Right, Justice, and Humanity ? And as such, I must 
declare here, as I have often done before, and which has been 
repeated by the greatest and wisest of statesmen and patriots in 
this and other lands, that it is the best and freest Government, 
the most equal in its rights, the most just in its decisions, the 
most lenient in its measures, and the most aspiring in its princi- 
ples to elevate the race of men, that the sun of heaven ever shone 
upon. Now for you to attempt to overthrow such a Government 
as this, under which we have lived for more than three-quarters 
of a century — in which we have gained our wealth, our standing 
as a nation, our domestic safety while the elements of peril 
are around us, with peace and tranquillity accompanied with 
unbounded prosperity and rights unassailed — is the height of mad- 
ness, folly, and wickedness, to which I can neither lend. my sanc- 
tion nor my vote." 

But in the face of such appeals as these, the South rushed 
wildly on. " Perhaps there never was a people," wrote a Southern 
man in the third year of the war, " more bewitched, beguiled, and 



72 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

befooled than we were when we drifted into this rebellion." The 
election in November, 1860, resulted in the choice of Mr. 
Lincoln, in strict accordance with the prescribed forms of the Con- 
stitution. Without awaiting an unfriendly act, or even his 
inauguration, the Southern States, led by South Carolina, called 
Conventions, voted themselves out of the Union, and proceeded 
to establish independent State Governments, their Senators and 
Representatives in Congress withdrawing therefrom. The Ordi- 
nance of South Carolina was passed on the 17th of November, 
1SG0, only a few days after the Presidential election, and by the 
1st of February following, the Conventions of eight States had 
passed similar enactments. On the 4th of February, a Congress 
of delegates from these States met at Montgomery, Alabama, and 
having on the 8th adopted a Constitution, under the title of the 
Confederate States of America, on the following day chose Jeffer- 
son Davis President. The five border States, including North 
Carolina, subsequently followed, in one form or another, and sent 
representatives to that body. Thus was an independent Govern- 
ment set up without opposition, a month before the President- 
elect could be inaugurated. 

This peaceful action was followed up by other, looking to the 
maintenance of the new authority vl et armis. The forts and 
arsenals of the General Government, filled with arms, ammunition, 
and heavy ordnance, and vast quantities of military stores, were 
seized by the State authorities, the guards, which had been 
reduced to a mere nominal force, turning over their charge with- 
out opposition. To these disgraceful acts were two notable 
exceptions. Major Anderson, at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, 
and Lieutenant Adam J. Slemmer, at Fort Pickens, on the Ala- 
bama coast, resolutely preserved their honor, the latter defying 
his assailants and holding his post, and the former denying all 
authority of the State of South Carolina over him, and only yield- 
ing when destruction was inevitable. The public sentiment of 
the North stoutly condemned this unlawful and violent procedure, 
and the press called in loudest tones for its suppression. But the 
National Administration held that the Constitution delegated to 
Congress and the Executive no power to coerce a State into sub- 
mission which was attempting to withdraw, or had actually with- 



ORIGIN OF REBELLION. 73 

drawn from the Confederacy, and manifested a pusillanimity 
towards this whole momentous question, in strange contrast with 
the fiery zeal of Jackson. 

General Scott had proposed to throw large garrisons, with 
abundant supplies and ammunition to withstand a long siege, into 
the forts in the Southern States, before they should fall into the 
hands of the insurgents; but to this the objection was made that 
such a course would exasperate them and lead to violence, and 
the purpose was thwarted. 

Disagreeing with his chief in the policy pursued, Lewis Cass, 
Secretary of State, resigned on the 12th of December, and was 
succeeded by Jeremiah S. Black. Two days before, Howell Cobb, 
of Georgia, resigned his position as Secretary of the Treasury, to 
follow the fortunes of the State he represented, and was succeeded 
by Philip F. Thomas, who was in turn succeeded on the 11th of 
January, 1861, by John A. Dix. For a like reason John B. 
Floyd, Secretary of War, and Jacob Thompson, Secretary of 
the Interior, both resigned in January, when Joseph Holt 
was entrusted with the War Department, Edwin M. Stanton 
was made Attorney-General, and Horatio King Postmaster- 
General. 

These changes altered somewhat the complexion of the Cabinet ; 
but the President adhered to his views as to the powers of the 
Government, and nothing was done to stay the progress of rebel- 
lion to the end of his term. In the meanwhile, the new Govern- 
ment, which had been set up at Montgomery, was daily acquiring 
greater strength, and the Legislatures of the revolting States 
having voted money freely to raise and discipline troops, every- 
where warlike preparations went boldly on. The voice of the 
drill-master, and the tramp of recruits, were heard over the whole 
South, and when finally Mr. Lincoln came to power, he came with 
one half of his dominions in a state of revolt, provided with a 
well organized Government, and an army in preparation for its 
defence. 



CHAPTER III 



OUT-LOOK AT THE OPENING OF TIIE REBELLION. 




N the morning of the 22d of February, 1861, the 
anniversary of the birth-day of Washington, a 
number of companies of volunteer militia appeared 
on parade in the principal streets of Harrisburg, 
mustered to receive and honor Abraham Lincoln, 
President elect of the United States, journeying 
from his home at Springfield, Illinois, to the 
National Capital. A similar display of the State 
Militia had been made a few weeks previous, to 
signalize the inauguration of Andrew G. Curtin 
as Governor of the Commonwealth. 

This display, though represented to be the 
greatest ever before seen in the State Capital, 
was an index to the discipline and numbers of the militia force 
of the Commonwealth, and a real acknowledgment of its weak- 
ness. The dull and lustreless muskets, the varied and grotesque 
uniforms, the feathers and tinsel of officers, appeared in strong 
contrast to the complete equipments, and well burnished armor, 
of the full ranked regiments of a later day. Their presence 
proved their patriotism, and their willingness to serve, when 
in due time they should be called to the field; but it attested 
the lack of military spirit, and the almost total want of prepara- 
tion for the desperate conflict which was so soon to follow. 

The people of the State through all its borders had been 
earnestly devoted to the developmemt of its resources. They 
saw no occasion, and had no desire for war. Moralists had 
proclaimed the wrongfulness of the Trial by Battle, and had 
magnified the glories and the blessings of Peace; the Pulpit, 
imbued with the mild and gentle spirit of the Gospel, had 
constantly deprecated the arts of war; and some of the finest 

74 





£ f£&4^&^- 



OUT-LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION. 75 

specimens of eloquence of the schools taught that the true 
grandeur of a nation consisted in cultivating and maintaining 
peace. " Iniquissimam pacem," says Sumner in his master plea, 
"justissimo bello anteferro, are the words of Cicero; and only 
eight days after Franklin had placed his name to the treaty of 
peace which acknowledged the independence of his country, 
he wrote to a friend : ' May we never see another war, for, in my 
opinion, there never was a good war, nor a bad peace.' . . . True 
greatness consists in imitating, as near as is possible for finite 
man, the perfections of an infinite Creator; above all, in culti- 
vating those highest perfections, Justice and Love ; — Justice, 
which like that of St. Louis, shall not swerve to the right hand, 
or to the left; Love, which like that of William Penn, shall 
regard all mankind of kin." 

Meditating no violent measures, and studying no cause of 
quarrel with her sister States, Pennsylvania sought by good 
offices to cement the integral parts of the Union, and by the 
well-directed and industrious habits of her people to contribute 
as well to its steady growth and prosperity in every material 
resource, as to its elevation and ennoblement in every spiritual 
grace. But while making no preparations for war, and seeking 
no cause for conflict, there was nurtured in the breasts of her 
people that vigor which kept them ready for manly warfare, 
and that Spartan virtue which led them to court danger in the 
hour of battle. " Walled towns," says Lord Bacon, " stored 
arsenals and armories, goodly races of horse, chariots of war, 
elephants, ordinance, artillery, and the like; all this is but a 
sheep in a lion's skin, except the breed and disposition of the 
people be stout and warlike." 

The impossibility of obtaining fixed ammunition at the moment 
of the most pressing need in the outbreak of the rebellion, is an 
evidence of the unexpectedness of war, and the almost total 
lack of preparation to meet it. The arsenals of the State were 
empty. When the President, immediately after the bombardment 
of Fort Sumter, called on the several States for men to defend 
the National Capital, and Sherman's Battery was ready to move 
forward from Harrisburg, a delay of several days was occasioned 
by the want of suitable ammunition. Communication with Wash- 



76 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ington had been cut off. It seemed probable that forces march- 
ing thither would be obliged to light their way through an 
enemy's country. Hence this company was not allowed to depart 
without having a supply. Telegrams were sent to the com- 
mandants of arsenals at Philadelphia, Carlisle, and Reading, 
seeking it, but without success. It was finally obtained from a 
distant National Arsenal. 

The maintenance of the national honor, and protection against 
foreign invasion, are, by the Constitution, left to the General 
Government. Hence this lack of preparation could not be 
imputed to the State as a fault. Having a strong aversion to 
intestine feuds, no warlike material had been laid up that might 
tempt to sudden enterprise. Slow to move and cautious in 
policy, her history has exemplified the principle that 

" Rightly to be great, 
Is not to stir without great argument." 

IF 

The Constitution of the State provides that " the freemen of this 
Commonwealth shall be armed, organized, and disciplined for its 
defence, when and in such manner as may be directed by law." 
During the early part of the present century the organization 
of the militia was well preserved. Military drills and parades 
were popular. The esprit du mUltaire was respected and main- 
tained. In 1824, the militia force was reported to be 162,988, of 
whom 28,439 were volunteers. From this date commences the 
decline of the military feeling. Public sentiment began to bear 
heavily upon the immoral tendencies of "trainings" and "musters," 
as the company drills and division parades were respectively termed. 
Thus in Nlles Register for September 5th, 1829, we find the follow- 
ing paragraph : " The State of Delaware has abolished its militia 
system altogether. The Aurora says, it is a creditable act, and 
we cherish the hope that Pennsylvania and other States will follow 
the example. It has been estimated that it costs the State of 
Pennsylvania and its citizens upwards of three millions of dollars 
annually to support the caricature of an army — to perpetuate a 
series of periodical nuisances ; to scandalize and bring into con- 
tempt the military art." The Philadelphia Aurora here referred 
to, in an issue of the same year, in a severe strain of condemna- 



OUT- LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION 77 

tion, says : " It has been established by the concurrent testimony 
of most of the eminent military men of the country, that the 
militia laws, as universally enforced and observed, in place of 
promoting military science and discipline, produce a directly con- 
trary result. No dispassionate person, who has ever witnessed 
our militia musters, trainings, and battalion days, will for a 
moment doubt the correctness of this conclusion. As military 
displays, they are a ridiculous burlesque — as schools of vice, de- 
plorable; many a youth is there initiated into the practice of 
drunkenness, and the records of the county courts bear testimony 
to the violence done to morality." 

Under the influence of similar denunciation and appeal public 
opinion was rapidly changed. In 1841, though the population 
had nearly doubled since 1821, the numbers of the volunteer 
militia had only slightly increased, being reported at 33,791. 
A few years later came the Mexican War, by which the military 
enthusiasm was suddenly set ablaze. But on the return of the 
veterans, after the close of that war, it seems to have been almost 
totally extinguished. A large class of citizens never cordially 
endorsed the purposes of that war. The indifference thus engen- 
dered, united with the general disposition to depreciate military 
glory, produced a feeling of apathy, and in the minds of many of 
derision towards the profession of arms. The stage sought no better 
subject of comedy than the trappings of a militia man. Officers, 
possessing professional skill, and sincerely desirous of preserving 
some creditable organization of citizen soldiery, who visited the 
Capitol to secure legislation to further the object of their wishes, 
were received with little favor. 

The Presidential election of 1856, in which the Republican 
candidate, John C. Fremont, was barely defeated, had been pre- 
ceded by an unusually active canvass, in which Southern leaders 
had talked loudly of violence in certain contingencies. The 
defeat of Fremont allayed excitement for a time ; but the fre- 
quent declaration of an intention to attempt a forcible dissolution 
of the Union, and the evidence of preparation for such an event, 
induced reflecting men to consider the military weakness of the 
North. Moved by these considerations, the Legislatures of several 
of the Northern States enacted more efficient militia regulations. 



78 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

A revised code was adopted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 
in 1858, drawn with much minuteness of detail. Commendable 
effort was made to organize new companies in compliance with its 
provisions. Encampments were ordered by the commander-in- 
chief, and were held at Williamsport, at Bellefonte, at Pittsburg, 
at Ilollidaysburg, at Lancaster, at Johnstown, and at McConnells- 
burg. But notwithstanding the extraordinary efforts, the Adju- 
tant-General's Report at the close of the year gives the number 
of volunteer militia at only about 13,0CP, out of an estimated 
number subject to military duty of 350,000. In the following 
year encampments were not ordered, and the number of the 
militia was reported at a slight increase over the previous year. 
The last exhibition of vitality by the old militia, previous to the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, was at an encampment held at 
York, in the fall of 1860. 

The General Government had taken upon itself to manufacture 
and furnish the several States with arms, and cpnsequently none 
had ever been purchased for Pennsylvania on its own account. 
By an act of Congress, passed in 1808, the sum of $200,000 was 
annually expended in the manufacture of arms, to be distributed 
among the States and Territories in proportion to the number 
of the enrolled militia in each. The method of distribution was 
amended in 1855, so as to make it in proportion to the representa- 
tion in the popular branch of Congress. As the number of States 
was constantly increasing, and the population in the new States 
multiplying much faster than in the old, the portion which annu- 
ally fell to the share of Pennsylvania was constantly decreasing, 
the number of muskets received in 1857 being 852 less than in 
1847, in the former year the number being 1233. By reference 
to the Adjutant-General's Report of 1858, it will be seen that 
there were issued to Pennsylvania by the Ordnance Department 
at Washington, from the year 1812 to 1857,* upwards of 56,000 
rifles and muskets, over 12,000 pistols, over 27,000 infantry 
accoutrements, 152 pieces of artillery, ranging from six to twenty- 



* 45,901 muskets, 10,202 rifles, 12,602 pistols, 9767 BWOrds, 27,271 infantry accoutrements, 
1829 cavalry, 77 bronze Bix-pound cannon, harness and carriages; 45 iron sixes, harness and 
carriages; <'> iron twelve-pounders, harness and carriages; 4 iron howitzers, 14 caissons, 2 six- 
pounders, 2 twelves, and 2 twenty-fours, with harness and carriages for each. 



OUT-LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION. 79 

four-pounders, and other arms and accoutrements, costing in the 
aggregate $1,179,191. Of this considerable armament the Adju- 
tant-General reports 519 muskets, and 15 brass cannons in 
Arsenal, and 8477 muskets, and 32 pieces, in the hands of 
the militia. The remainder, and by far the largest part, had 
disappeared, having been condemned, sold, or carelessly given out 
•without taking and preserving the necessary vouchers. " It is a 
useless inquiry," says the Adjutant-General, Edwin C. Wilson, "to 
ask now what has become of so large an amount of arms and 
accoutrements. I am aware that many have been sold, but the 
bulk remains unaccounted for, and no books nor papers remain 
in this office to tell of their existence." 

It was the policy of the National Government, in addition to 
these supplies annually distributed to the States, to keep its own 
arsenals well furnished. But during the last year of Secretary 
Floyd's administration, in 1S59— 60, there. was an unusual move- 
ment of arms from Northern to Southern arsenals. An investi- 
gation, instituted by a committee of Congress, showed that 
115,000 muskets had been transferred from the Springfield, 
Watertown, and Watervliet arsenals to arsenals in North and 
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana; that over 
30,000 had been sold at $2.50 apiece, and that 250,000 had been 
contracted for at $2.15 — the contractor, one Belknap, alleging 
that they were for the use of the Sardinian Government; but this 
sale was not consummated, the successor to Mr. Floyd, Joseph 
Holt, refusing to recognize the contract. By the testimony of 
General Scott, it appears that eight States, Virginia, South Caro- 
lina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kan- 
sas, received their quotas, by the order of the Secretary of War, 
for 1861, in advance. The Mobile Advertiser, in commenting 
upon this action, said: "During the past year 135.430 muskets 
have been quietly transferred from the Northern arsenal at 
Springfield alone, to those in the Southern States. We are much 
obliged to Secretary Floyd for the foresight he has thus displayed 
in disarming the North and equipping the South for this emer- 
gency. There is no telling the quantity of arms and munitions 
which were sent South from other Northern arsenals. There 
is no doubt but that every man in the South who can carry a gun 



80 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

can now be supplied from private or public sources. The Spring- 
field contribution alone would arm all the militiamen of Alabama 
and Mississippi." 

But even this extraordinary action of the Secretary for deplet- 
ing the arsenals of the North of small arms both by sale and 
transfer, was surpassed in effrontery by the attempt to move 
heavy guns. He ordered, without any report from the Engineer 
department, which is usual, that forty-two columbiads and four 
thirty-two pounders should be sent from the arsenal at Pittsburg 
to an unfinished fort on Ship Island on the coast of Mississippi, 
which could not be got ready for any part of its armament in less 
than a year, and that seventy-one columbiads and seven thirty- 
two pounders be sent to a proposed fort on the coast of Texas, 
work upon which had not been begun, and which could not be 
made ready for any part of its armament in less than two years, 
nor for the entire armament in less than five. 

Unquestioning acquiescence in v the action of the General Gov- 
ernment has ever been the habit of the American people. At 
times political excitement is intense, especially in the canvass for 
the chief executive officer ; but however earnest are their words, 
and energetic their exertions to help on their party to success, 
when the decision has once been made, it is the especial pride of 
even the most violent to submit gracefully and even good- 
naturedly to defeat. In the transfer of small arms, and the dis- 
persion of the navy no interference had been attempted, nor even 
question made. 

But when, on the 24th of December, 18G0, it was heralded 
upon the streets of Pittsburg, that an order had been received by 
the commandant of the United States Arsenal at Lawrenceville, a 
short distance from the city, to ship nearly 700 tons of war 
material to points on the shores of the Gulf, and that the steamer 
" Silver Wave" was already at the wharf awaiting the enormous 
burden, a strong but smothered feeling of indignation was 
excited. That feeling was intensified, when it w r as known 
that the captain of this vessel, which was not valued at more than 
$11,000, had a contract with the Government for removing these 
guns, whereby he was to receive $10,000 for the service. The 
willingness of the Government to pay so exorbitant a price 



OUT- LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION. gl 

seemed to indictate that the authors of the bargain were conscious 
of the impropriety, if not criminality of the act, and that they 
anticipated that trouble would be encountered in executing it. 

The leading men of the city proved themselves, in this emer- 
gency, reliant and discreet. The temper of the people was such 
that it only needed slight encouragement to incite to acts of 
violence. This would have put them in the wrong, as being the 
assailants of the Government, and would have defeated the pur- 
pose which they sought. It was, accordingly, deemed advisable 
that the precise facts in the case should be ascertained before any 
public action or demonstration should be made. At an informal 
meeting held at the Controller's office, in which General William 
Robinson acted as president, and Ex-Governor Johnston, Judge 
Shaler, C. R. Simpson, and R. H. Patterson, as vice-presidents, 
the impropriety of stripping the arsenal of its ordnance was 
discoursed upon, and the following resolutions were adopted : 
" That the chairman appoint a committee to ascertain what 
number of small arms, accoutrements, munitions of war, etc., have, 
been sent from the United States Arsenal within the last ninety 
days, and the number of cannon and small arms now ordered 
away, and their destination ; and further to make inquiry as to 
when said cannon were cast, and if for any particular fort ; and 
whether the number is not greater than the capacity of the forts 
to which the armaments are professedly sent; the number of can- 
non remaining on hand, and the probable time required to replace 
those ordered ; and further, that' said committee call on Major 
Taliaferro, and the contractor for removing and transporting the 
cannon, and request them to suspend operations until an oppor- 
tunity has been afforded us to communicate with the authorities 
at Washington city." 

In conformity with these resolutions, the following committee 
was appointed : Mayor Wilson, Hon. William Wilkins, G. W. 
Jackson, R. H. Patterson, Dr. A. G. Mc.Candless, and W. W. 
Hersh. Enquiries were prosecuted both at the arsenal and at the 
departments in Washington, the members of Congress from Alle- 
gheny district entering actively into the examination. It was 
ascertained that the appropriations for the purchase of these guns 
had been made some time before, and that they had been cast 
6 



82 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

accordingly. But the forts for which they were intended, not 
having been yet built, and one of them not even begun, it was 
apparent that the haste to get the guns below Mason and Dixon's 
line was for a purpose not legitimate, and that Secretary Floyd 
had given the order, just upon the eve of his departure from office, 
that the guns might be got within the bounds of the contemplated 
new Confederacy, before hostilities .actually commenced, though 
he had coupled with his order the condition, which he knew his 
agents at the arsenal would disregard, that the guns were to be 
at Ship Island and Galveston by the time the defensive works 
at those points should be ready to receive them. 

When these facts became known to the populace, the purpose 
of the order was so apparent, and the disguise so thin, that the 
excitement was greatly heightened. The volunteer companies 
were held in readiness to move at the tap of the drum ; the an- 
tagonism of political parties had vanished, and the whole city was 
prepared, as with the impulse of one man, to rise up and arrest 
•the disgraceful act. It was evident that public opinion would 
need to be led in the right direction, or it was liable to be carried 
off in the wrong. A call, numerously signed, was, accordingly, 
presented to the Mayor, requesting him to summon a public meet- 
ing. It was set for the afternoon of Thursday, the 27th, at two 
o'clock. At that hour a vast concourse, estimated at over 4000 
men, assembled. Only a small part of the multitude could gain 
admission to the court-house, where the meeting was to be held, 
and it was proposed to adjourn to the City Hall, which was more 
commodious; but, failing in obtaining that, the crowd returned, 
and an organization was effected by calling General William 
Robinson to the chair and appointing ex-Governor William F. 
Johnson, R. H. Patterson, Hon. Charles Shaler, and Colonel Ed- 
ward Simpson, vice-presidents. Addresses were made by Messrs. 
Shaler, Moorhead,and Swartzwelder, counselling peaceful measures, 
and an appeal to the President to purge his cabinet of men acting 
the part of traitors to their country. 

That sentiment touched the loyal heart, and its ringing tones 
were heard at the capital. W T hile the meeting was in progress, 
and speakers were denouncing the wrongs which the people of the 
North were suffering, a dispatch was received from Philadelphia, 



OUT-LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION. 83 

and read from the stand, which greatly intensified the excitement 
and fanned anew the flames of patriotism. It was as follows : 
" Fort Moultrie has been abandoned, guns spiked, and Captain 
Anderson 'has retreated to Fort Sumter." Resolutions were 
adopted in harmony with the principles which had been advo- 
cated, deprecating interference with the removal of arms while 
being done under Government orders, however inopportune or 
wrongful the order might appear ; deploring the administration of 
the Government in some of its departments, whereby the confi- 
dence of the people of the free States had been shaken ; asserting 
the special duty of Pennsylvania to look to the fidelity of her 
sons, and in that view to call on the President as a citizen of this 
Commonwealth, that the public receive no detriment at his hands ; 
urging him to rid his cabinet of every man known to give aid 
and comfort to, or in any way countenance the revolt of a State 
against the authority of the Constitution and the laws of the Union. 
A committee was appointed to visit Washington, and seek the 
revocation of the order for the removal of the arms, before the 
shipment was effected. The Hon. Robert McKnight, and Hon. 
J. K. Moorhead, then members of Congress from Pittsburg, at once 
proceeded to Washington, and vigorously representing the iniquity 
of the act, urged the abandonment of the attempt. The fact 
that the forts could not be ready for the guns for years, and that 
the order for their removal contained the condition that they were 
to be delivered by the time the works were ready for their recep- 
tion, gave the committee a good argument for their request. The 
great uprising of the people of Pittsburg, and the pointed resolu- 
tions they adopted, had a marked effect upon the mind of the 
President. Some of his life-long friends and supporters had par- 
ticipated in that meeting, and he was induced to listen to their 
voice. " Mr. Buchanan," says Mr. Moorhead, " could not resist 
the intensely loyal pressure that was brought to bear upon him 
by our citizens." A citizen of Pittsburg, Mr. Stanton, was then 
Attorney-General, and he interested himself warmly in the cause 
of the committee. " We were more indebted," says Mr. Moor- 
head, " to the Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, who was the Attorney-Gen- 
eral, for the revocation of the order, than to any other person or 
party." The order was revoked, Joseph Holt of Kentucky hav- 



84 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ing succeeded Mr. Floyd in the War office on the 29th, and the 
nuns, several of which had already reached the city, were returned 
to the arsenal. 

Thus was a question, which at one time threatened violence, 
and an issue violative of law, amicably and with dignity settled, 
and a scheme for rifling the North of heavy arms, and putting 
thorn in the hands of those who were already making war upon 
the Government, frustrated. Pittsburg, the Birmingham of Amer- 
ica, upon which the Government was relying for much of its war 
material in case of an outbreak, from its nearness to the border, 
was exposed to attack. These guns, had they been removed, 
could not have been replaced for many months. The administra- 
tion, too, was finally aroused from its lethargy, and was brought 
to realize that the people of the North, irrespective of creed or 
party, would not stand tamely by and submit to the dismember- 
ment of the Government. 

The sentiment respecting national affairs, which prevailed for 
a number of years previous to the Rebellion amo r ng the people of 
the State, may be gathered from the Messages of its Governors. 
They may be regarded as uttering the united voice. In his In- 
augural Address, Governor Pollock said : " Pennsylvania, occupy- 
ing, as she does, an important and proud position in the sisterhood 
of States, cannot be indifferent to the policj'' and acts of the Na- 
tional Government. Her voice, potential for good in other days, 
ought not to be disregarded now. Devoted to the Constitution 
and the Union, as she was the -first to sanction, she will be the 
last to endanger the one, or violate the other. Regarding with 
jealous care the rights of her sister States, she will be ever ready 
to defend her own. To the Constitution in all its integrity, to 
the Union in its strength and harmony, to the maintenance in its 
purity of the faith and honor of the country, Pennsylvania now is, 
and always has been pledged — a pledge never violated, and not 
to be violated, until patriotism ceases to be a virtue, and liberty 
to be known only as a name." After recounting the leading prin- 
ciples of the State's organic law, he adds: " The declaration of 
these doctrines is but the recognition of the fundamental princi- 
ples of freedom and human rights. They are neither new nor 
startling. They were taught by patriotic fathers at the watch- 



OUT-LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION. 85 

fires of our country's defenders, and learned amid the bloody snows 
of Valley Forge, and the mighty throes of war and revolution. 
They were stamped with indelible impress upon the great charter 
of our rights, and embodied in the legislation of the best and purest 
days of the Republic ; have filled the hearts and fell burning from 
the lips of orators and statesmen whose memories are immortal 
as the principles they cherished. They have been the watch- 
word and the hope of millions now, and will be of millions yet 
unborn." 

In his message of 1857, he said : " Freedom is the great centre 
truth of American republicanism — the great law of American 
Nationality ; Slavery is the exception. It is local and sectional, 
and its extension beyond the jurisdiction creating it, nor to the free 
territories of the Union, was never designed or contemplated by 
the patriot founders of the Republic. . . . The Union of the 
States, which constitutes us one people, should be dear to you, to 
every American citizen. . . . Pennsylvania tolerates no sentiment 
of disunion. She knows not the word." 

Governor Packer, in his message of 1859, said : " While I 
entertain no doubt that the great republican experiment on this 
continent, so happily commenced, and carried forward to its 
present exalted position, in the eyes of the world, will continue, 
under the Providence of God, to be successful to the latest genera- 
tions, it is the part of wisdom and patriotism to be watchful and 
vigilant, and to carefully guard a treasure so priceless. Let 
moderate counsels prevail — let a spirit of harmony and good will, 
and a national and fraternal sentiment be cultivated among the 
people, everywhere — North and South — and the disturbing ele- 
ments which temporarily threaten our Union, will now, as they 
have always heretofore, assuredly pass away. Pennsylvania, in 
the past, has performed her part with unfaltering firmness. Let 
her now, and in the future, be ever ready to discharge her con- 
federate duties with unflinching integrity. Then will her proud 
position entitle her, boldly and effectually, to rebuke, and assist 
in crushing treason, whether it shall raise its crest in other States, 
in the guise of a fanatical and irrepressible conflict between the 
North and South, or assume the equally reprehensible form of 
nullification, secession, and dissolution of the Union. Her central 



86 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

geographical position, stretching from the bay of Delaware to the 
lakes — with her 3,000,000 of conservative population — entitles her 
to say, with emphasis, to the plotters of treason, on either hand, that 
neither shall be permitted to succeed — that it is not in the power 
of either to disturb the perpetuity of this Union, cemented and 
sanctified, as it is, by the blood of our patriotic fathers — that at 
every sacrifice, and at every hazard, the Constitutional rights of 
the people and the States shall be maintained — that equal and 
exact justice shall be done to the North and the South, and that 
these States shall be forever United." 

In his inaugural address, in 1861, Governor Curtin said: "No 
part of the people, no State nor combination of States, can volun- 
tarily secede from the Union, nor absolve themselves from their 
obligations to it. To permit a State to withdraw at pleasure from 
the Union, without the consent of the rest, is to confess that our 
Government is a failure. Pennsylvania can never acquiesce in 
such a conspiracy, nor assent to a doctrine which involves the 
destruction of the Government. If the Government is to exist, 
all the requirements of the Constitution must be obeyed ; and it 
must have power adequate to the enforcement of the supreme law 
of the land in every State. It is the first duty of the National 
authorities to stay the progress of anarchy, and enforce the laws, 
and Pennsylvania, w r ith a united people, will give them an honest, 
faithful, and active support. The people mean to preserve the 
integrity of the National Union at every hazard." 

Finally, the Legislature of the State passed the following reso- 
lutions early in the session of 1861, upon the subject of secession, 
then being actively pushed in the Southern States, which were a 
fair index to the temper of the people, and which gave no uncer- 
tain sound as to the course which the State would pursue in the 
impending crisis: "Resolved, That if the people of any State in 
this Union are not in the full enjoyment of all the benefits to be 
secured to them by the said Constitution, if their rights under it 
are disregarded, their tranquillity disturbed, their prosperity 
retarded, or their liberties imperilled by the people of any other 
State, full and adequate redress can and ought to be provided for 
such grievances through the action of Congress, and other proper 
departments of the National Government, That we adopt the 



OUT-LOOK AT THE OPENING OF THE REBELLION. 87 

sentiment and language of President Andrew Jackson, expressed 
in his message to Congress, on the 16th of January, 1833, 'that 
the right of a people of a single State to absolve themselves at 
will and without the consent of the other States from their most 
solemn obligations, and hazard the liberties and happiness of mil- 
lions composing this Union, cannot be acknowledged, and that 
such authority is utterly repugnant, both to the principles upon 
which the General Government is constituted, and the objects 
which it was expressly formed to attain.' That the Constitution 
of the United States of America contains all the powers necessary 
to the maintenance of its authority, and it is the solemn and most 
imperative duty of the Government to adopt and carry into effect 
whatever measures are necessary to that end ; and the faith and 
power of Pennsylvania are hereby pledged to the support of such 
measures, in any manner and to any extent that may be required 
of her by the constituted authorities of the United States. That 
all plots, conspiracies, and warlike demonstrations against the 
United States, in any section of the country, are treasonable in 
character, and whatever power of the Government is necessary to 
their suppression should be applied to that purpose without hesi- 
tation or delay." 




CHAPTER IV. 



ATTEMPTS AT PACIFICATION — TIIE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 




the time approached for Mr. Lincoln to be inaugu- 
rated, and his advisers to be selected, great solici- 
tude was felt to know the temper of the new 
administration and the policy it would pursue. 
The Congress which met in December, 1860, w T as 
busy with schemes of pacification. South Carolina 
had two weeks before passed an ordinance of Se- 
cession, and other States were preparing to follow 
its example. The special committee of thirteen, on 
the part of the Senate, and thirty-three of the 
House, to which was referred the all-en grossing 
subject, the state of the country, presented plans 
of settlement, chief of which was that prepared 
and warmly advocated by Mr. Crittenden. But his scheme was 
alike distasteful to the advocates of extreme views on both sides, 
and it came to nothing. 

As a last resort, a convention of delegates of all the States was 
called to devise a plan for healing dissensions and preserving the 
Union. The idea was first suggested by the Legislature of Vir- 
ginia, which passed a resolution on the 19th of January, 1861, 
recommending that such a convention be called for the 4th of 
February, to sit in the city of Washington. The President 
grasped at this last hope of adjustment, and made the Virginia 
resolve the subject of a message to Congress. The delegates 
assembled as was proposed, men eminent for wisdom and justice. 
James Pollock, William H. Meredith, David Wilmot, A. W. 
Loomis, Thomas E. Franklin, William McKennan and Thomas 
White represented Pennsylvania. Their action resulted in 
recommending certain amendments to the Constitution, which 
88 





7 ^^£^^z^Zi 






ATTEMPTS AT PACIFICATION. 89 

were presented to the House and Senate, but were rejected by 
those bodies, as was every other device that was offered. 

The party which had adopted principles deemed to be just, and 
had triumphed on that platform in the late election, was unwilling 
to yield everything that had been contended for. The leaders of 
the opposing party at the South, having long meditated a dissolu- 
tion of the Union, did not now desire to listen to any terms of 
pacification. Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, a former representative 
in Congress, who had been sent to Charleston, South Carolina, in 
company with an aged citizen, Edmund Ruffin, who made him- 
self notorious two days after by firing the first gun at Fort Sum- 
ter, on being serenaded and while surrounded by a great crowd, 
said: "Gentlemen, I thank you, especially, that you have at last 
annihilated this accursed Union, reeking with corruption, and 
insolent with excess of tyranny. Thank God! it is at last blasted 
and riven by the lightning wrath of an outraged and indignant 
people. Not only is it gone, but gone forever. In the expressive 
language of Scripture, it is water spilled upon the ground, and 
cannot be gathered up. Like Lucifer, son of the morning, it has 
fallen, never to rise again. For my part, gentlemen, if Abraham 
Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin to-morrow were to abdicate their 
offices, and were to give me a blank sheet of paper to write the 
condition of re-annexation to the defunct Union, I would scorn- 
fully spurn the overture. ... I invoke you, and I make it in 
some sort a personal appeal — personal so far as it tends to our 
assistance in Virginia — I do invoke you, in your demonstrations 
of popular opinion, in your exhibitions of official intent, to give no 
countenance to this idea of reconstruction. In Virginia they all 
say, if reduced to the dread dilemma of this memorable alternative, 
they will espouse the cause of the South as against the interest 
of the Northern Confederacy. But they whisper of reconstruction, 
and they say Virginia must abide in the Union with the idea of 
reconstructing the Union which you have annihilated. I pray you, 
gentlemen, to rob them of that idea. Proclaim to the world that 
upon no condition, and under no circumstances, will South Caro- 
lina ever again enter into political association with the Abolition- 
ists of New England. Do not distrust Virginia. As sure as 
to-morrow's sun will rise upon us, just as sure will Virginia be a 



90 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

member of the Southern Confederacy. And I will tell you, gen- 
tlemen, what will put her in the Southern Confederation in less 
than an hour by the Shrewsbury clock, — Strike a blow ! The 
very moment that blood is shed, old Virginia will make common 
cause with her sisters of the South. It is impossible that she 
should do otherwise." 

On the 11 th of February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln bade adieu to his 
home and his neighbors at Springfield, Illinois, and commenced 
his journey towards the Capital, to assume the duties of Chief 
Magistrate of the country. As he was about to turn away, he 
addressed a few words to the people, who had come out to bid 
him a regretful farewell, so full of pathos and Christian tender- 
ness as to subdue every heart and soften every emotion. After 
expressing his sadness, he said : " Here I have lived from my 
youth, until now I am an old man. Here the most sacred ties of 
earth were assumed. Here all my children were born ; and here 
one of them lies buried. To you, dear friends, I owe all that I 
have, all that I am. All the strange, checkered past seems to 
crowd now upon my mind. To-day I leave you. I go to assume 
a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. 
Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with and aid me, 
I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and Almighty arm 
that directed and protected him shall guide and support me, I 
shall not fail — I shall succeed. Let us all pray that the God of 
our fathers may not forsake us now. To Him I commend you all. 
Permit me to ask that, with equal sincerity and faith, you will 
invoke His wisdom and guidance for me." 

The religious sentiment seemed always present in Mr. Lincoln's 
mind, and to find utterance at the proper moment and in the most 
delicate and affecting manner. His words were from the heart, 
and they touched the heart the nation over. This was the foun- 
dation of that confidence and trust which was felt for him as for 
no other man. It is related that as the train halted at Green- 
castle, Indiana, an aged and decrepit man, the Rev. Mr. Blair, 
was assisted into the car, and, approaching with tottering step, 
shielding his eyes with one trembling hand while he extended the 
other in greeting to the man whom he had made his weary pil- 
grimage to meet, he said : " I shake hands with the President of 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 91 

the United States for the last time. May the Lord Almighty 
bless and guard you ; may He sustain you through the trials be- 
fore you, and bring you to His Heavenly Kingdom at last." The 
touching solemnity of the. scene, language fails to depict. Tears 
filled the eyes of Mr. Lincoln and of those who stood by, as the 
old patriarch tottered back, and descending from the car journeyed 
towards his home. It was from such simple occurrences as these, 
that the millions of Americans came to know the worth of Abra- 
ham Lincoln. 

As the multitudes flocked to meet him at every town and sta- 
tion on the way, he endeavored to gratify their curiosity by briefly 
addressing them. As his words were flashed over the whole North, 
and were scattered broadcast by the press, there was intense eager- 
ness to catch the slightest intimation of his purposes. In his 
speech at Indianapolis he made this pertinent inquiry : " But if 
the United States should merely hold and retake its own forts and 
other property, and collect the duties on foreign importations, or 
even withhold the mails from places where they were habitually 
violated, would any or all these things be invasion or coercion ? 
. . . Upon what rightful principle may a State, being no more 
than one-fiftieth part of the nation in soil and population, break 
up the nation, and then coerce a proportionably larger subdivision 
of itself in the most arbitrary way?" 

Mr. Lincoln touched Pennsylvania soil on the afternoon of the 
14th, and arrived in Pittsburg at eight that evening, in the midst 
of a drenching rain, which prevented a demonstration of welcome 
of such proportions as would have otherwise been accorded him. 
A great concourse, however, hovered about him, to whom, after 
reaching the hotel, he addressed a few words. He said he would 
not give them a speech, as he thought it more rare, if not more 
wise, for a public man. 

Until eight o'clock on the following morning the rain continued 
to descend, when it cleared away ; and a half hour later he was 
waited on by the Mayor and Councils, who formally addressed 
him. In response, Mr. Lincoln said : " Mayor Wilson and citizens 
of Pennsylvania, I most cordially thank his Honor, the Mayor, 
and citizens of Pittsburg generally, for their flattering reception. 
I am the more grateful because I know that it is not given to me 



92 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

alone, but to the cause I represent, which clearly proves to me 
their good will, and that sincere feeling is at the bottom of it. 
And here I may remark, that in every short address I have made 
to the people, in every crowd through which I have passed of late, 
some allusion has been made to the present distracted condition 
of the country. It is natural to expect that I should say some- 
thing on this subject ; but to touch upon it at all would involve 
a great many questions and circumstances, requiring more time 
than I can at present command, and would perhaps unnecessarily 
commit me upon matters which have not yet fully developed 
themselves. The condition of the country is an extraordinary 
one, and fills the mind of every patriot with anxiety. It is my 
intention to give this subject all the consideration I possibly can 
before specially defining in regard to it, so that when I do speak 
it may be as nearly right as possible. When I do speak I hope 
I may say nothing in opposition to the spirit of the Constitution, 
contrary to the integrity of the Union, or which will prove inimi- 
cal to the liberties of the people, or to the peace of the whole 
country. And furthermore, when the time arrives for me to speak 
upon this great subject, I hope I may say nothing to disappoint 
the people generally throughout the country, especially if the ex- 
pectation has been based upon anything which I have heretofore 
said. Notwithstanding the trouble across the river [pointing south- 
ward across the Monongahela], there is no crisis but an artificial one. 
What is there now to warrant the condition of affairs presented by 
our friends over the river ? Take even their own views of the ques- 
tions involved, and there is nothing to justify the course they are 
pursuing. I repeat, then, there is no crisis excepting such a one as 
may be gotten up at any time by turbulent men, aided by design- 
ing politicians. My advice to them, under such circumstances, is 
to keep cool. If the great American people only keep their tem- 
per both sides of the line, the troubles will come to an end, and 
the question which now distracts the country be settled, just as 
surely as all other difficulties of a like character, which have 
originated in this Government have been adjusted. Let the peo- 
ple on both sides keep their self-possession, and just as other clouds 
have cleared away in due time, so will this great nation continue 
to prosper as heretofore. 



THE PRESIDENTELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 93 

" Fellow Citizens, as this is the first opportunity I have had 
to address a Pennsylvania assemblage, it seems a fitting time to 
indulge in a few remarks upon the important question of the tariff, 
a subject of great magnitude and attended with many difficulties, 
owing to the great variety of interests involved. So long as direct 
taxation for the support of the Government is not resorted to, a 
tariff is unnecessary. A tariff is to the Government what meat 
is to the family ; but this admitted, it still becomes necessary to 
modify and change its operations, according to new interests and 
new circumstances. So far, there is little or no difference of opin- 
ion among politicians, but the question as to how far imposts may 
be adjusted for the protection of home industry, gives rise to nu- 
merous views and objections. 

" I must confess I do not understand the subject in all its multi- 
form bearings ; but I promise you I will give it my closest atten- 
tion, and endeavor to comprehend it fully. And here I may re- 
mark that the Chicago platform contains a plank upon this sub- 
ject which I think should be regarded as law for the incoming 
administration. In fact, this question, as well as all other sub- 
jects embodied in that platform, should not be varied from what 
we gave the people to understand would be our policy when we 
obtained their votes." Mr. Nicolay, Mr. Lincoln's private Secre- 
tary, read : " That while providing revenue for the support of the 
General Government by duties upon imports, sound policy requires 
such an adjustment of these imposts, as will encourage the de- 
velopment of the industrial interest of the whole country; and 
we commend that policy of national exchanges which secures to 
workingmen liberal wages, to agriculture remunerating prices, to 
mechanics and manufacturers adequate reward for their skill, 
labor, and enterprise, and to the nation commercial prosperity and 
independence.'' 

Mr. Lincoln continued : " Now, I must confess that there are 
shades of difference in construing even this platform; but I am 
not now intending to discuss these differences, but merely to give 
you some general idea of the subject. I have long thought that 
if there be any article of necessity, which can be produced at 
home with as little or nearly the same labor as abroad, it would 
be better to protect that article. Labor is the true standard of 



94 MARTIAL LEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

value. If a bar of iron got out of the mines in England, and a 
bar of iron taken from the mines of Pennsylvania, be produced at 
the same cost, it follows that if the English bar be shipped from 
Manchester to Pittsburg, and the American bar from Pittsburg to 
Manchester, the cost of carriage is appreciably lost. If we had 
no iron here, then we should encourage shipments from a foreign 
country, but not when we can make it as cheaply in our own 
country. This brings us back to the first proposition, that if any 
article can be produced at home with nearly the same cost as from 
abroad, the carriage is lost labor." 

In every speech which he delivered he gave new proof of the 
honesty of purpose with which he was actuated, and challenged 
anew the confidence of the people. When he uttered the sen- 
tence, " This question, as well as all other subjects embodied in 
that platform, should not be varied from what we gave the people 
to understand would be our policy when we obtained their votes," 
he showed that he remembered after election, and was determined 
to act upon what had been promised before, and gave a stinging 
rebuke to certain administrations which had preceded him. His 
exposition of protection to American industry is so clear and 
simple that the dullest mind cannot fail to understand and feel 
its force. The special correspondent of the New York Tribune, 
writing to that journal an account of the progress of this journey, 
moved by the universal enthusiasm, exclaimed : " Peace hath her 
victories, and the conqueror of hearts receives an ovation more 
brilliant than he who leads armies. If feeble words could convey 
to those who do not see the spectacle, anything like an accurately 
vivid picture of the scenes now accompanying the progress of 
Abraham Lincoln, the world of readers would say, with unani- 
mous voice, that more appropriate honors to a worthy man have 
rarely been paid than those hourly showered upon the President 
elect of the United States." 

From Pittsburg, Mr. Lincoln proceeded to Cleveland, and thence 
to New York via Buffalo and Albany, being everywhere received 
with the most unbounded enthusiasm, his progress being heralded 
and attended like the triumphal march of a conqueror. It had 
been so arranged that he should spend the 22d of February, the 
birthday of Washington, in Pennsylvania. He arrived at Phila- 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 95 

delphia on the evening of the previous day, and on being wel- 
comed by the Mayor, made a brief address, in which occurred 
this, in the light of subsequent developments, remarkable passage : 
" It were useless for me to speak of details of plans now ; I shall 
speak officially next Monday week, if ever. If I should not 
speak then, it were useless for me to do so now. If I do speak 
then, it is useless for me to do so now. When I do speak, I 
shall take such ground as I deem best calculated to restore 
peace, harmony, and prosperity to the country, and tend to the 
perpetuity of the nation and the liberty of these States and 
these people." Had he some presentiment of the peril to his life, 
which was impending — for, as yet, no intimation had been con- 
veyed to him of the meditated plans of the conspirators — and was 
this the unconscious expression of it? 

Arrangements had been made for the ceremony of raising a 
flag over Independence Hall on the 22d, in which Mr. Lincoln 
was to assist. A great concourse had assembled. The memories 
of the day, and the associations of the place, impressed all, and 
pervaded every heart. He arrived upon the ground at eleven 
o'clock, and was received by Theodore Cuyler, who warmly wel- 
comed him to the venerable walls, in an hour of national peril 
and distress, when the great work achieved by the wisdom and 
patriotism of the fathers seemed threatened with ruin. 

Mr. Lincoln spoke as follows : " I am filled with deep emotion 
at finding myself standing here in this place, where were collected 
together the wisdom, the patriotism, and devotion to principle 
from which sprung the institutions under which we live. You 
have kindly suggested to me that in my hands is the task of 
restoring peace to our distracted country. I can say in return, 
sir, that all the political sentiments I entertain have been drawn, 
so far as I have been able to draw them, from the sentiments 
which originated and were given to the world from this Hall. I 
have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the 
sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I have 
often pondered over the dangers which were incurred by the men 
who assembled here, and framed and adopted that Declaration of 
Independence. I have pondered over the toils that were endured 
by the officers and soldiers of the army who achieved that inde- 



96 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

pendence. I have often inquired of myself what great principle 
or idea it was that kept this Confederacy so long together. It 
was not the mere matter of the separation of the colonies from 
the mother land, but that sentiment in the Declaration which 
gave liberty not alone to the people of this country, but hope to 
the world for all future time. It was that which gave promise 
that in due time the weights would be lifted from the shoulders 
of all men. This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration 
of Independence. Now, my friends, can this country be saved 
upon that basis? If it can, I shall consider myself one of the 
happiest men in the world, if I can help to save it. If it cannot 
be saved upon that principle, it will be truly awful. But if this 
country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was 
about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than sur- 
render it. Now, in my view of the present aspect of affairs, there 
is no need of bloodshed or war ; no necessity for it. I am not in 
favor of such a course, and I may say in advance, that there will be 
no bloodshed unless it is forced upon the Government. Then it will 
be compelled to act in self-defence. My friends, this is wholly an 
unprepared speech. I did not expect to be called upon to say one 
word when I came here. I supposed I w r as merely to do something 
towards raising the flag. I may, therefore, have said something 
indiscreet, [No ! no !] I have said nothing but what I am willing 
to live by, and if it be the pleasure of Almighty God, to die by." 

Was ever a heart more apparently sincere? Was ever one 
whose utterances were more transparent? When he had said, 
" Then it will be compelled to act in self-defence," checking him- 
self, and half conscious that he had in some sort revealed his in- 
tentions, as if deprecating his words, he exclaimed, " I may have 
said something indiscreet." But when, upon consideration, and 
in response to the plaudits of the crowd, he concluded with the 
words, "I have said nothing but what I am willing to live by, 
and if it be the pleasure of Almighty God, to die by," every heart 
beat responsive to that sentiment, and through the length and 
breadth of the country, every inhabitant who was moved by a 
feeling of patriotism, was ready to respond, Amen. 

He had, the night before, been made aware by messages from 
the highest officer in the army and one eminent in the civil Gov- 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 97 

ernment, that a plot had been formed to assassinate him as he 
passed through Baltimore. The utterance in the speech, " I would 
rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it," apparently 
inadvertent, discloses the conviction which that intelligence had 
fixed ; that, conscious of rectitude in his intentions towards his 
country, he could, with more than Roman courage, 

" Smile 
At the drawn dagger and defy its point." 

After the delivery of his address within the Hall he was con- 
ducted to the platform in front. His appearance was the signal 
for shouts of gladness and welcome from the sea of upturned faces 
that was spread out before him. Mr. Benton of the Select Council 
made a brief address, and invited Mr. Lincoln to raise the flag. 
In response, he said that it would afford him pleasure to comply 
with this request. He referred to the old flag with but thirteen 
stars. The number had increased, as time rolled on, and we had 
become a happy, powerful people, each star adding to our pros- 
perity. The future was in the hands of the people. It was on 
such an occasion that we could reason together and reaffirm our 
devotion to the country and the principles of the Declaration of 
Independence. " Let us," he exclaimed, " make up our minds 
that whenever we do put a new star upon our banner, it shall be 
a fixed one, never to be dimmed by the horrors of war, but bright- 
ened by contentment, prosperity, and peace." 

" Mr. Lincoln then threw off his overcoat," says a correspon- 
dent of the Harrisburg Telegraph, " in an off-hand, easy manner, 
the back-woodsman style of which caused man}' good-natured re- 
marks. After an impressive prayer by the Rev. Mr. Clark, of- 
fered in the midst of profound solemnity and silence, the flag, 
which was rolled up in man-of-war style, was adjusted, the signal 
fired, and amid most excited enthusiasm, the President-elect hoisted 
the national ensign. A stiff breeze caught the folded bunting, 
and threw it out boldly to the winds. Cheer followed cheer, 
until hoarseness prevented their continuance." 

In the meantime, extensive preparations had been made for his 

reception at Harrisburg, where he was expected to arrive early 

in the afternoon. The military had assembled from distant parts 

of the State, numerous civil societies and associations were repre- 

7 



98 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

sented, and the people had come out in their strength. The Legis- 
lature was in session, and had given itself that day to the enter- 
tainment of their distinguished guest. On that morning, the sol- 
diers of the War of 1812, a few grey-haired old men spared of a 
former generation, under command of Captain Brady and Captain 
Krause, had borne in procession a new flag to the Capitol, where, 
amid the crowds that had gathered, and with much enthusiasm, 
it was run up upon the flag-staff just erected for the purpose upon 
the dome. While the flag was ascending, the Chief Clerk of the 
House, Mr. E. H. Rauch, commenced reading the Farewell Ad- 
dress of Washington, from the portico in front of the rotunda, 
which was listened to with profound attention by the assembled 
multitude. This ceremony of flag-raising had been repeated in 
several parts of the city ; wreaths and triumphal arches had been 
thrown across important thoroughfares, and on every hand the 
town was decked in its gayest attire. 

Mr. Lincoln arrived by special train at half past one, and at 
the intersection of the railroad with Second street, along which 
the military were drawn up, and a barouche with six white 
horses, gaily caparisoned, was in waiting, he alighted, and was 
received by Governor Curtin. LTpon his arrival at the Jones 
House, he was conducted to the balcony overlooking the square, 
where the Governor addressed him in the following graceful terms : 

" Sir, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the State of Penn- 
sylvania, and to extend to you the hospitalities of this city. We 
have frequently heard of you since you left your home in a dis- 
tant place ; and every word that has fallen from your lips has 
fallen upon the ears of an excited, patriotic, but loyal people. 
Sir, as President-elect of the United States, you are called to the 
discharge of official duties at a period of time when animosities 
and distractions divide the people of this hitherto happy and 
prosperous country. You undertake, sir, no easy task. You 
must restore fraternal feeling. You must heal discord. You must 
produce amity in place of hostility, and restore prosperity, peace, 
and concord to this unhappy country, and future generations will 
rise up and call you blessed. 

" Sir, this day. by act of our Legislature, we unfurled from the 
dome of the Capitol the flag of our country, carried there in the 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 99 

arms of men who defended the country when defence was needed. 
I assure you, sir, there is no star or stripe erased, and on its azure 
field there blazons forth thirty-four stars, the number of the 
bright constellation of States over which you are called by a free 
people, in a fair election, to preside. We trust, sir, that in the 
discharge of your high office, you may reconcile the unhappy dif- 
ferences now existing, as they have heretofore been reconciled. 
Sir, when conciliation has failed, read our history, study our tra- 
dition. Here are the people who will defend you, the Constitu- 
tion, the laws and the integrity of the Union. 

" Our great law-giver and founder established this Government 
of a free people in deeds of peace. We are a peaceful, laborious 
people. We believe that civilization, progress, Christianity are 
advanced by the protection of free and paid labor. Sir, I wel- 
come you to the midst of this generous people, and may the God 
who has so long watched over this country give you wisdom to 
discharge the high duties that devolve upon you, to the advance- 
ment of the greatness and glory of the Government, and the hap- 
piness and prosperity of the people." 

To this, Mr. Lincoln replied : " Governor Curtin, and citizens 
of the State of Pennsylvania : perhaps the best thing that I could 
do, would be simply to endorse the patriotic and eloquent speech 
which your Governor has just made in your hearing. I am quite 
sure that I am unable to address to you anything so appropriate 
as that which he has uttered. Reference has been made by him 
to the distraction of the public mind at this time, and to the great 
task that lies before me in entering upon the administration of 
the General Government. With all the eloquence and ability 
that your Governor brings to this theme, I am quite sure he does 
not — in his situation he cannot — appreciate, as I do, the weight 
of that great responsibility. I feel that, under God, in the 
strength of the arm and wisdom of the heads of these masses, 
after all, must be my support. As I have often had occasion to 
say, I repeat to you, I am quite sure I do not deceive myself 
when I tell you I bring to the work an honest heart ; I dare not 
tell you that I bring a head sufficient for it. If my own strength 
should fail, I shall at last fall back upon these masses, who, I 
think, under any circumstances, will not fail. 



100 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

"Allusion has been made to the peaceful principles upon which 
this great Commonwealth was originally settled. Allow me to 
add my meed of praise to those peaceful principles. I hope no 
<»ne of the Friends who originally settled here, or who have 
lived here since that time, or who live here now, has been or is 
a more devoted lover of peace, harmony, and concord than my 
bumble self. 

" While I have been proud to see to-day the finest military 
array I think that I have ever seen, allow me to say in regard 
to those men, that they give hope of what may be done when 
Avar is inevitable. But, at the same time, allow me to express 
the hope that in the shedding of blood their services may never 
be needed, especially in the shedding of fraternal blood. It shall 
be my endeavor to preserve the peace of this country so far as it 
can possibly be done consistently with the maintenance of the 
institutions of the country. With my consent, or without my 
great displeasure, this country shall never witness the shedding 
of one drop of blood in fraternal strife." 

The utterance of this speech, to an audience that filled the 
square and choked the entrance to all the streets leading from it, 
was full of animation and earnestness. His countenance was 
lighted up with a fervor and a glow which, to one familiar with 
his pictures, or with his face in repose, which was almost habitu- 
ally grave and reflective, reminded of the face of Him who was 
transfigured on the mount. The assertion that there should be 
no bloodshed by his consent unless required to maintain the insti- 
tutions of the country, was made with an earnestness that seemed 
inspired by the convictions of a sincere and devoted heart. 

From the hotel Mr. Lincoln was escorted to the Capitol, where 
in the presence of both Houses, the Governor, and heads of de- 
partments, he was formally received. The chair in which it was 
arranged for him to sit, was that in which Hancock sat when he 
signed the immortal Declaration — of antiquated form, stiff, high 
back and clumsily wrought, but made sacred in its associations. 
The Speaker of the Senate, Mr. Palmer, addressed him in suitable 
terms, expressing, in behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, their 
satisfaction in meeting him without distinction of party, and their 
* special gratification in the sentiments which he had previously 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 101 

expressed upon the subject of protection to American industry. 
Mr. Davis, in behalf of the House, greeted him with an expres- 
sion of concern for the safety of the country, but in a vein of 
profound respect for his prudence, wisdom, and patriotism. 
" There is no disguising the fact," he said, " that the ship of 
state is drifting in a dangerous and unknown sea. But we have 
every confidence in the steady hand and true heart of the Pilot 
of our choice." 

Mr. Lincoln responded : " Mr. Speaker of the Senate, and also 
Mr. Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Gentlemen of 
the General Assembly of Pennsylvania : I appear before you only 
for a few brief remarks in response to what has been said to me. 
I thank you most sincerely for this reception, and the generous 
words in which support has been promised upon this occasion. I 
thank your great Commonwealth for the overwhelming support it 
recently gave — not me personally, but to the cause which I 
think a just one — in the late election. Allusion has been made 
to the fact — the interesting fact, perhaps we should say — that I, 
for the first time, appear at the Capitol of the great Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, upon the birthday of the Father of his 
Country. In connection with that beloved anniversary connected 
with the history of this country, I have already gone through one 
exceedingly interesting scene this morning, in the ceremonies at 
Philadelphia. Under the kind conduct of gentlemen there, I was 
for the first time allowed the privilege of standing in old In- 
dependence Hall, to have a few words addressed to me there, 
opening up an opportunity to express something of my own 
feelings excited by the occasion, that had been really the feelings 
of my whole life. 

" Besides this, our friends there had provided a magnificent flag 
of the country. I was given the honor of raising it to the head 
of its staff; and when it went up, I was pleased that it went to 
its place by the strength of my own feeble arm. When, accord- 
ing to the arrangement, the cord was pulled and it flaunted glori- 
ously to the wind without an accident, in the glowing sunshine 
of the morning, I could not help hoping that there was in the 
entire success of that beautiful ceremony, at least something of 
an omen of what is to come. Nor could I help feeling then, as I 



102 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

often have felt, that in the whole of that proceeding I was a very 
humble instrument. I had not provided the flag; I had not 
made the arrangement for elevating it to its place; I had applied 
but a very small portion of even my feeble strength in raising it. 
In the Avhole transaction, I was in the hands of the people who 
had planned it; and if I can have the same generous cooperation 
of the people of this nation, I think the flag of our country may 
yet be kept flaunting gloriously. I recur for a moment to what 
has been said about the military support which the General 
Government may expect from the Commonwealth of Pennsylva- 
nia, in a proper emergency. To guard against any possible mis- 
take do I.recur to this. It is not with any pleasure that I con- 
template the possibility that a necessity may arise in this country 
for the use of the military arm. While I am exceedingly grati- 
fied to see the manifestation upon your streets of your military 
force here, and exceedingly gratified at your promise to use that 
force upon a proper emergency ; Avhile I make these acknowledg- 
ments, I desire to repeat, in order to preclude any possible mis- 
construction, that I do most sincerely hope that we shall have no 
use for them — that it will never become their duty to shed blood, 
and most especially never to shed fraternal blood. I promise 
that, in so far as I may have wisdom to direct, if so painful a 
result shall in any wise be brought about, it shall be through no 
fault of mine. 

"Allusion has also been made, by one of your honored speakers, 
to some remarks recently made by myself at Pittsburg, in regard 
to what is supposed to be the special interest of this great Com- 
monwealth of Pennsylvania. I now wish only to say, in regard 
to that matter, that the few remarks which I uttered on that 
occasion were rather carefully worded. I took pains that they 
should be so. I have seen no occasion since to add to them or 
subtract from them. I leave them precisely as they stand, 
adding only now that I am pleased to have an expression from 
you, gentlemen of Pennsylvania, significant that they are satis- 
factory." 

Speaker Palmer then proceeded to deliver an elaborate oration 
upon the "Life and Character of Washington," in accordance with 
the previous request of the Legislature. Near the close of his 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 103 

address he made the following allusion to Mr. Lincoln: "And 
may God protect and bless the President-elect of the United 
States, whom He has called to the performance of high and 
important duties at this solemn and difficult period in our history. 
The people of Pennsylvania, by their votes in favor of his elec- 
tion, have confided their interests and their honor to his keeping, 
and the vast destinies and future welfare of the Union are largely 
committed to his charge. And here, in behalf of the people of 
Pennsylvania, let me thank him for his recent public declarations 
of fraternal feeling and justice of intention towards the people 
of the Southern States — that ' they are to be treated as Washing- 
ton, Jefferson, and Madison treated them — that their institu- 
tions are in no way to be interfered with — that he will abide by 
every compromise of the Constitution.' And further, that ' they 
are our fellow-citizens, friends, and brethren, equally devoted with 
ourselves to the Constitution, and that there is no difference 
between them, and us, other than the difference of local circum- 
stances.' These are the sentiments of Washington, and the sen- 
timents and principles Pennsylvania meant to sustain, when her 
people voted for Abraham Lincoln." 

The address of the President-elect before the Legislature of 
Pennsylvania was the last of that remarkable series which he 
delivered during his more than triumphal progress to the Capital. 
His words throughout were those of kindness and conciliation. 
He allowed no utterance to escape him that could by any possi- 
bility be construed into a menace, or an incitement to civil strife. 
On the contrary, he iterated and reiterated the sentiment of obe- 
dience to law and a devotion to the Constitution, with a frequency 
that, under other circumstances, would have been devoid of taste. 
The real effect of his words was, however, the reverse of that 
which he intended. It was at a time when the whole country, 
from the revolutionary attitude which the South had chosen to 
assume, was greatly excited, and every word which would throw 
light upon the solution of the vexed problem was eagerly sought. 
The kindly and humane tone of his utterances gave intense satis- 
faction, and his words were hailed as those of truth and soberness. 
Every one came to feel that if it was possible to avoid war, it was 
in the heart of Abraham Lincoln to do it. Every sentiment he 



10-1 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

expressed, tended to mould and unite the North, and to make his 
eause their cause. How much soever he might disclaim the inten- 
tion of inciting to war, and declare — 

" I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts," 

yet he succeeded, though unwittingly ; — and when, finally, he 
was forced to call for men to defend the national honor, they were 
ready to go, and eager to flock to his standard. 

Mr. Lincoln was accompanied on his journey by his wife and 
family, and a few personal friends, among whom were Judge 
Davis and Mr. Judd of Illinois, Colonel Sumner, Major Hunter, 
and Captain Pope. It had been arranged and widely published 
that the party would proceed by special train on the following 
morning oyer the Northern Central Railway to Baltimore, and 
thence to Washington. But intelligence communicated on the 
evening before caused that arrangement to be in part changed. 
Previous to the departure of Mr. Lincoln from his home, threats 
had been heard of his assassination ; that he would never live to" 
reach the Capital, and that the 4th of March would come and go 
without witnessing his inauguration. It is asserted on good 
authority, that an attempt was actually made to throw the train 
from the track on the first day of his journey, at a point where a 
wreck would have been disastrous, and the precaution was after- 
wards adopted of sending a pilot engine just ahead. A hand 
Grenade was also found secreted in the car in which he was to 
travel, just as the train was leaving Cincinnati. So numerous 
and confident had the threats of bodily harm to Mr. Lincoln 
become, that detectives were employed to discover whence they 
originated, and if there was really any foundation for apprehen- 
sion. It was ascertained that a plan had been formed to assassi- 
nate him at the Calvert-street Depot in Baltimore, while sur- 
rounded by the crowd. This information was so positive and 
circumstantial, and having come through two sources entirely 
independent of each other, so well confirmed the previous rumors, 
that it was deemed advisable by the friends of Mr. Lincoln under 
whose escort he was travelling, and by General Scott and Mr. 
Seward, who had ferreted out the plot and had sent a messenger to 
Philadelphia to warn him of his danger, to abandon the Northern 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 105 

Central Road, and go by the way of Philadelphia, passing 
through Baltimore in the night time, thus avoiding change of 
cars in that city. The manner of that journey was the subject 
of sensational despatches and comments, many of them embody- 
ing the wildest exaggeration. Mr. Lincoln was represented as 
having fled from Harrisburg in disguise, dressed in a long mili- 
tary cloak and a Highland cap, and in rude fur garments, after 
the manner of a hunter. The illustrated papers, too, made his 
clandestine journey the subject of broad caricature. It is fortu- 
nate that amid so much misrepresentation we have from the 
mouth of Mr. Lincoln himself a plain statement of the event and 
all the attendant circumstances. 

Early in December, 18G4, Mr. Benson J. Lossing, the eminent 
historiographer and annalist, visited Mr. Lincoln, who, in reply to 
an inquiry made upon the subject, gave the following account, 
which was afterwards reduced to writing, nearly in his own 
words : " I arrived at Philadelphia on the 21st. I agreed to stop 
over night, and on the following morning hoist the flag over 
Independence Hall. In the evening there was a great crowd 
when I received my friends at the Continental Hotel. Mr. Judd, 
a warm personal friend from Chicago, sent for me to come to his 
room. I went, and found there Mr. Pinkerton, a skilful police 
detective, also from Chicago, who had been employed for some 
clays in Baltimore, watching or searching for suspicious persons 
there. Pinkerton informed me that a plan had been laid for my 
assassination, the exact time when I expected to go through 
Baltimore being publicly known. He was Avell informed as to 
the plan, but did not know that the conspirators would have 
pluck enough to execute it. He urged me to go right through 
with him to Washington that night. I didn't like that. I had 
made engagements to visit Harrisburg, and go from there to 
Baltimore, and I resolved to do so. I could not believe that there 
was a plot to murder me. I made arrangements, however, with 
Mr. Judd for nry return to Philadelphia the next night, if I 
should be convinced that there was danger in going through 
Baltimore. I told him that if I should meet at Harrisburg, as I 
had at other places, a delegation to go with me to the next place, 
then Baltimore, I should feel safe and go on. 



106 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

" When I was making my way back to my room, through 
crowds of people, I met Frederick Seward. We went together to 
mv room, when he told me that he had been sent, at the instance 
of his father and General Scott, to inform me that their detectives 
in Baltimore had discovered a plot there to assassinate me. 
They knew nothing of Pinkerton's movements. I now believed 
such a plot to be in existence. The next morning I raised the 
flag over Independence Hall, and then went on to Harrisburg 
with Mr. Sumner, Major (now General) Hunter, Mr. Judd, Mr. 
Lamon and others. There I met the Legislature and people, 
dined, and waited until the time appointed for me to leave. In 
the meantime, Mr. Judd had so secured the telegraph that no 
communication could pass to Baltimore and give the conspirators 
knowledge of a change in my plans. In New York some friend 
had given me a new beaver hat in a box, and in it had placed a 
soft wool hat. I had never worn one of the latter in my life. I 
had this box in my room. Having informed a very few friends 
of the secret of my new movements, and the cause, I put on an" 
old overcoat that I had with me, and putting the soft hat in my 
pocket, I walked out of the house at a back door, bareheaded, 
without exciting any special curiosity. Then I put on the soft 
hat and joined my friends without being recognized by strangers, 
for I was not the same man. Sumner and Hunter wished to 
accompany me. I said no ; you are known, and your presence 
might betray me. I will only take Lamon, now Marshal of this 
District, whom nobody knew, and Mr. Judd. Sumner and 
Hunter felt hurt. We went back to Philadelphia and found a 
message there from Pinkerton, who had returned to Baltimore, 
that the conspirators had held their final meeting that evening, 
and it was doubtful whether they had the nerve to attempt the 
execution of their purpose. I went on, however, as the arrange- 
ment had been made. We were a long time in the station at 
Baltimore. I heard people talking around, but no one particu- 
larly observed me. At an early hour on Saturday morning, at 
about the time I was expected to leave Harrisburg, I arrived in 
Washington." 

Mrs. Lincoln and the rest of the party remained until morning, 
when, after receiving a dispatch from Washington, stating that 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 107 

Mr. Lincoln had arrived in safety, they departed by the train 
especially prepared, over the Northern Central Road, and passing 
unmolested through Baltimore, arrived at the Capital in due 
time. That a well-matured plan had been formed to take Mr. 
Lincoln's life, there was little doubt, and subsequent events con- 
firm the belief. Mr. Raymond, in his Life of Lincoln, states that 
a notorious gambler, by the name of Byrne, left Baltimore soon 
after these events, and went to Richmond, where he fell under 
suspicion of disloyalty to the Southern Government, and was 
arrested. But at the hearing of his case, ex-United States Sena- 
tor Wigfall testified that Byrne "was captain of a gang who 
were to kill Mr. Lincoln," which secured his instant release, it 
being sufficient evidence of his loyalty to a Government which 
could regard with favor, and lend its sanction to, such murderous 
practices. The headquarters of the assassins was at No. 66 
Fayette street, near Calvert, in the Taylor Building, which was 
the place of meeting of the leaders of the mob, who did actually 
murder some of the Massachusetts troops shortly afterward. 

One of the agents employed to trace out the parties to this con- 
spiracy was under the direction of Samuel M. Felton, of Phila- 
delphia, President of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore 
Railroad Company. Having his own road to protect, the bridges 
of which were threatened with destruction, he was able the more 
easily to extend his investigation beyond his immediate charge, 
and to trace the source of the danger. At the request of the 
Librarian of Harvard University, Mr. Felton, whose brother was 
the President of that institution, prepared an account of the 
investigations that he instituted. It illustrates, in a most striking 
manner, this noted night journey of Mr. Lincoln through Penn- 
sylvania, and the solicitude felt by its citizens for his safety ; it 
serves, too, to show the diabolical nature of the rebellious spirit, 
even at that early stage. 

" It came to my knowledge," says Mr. Felton, " in the early 
part of 1861, first by rumors and then from evidence which I 
could not doubt, that there was a deep laid conspiracy to capture 
Washington, destroy all the avenues leading to it from the North, 
East, and West, and thus prevent the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln 
in the Capital of the country ; and, if this plot did not succeed, 



108 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

then to murder him while on his way to the Capital, and thus 
inaugurate a revolution, which should end in establishing a 
Southern Confederacy, uniting all the Slave States, while it was 
imagined that the North would be divided into separate cliques, 
each striving for the destruction of the other. 

" Early in the year 1861, Miss Dix, the philanthropist, came 
into my office on a Saturday afternoon. I had known her for 
some years as one engaged in alleviating the sufferings of the 
afflicted. Her occupation had brought her in contact with the 
prominent men South. In visiting hospitals, she had become 
familiar with the structure of Southern society, and also Avith the 
working of its political machinery. She stated that she had an 
important communication to make to me personally ; and, after 
closing my door, I listened attentively to what she had to say for 
more than an hour. She put, in a tangible and reliable shape, 
by the facts she related, what I had heard before in numerous 
and detached parcels. The sum of it all was, that there was 
then an extensive and organized conspiracy throughout the South 
to seize upon Washington, with its archives and records, and then 
declare the Southern conspirators de facto the Government of the 
United States. The whole was to be a coup d'etat. At the same 
time, they were to cut off all modes of communication between 
Washington and the North, East, or West, and thus prevent the 
transportation of troops to wrest the Capital from the hands of 
the insurgents. Mr. Lincoln's inauguration was thus to be pre- 
vented, or his life was to fall a sacrifice to the attempt at inaugu- 
ration. In fact, troops were then drilling on the line of our own 
road, and the Washington and Annapolis line, and other lines ; 
and they were sworn to obey the commands of their leaders, and 
the leaders were banded together to capture Washington. 

" As soon as the interview was ended, I called Mr. N. P. Trist 
into my office, and told him to go to Washington that night, 
and communicate these facts to General Scott. I also furnished 
him with some data as to the other routes to Washington, that 
might be adopted in case the direct route was cut off. One 
was the Delaware Railroad to Seaford, and then up the Chesa- 
peake and Potomac to Washington, or to Annapolis, and 
thence to Washington; another — to Perry ville, and thence to 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. 109 

Annapolis and Washington. Mr. Trist left that night, and 
arrived in Washington at six the next morning, which was on 
Sunday. He immediately had an interview with General Scott, 
who told him he had foreseen the trouble that was coining, and 
in October previous had made a communication to the President, 
predicting trouble at the South, and urging strongly the garrison- 
ing of all the Southern forts and arsenals with forces sufficient to 
hold them, but that his advice had been unheeded ; nothing had 
been done, and he feared nothing would be done ; that he was 
powerless, and that he feared Mr. Lincoln would be obliged to be 
inaugurated into office at Philadelphia. He should, however, do 
all he could to bring troops to Washington sufficient to make it 
secure; but he had no influence with the Administration, and 
feared the worst consequences. Thus matters stood on Mr. 
Trist's visit to Washington, and thus they stood for some time 
afterwards. 

" About this time, — a few days subsequent, however, — a gen- 
tleman from Baltimore came out to Back River Bridge, about five 
miles this side of the city, and told the bridge-keeper that he had 
come to give information, which had come to his knowledge, of 
vital importance to the road, which he wished to communicate to 
me. The nature of this communication was, that a party was 
then organized in Baltimore to burn our bridges, in case Mr. 
Lincoln came over the road, or in case we attempted to carry 
troops for the defence of Washington. The party, at the time, 
had combustible materials prepared to pour over the bridges, and 
were to disguise themselves as negroes, and be at the bridge just 
before the train on which Mr. Lincoln travelled had arrived. 
The bridge was then to be burned, the train attacked, and Mr. 
Lincoln to be put out of the way. This man appeared to be a 
gentleman, and in earnest, and honest in what he said ; but he 
would not give his name, nor allow any inquiries to be made as 
to his name or exact abode, as he said his life would be in peril 
were it known that he had given this information ; but, if we 
would not attempt to find him out, he would continue to come 
and give information. He came subsequently, several times, and 
gave items of information as to the movements of the conspira- 
tors, but I have never been able to ascertain who he was. 



HO MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVAXLL 

" Immediately sifter the development of these facts, I went to 
Washington, and there met a prominent and reliable gentleman 
from Baltimore, who was well acquainted with Marshal Kane, 
then the chief of police. I was anxious to ascertain whether he 
was loyal and reliable, and made particular inquiries upon both 
these points. I was assured that Kane was perfectly reliable ; 
whereupon I made known some of the facts that had come to 
my knowledge in reference to the designs for the burning of the 
bridges, and requested that they should be laid before Marshal 
Kane, with a request that he should detail a police force to make 
the necessary investigation. Marshal Kane was seen, and it was 
suggested to him that there were reports of a conspiracy to burn 
the bridges and cut off Washington ; and his advice was asked as 
to the best way of ferreting out the conspirators. He scouted 
the idea that there was any such thing on foot ; said he had 
thoroughly investigated the whole matter, and there was not the 
slightest foundation for such rumors. 

" I then determined to have nothing more to do with Marshal 
Kane, but to investigate the matter in my own way, and at once 
sent for a celebrated detective who resided in the West, and 
whom I had before employed on an important matter. He was a 
man of great skill and resources. I furnished him with a few 
hints, and at once set him on the track with eight assistants. 
There were then drilling, upon the line of the railroad, three 
military organizations, professedly for home defence, pretending 
to be Union men, and, in one or two instances, tendering their 
services to the railroad, in case of trouble. Their propositions 
were duly considered; but the defence of the road was never 
intrusted to their tender mercies. The first thing done was to 
enlist a volunteer in each of these military companies. They 
pretended to come from New Orleans and Mobile, and did not 
appear to be wanting in sympathy for the South. They were 
furnished with uniforms at the expense of the road, and drilled 
as often as their associates in arms ; became initiated into all the 
secrets of the organization, and reported ever}'' day or two to 
their chief, who immediately reported to me the designs and 
plans of these military companies. One of these organizations 
was loyal, but the other two were disloyal, and fully in the plot 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. HI 

to destroy the bridges, and march to Washington, to wrest it 
from the hands of the legally constituted authorities. Every 
nook and corner of the road and its vicinity was explored by the 
chief and his detectives, and the secret working of secession and 
treason laid bare and brought to light. Societies were joined in 
Baltimore, and various modes, known to and practised only by 
detectives, were resorted to, to win the confidence of the conspira- 
tors, and get into their secrets. 

" The plan worked well ; and the midnight plottings and daily 
consultations of the conspirators Avere treasured up as a guide to 
our future plans for thwarting them. It turned out that all that 
had been communicated by Miss Dix and the gentleman from 
Baltimore rested upon a foundation of fact, and that the half had 
not been told. It was made as certain as strong circumstantial 
and positive evidence could make it, that there was a plot to burn 
the bridges and destroy the road, and murder Mr. Lincoln on his 
way to Washington, if it turned out that he went there before 
troops were called. If troops were first called, then the bridges 
were to be destroyed, and Washington cut off, and taken posses- 
sion of by the South. I at once organized and armed a force of 
about two hundred men, whom I distributed along the line 
between the Susquehanna and Baltimore, principally at the 
bridges. These men were drilled secretly and regularly by drill- 
masters, and were apparently employed in whitewashing the 
bridges, putting on six or seven coats of whitewash, saturated 
with salt and alum, to make the outside of the bridges as nearly 
fire-proof as possible. This whitewashing, so extensive in its 
application, became the nine days' wonder of the neighborhood. 
Thus the bridges were strongly guarded, and a train was 
arranged so as to concentrate all the forces at one point in case 
of trouble. 

"The programme of Mr. Lincoln was changed, and it was 
decided by him that he would go to Harrisburg from Philadel- 
phia, and thence over the Northern Central Road by day to 
Baltimore, and thence to Washington. We were then informed 
by our detective, that the attention of the conspirators was 
turned from our road to the Northern Central, and that they 
would there await the coming of Mr. Lincoln. This statement 



112 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was confirmed by our Baltimore gentleman, who came out again, 
and said their designs upon our road were postponed for the 
present, and unless we carried troops, would not be renewed 
again. Mr. Lincoln was to be waylaid on the line of the Northern 
Central Road, and prevented from reaching Washington; and his 
life was to fall a sacrifice to the attempt. Thus matters stood on 
his arrival in Philadelphia. I felt it my duty to communicate to 
him the facts that had come to my knowledge, and urge his 
going to Washington privately that night in our sleeping-car, 
instead of publicly two days after, as was proposed. I went to a 
hotel in Philadelphia, where I met the detective, who was 
registered under an assumed name, and arranged with him to 
bring Mr. Judd, Mr. Lincoln's intimate friend, to my room in 
season to arrange the journey to Washington that night. One 
of our sub-detectives made three efforts to communicate with 
Mr. Judd, while passing through the streets in the procession, and 
was three times arrested and carried out of the crowd by the 
police. The fourth time he succeeded, and brought Mr. Judd to 
my room, where he met the detective-in-chief and myself. We 
lost no time in making known to him all the facts which had 
come to our knowledge in reference to the conspiracy ; and I most 
earnestly advised, that Mr. Lincoln should go to Washington 
privately that night in the sleeping car. Mr Judd fully entered 
into the plan, and said he would urge Mr. Lincoln to adopt it. 

"On his communicating with Mr. Lincoln, after the services of 
the evening were over, he answered that he had engaged to 
go to Harrisburg and speak the next day, and he would not 
break his engagement, even in the face of such peril, but that, 
alter he had fulfilled the engagement, he would follow such 
advice as we might give him in reference to his journey to 
Washington. It was then arranged that he should go to Harris- 
burg the next day, and make his address; after which he was to 
apparently return to Governor Curtin's house for the night, but 
in reality go to a point about two miles out of Harrisburg where 
an extra car and engine awaited to take him to Philadelphia. 
At the time of his retiring, the telegraph lines, east, west, north, 
and south from Harrisburg were cut, so that no message as to 
his movements could be sent off in any direction. 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNS YL VANIA. 1 1 3 

" Mr. Lincoln could not probably arrive in season for our regu- 
lar train, that at 11 p. m., and I did not dare to send him by an 
extra, for fear of its being found out or suspected that he was on 
the road ; so it became necessary for me to devise some excuse 
for the detention of the train. But three or four on the road, 
besides myself, knew the plan ; one of these I sent by an earlier 
train to say to the people of the Washington Branch road, that I 
had an important package I was getting ready for the 11 p. m. 
train ; that it was necessary .1 should have this package delivered 
in Washington early the next morning, without fail ; that I was 
straining every nerve to get it ready by 11 o'clock, but, in case I 
did not succeed, I should delay the train until it was ready, — 
probably not more than half an hour; and I wished, as a personal 
favor, that the Washington train should await the coming of ours 
from Philadelphia before leaving. This request was willingly 
complied with by the managers of the Washington Branch ; and 
the man whom I had sent to Baltimore so informed me by tele- 
graph in cipher. The second person in the secret I sent to West 
Philadelphia, with a carriage, to await the coming of Mr. Lincoln. 
I gave him a package of old railroad reports, done up with great 
care, with a great seal attached to it, and directed in a fair, round 
hand to a person at Willard's. I marked it ' very important ; to 
be delivered without fail by 11 o'clock train,' indorsing my own 
name upon the package. Mr. Lincoln arrived in West Philadel- 
phia, and was immediately taken into the carriage, and driven to 
within a square of our station, where my man with the package 
jumped off, and waited till he saw the carriage drive up to the 
door, and Mr. Lincoln and the detective get out and go into the 
station. He then came up and gave the package to the conduc- 
tor, who was waiting at the door to receive it, in company with a 
police officer. 

" Tickets had been bought beforehand for Mr. Lincoln and 
party to Washington, including a tier of berths in the sleep- 
ing-car. He passed between the conductor and the police officer 
at the door, and neither suspected who he was. The conductor 
remarked as he passed, ' Well, old fellow, it is lucky for you that 
our president detained the train to send a package by it, or you 
would have been left.' Mr. Lincoln and the detective beinar 



114 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 

safely ensconsed in the sleeping-car, and my package safely in 
the hands of the conductor, the train started for Baltimore about 
fifteen minutes behind time. 

•• Our man No. 3, George , started with the train to go to 

Baltimore, and hand it over, with its contents, to man No. 1, 
who awaited its arrival in Baltimore. Before the train reached 
Gray's Ferry Bridge, and before Mr. Lincoln had resigned him- 
self to slumber, the conductor came to our man George, and ae- 
costing him, said, 'George, I thought you and I were old friends; 
why did you not tell me we had Old Abe on board ? ' George, 
thinking the conductor had in some way become possessed of the 
secret, answered, 'John, we are friends, and, as you have found 
it out, Old Abe is on board ; and we will still be friends, and see 
him safely through.' John answered, * Yes, if it costs me my life, 
he shall have a safe passage.' And so George stuck to one end 
of the car, and the conductor to the other every moment that his 
duties to the other passengers would admit of it. It turned out, 
however, that the conductor was mistaken in his man. A man 
strongly resembling Mr. Lincoln had come down to the train, 
about half an hour -before it left, and bought a ticket to Wash- 
ington for the sleeping-car. The conductor had seen him, and 
concluded he was the veritable Old Abe. 

" George delivered the sleeping-car and train over to William 
in Baltimore, as had been previously arranged, who took his 
place at the brake, and rode to Washington, where he arrived 
at G A. m., on time, and saw Mr. Lincoln, in the hands of a 
friend, safely delivered at Willard's, when he secretly ejaculated, 
' God be praised ! ' He also saw the package of railroad reports, 
marked ' important,' safely delivered into the hands for which it 
was intended. This being done, he performed his morning ablu- 
tions in peace and quiet, and enjoyed with unusual zest his 
breakfast. At 8 o'clock, the time agreed upon, the tele- 
graphic wires were joined ; and the first message flashed across 
the line was, ' Your package has arived safeby, and been deliv- 
ered,' signed ' William.' Then there went up from the w r riter of 
this a shout of joy and devout thanksgiving to Him from whom 
all blessings How; and the few who were in the secret joined in 
a heartfelt Amen. 



THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IN PENNSYLVANIA. H5 

" Thus began and ended a chapter in the history of the Rebel- 
lion, that has been never before written, but about which there 
have been many hints entitled, 'A Scotch Cap and Riding Cloak/ 
etc., neither of which liad any foundation in truth, as Mr. Lincoln 
travelled in his ordinary dress. Mr. Lincoln was safely inau- 
gurated, after which I discharged our detective force, and also 
the semi-military whitewashes, and all was quiet and serene 
again on the railroad. But the distant booming from Fort Sum- 
ter was soon heard, and aroused in earnest the whole population 
of the loyal States. The 75,000 three-months' men were called 
out, and again the plans for burning bridges and destroying the 
railroad were revived in all their force and intensity. Again I 
sent Mr. Trist to Washington to see General Scott, to beg for 
troops to garrison the road, as our forces were then scattered, and 
could not be got at. Mr. Trist telegraphed me that the forces 
would be supplied ; but the crisis came on immediately, and all, 
and more than all, were required at Washington. At the last 
moment I obtained, and sent down the road, about 200 men, 
armed with shot guns and revolvers — all the arms I could get 
hold of at the time. They were raw and undisciplined men, and 
not fit to cope with those brought against them, — about 150 men, 
fully armed, and commanded by the redoubtable rebel, J. R. 
Trimble." 

Mr. Arnold in his Life of Lincoln, in referring to this change 
in the route of travel, says : " From Baltimore there had reached 
him no committee, either of the municipal authorities or of 
citizens, to tender him the hospitalities, and to extend to him the 
courtesies of that city, as had been done by every city through 
which we had passed. He was, accordingly, persuaded to permit 
the detective to arrange for his Groins; to Washington that night." 
Mr. Lincoln afterwards said to Mr. Arnold : " I did not then, nor 
do I now, believe I should have been assassinated, had I gone 
through Baltimore, as first contemplated ; but I thought it wise 
to run no risk, where no risk was necessary." 



CHAPTER V. 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 




HE authors of the Rebellion, in their mad haste to 
fire the Southern heart, did not seem to realize 
that they were wielding a two-edged sword. Major 
Anderson, who, with his little garrison, had been 
shut up in Fort Sumter for many weeks, while the 
South Carolina Secessionists were preparing power- 
ful batteries bearing upon it, had given notice that 
his provisions would be exhausted on the loth of 
April, and that he would then be compelled to 
peacefully evacuate. But to allow him to depart 
without bloodshed, and they to take quiet posses- 
sion, did not answer the fell designs of the con- 
spirators. Edmund Ruffin, a suggestive name, who 
had been sent from Virginia to assist in inciting to action, 
declared, "The first drop of blood spilled on the soil of South 
Carolina will bring Virginia and every Southern State to her 
side." Mr. Gilchrist, a member of the Alabama Legislature, in 
addressing Mr. Davis and a part of his Cabinet, at Montgomery, 
said : " Gentlemen, unless you sprinkle blood in the face of the 
people of Alabama, they will be back in the old Union in less 
than ten days." 

Accordingly, at midnight of the 11th, but four days before 
hunger would have obliged the garrison of Fort Sumter to with- 
draw, signal guns were fired, and soon afterwards a bombardment 
was opened upon the fort from heavy guns at Cumming's Point, 
Sullivan's Island, Fort Moultrie, and the whole circumference of 
works erected for its destruction. The fort was in no condition 
for defence, and after making such resistance as was possible, 
and suffering from the heat of the burning barracks, which had 

116 







^ MiEG? M§Ql 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 117 

been fired by the insurgents' missiles, Major Anderson surren- 
dered. 

The first shot at Sumter may have had the effect designed — 
that of stirring the heart of the South — but it no less effectually 
aroused the heart of the North. The feeling expressed by a 
soldier by profession, who had grown grey in the service of his 
country, the late Colonel Seneca G. Simmons, who fell at the 
climax of the battle at Charles City Cross Roads, was a fair illus- 
tration of the effect which that shot produced upon the Northern 
mind. When the first intelligence was received, with much 
emotion, he exclaimed: "I have been a friend of the Southern 
people, and in the line of my duty would have lain down my life 
in their defence; but why did they fire upon the old flag?" and 
in his compressed lips and flashing eye was read the answer. In 
that resolute, grizzly-bearded, silent soldier, with bosom heaving 
with resentment, was personified the twenty millions of the North. 

A little more than a month before this, Mr. Lincoln had been 
inaugurated, and in his address on that occasion, he had declared 
his intention, while neither having any right nor desire to inter- 
fere with Slavery in the States where it then existed, neverthe- 
less, to take care, as the Constitution enjoined upon him, that the 
laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States. After 
expressing this, his sworn duty and determination, he appealed 
in a strain of pathetic tenderness and fraternal feeling rarely 
excelled, for an observance of the obligations resting on all alike. 
" In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen," he said, 
" and not in mine, are the momentous issues of civil war. The 
Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict with- 
out being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath regis- 
tered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have 
the most solemn one to ' preserve, protect, and defend it.' I am 
loth to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not 
be enemies — though passion may have strained, it must not break 
our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching 
from every battle-field and patriot grave to every living heart and 
hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus 
of the Union, when again touched, as surely it will be, by the 
better angels of our nature." 



118 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

When, therefore, in disregard of the warning and the appeal, 
the insurgents at Charleston fired upon the flag, and sought by 
every device known to modern warfare to destroy a fort of the 
nation, and slaughter its garrison, the President had but one 
recourse, and every citizen who regarded the National honor, felt 
a like obligation. Accordingly, on the 15th of April, he issued 
his proclamation calling out the militia of the several States, to 
the number of 75,000 men, and convening Congress in extra 
session on the 4th of July. The troops thus called, he stated, 
would be used probably to repossess forts, places, and property 
unlawfully seized. 

But the insurgents, intoxicated by their first triumph, talked 
loudly of more considerable aggressions. " No man can foretell," 
said the rebel Secretary of War, Walker, in response to a sere- 
nade of Davis and his Cabinet, on the occasion of the fall of 
Sumter, " the events of the war inaugurated ; but I will venture 
to predict that the flag which now floats on the breeze will, before 
the 1st of May, float over the dome of the old Capitol at Wash- 
ington, and if they choose to try Southern chivalry, and test the 
extent of Southern resources, will eventually float over Faneuil 
Hall, in Boston." The Richmond Examiner, of the 13th, said : 
" Nothing is more probable than that President Davis will soon 
march an army through North Carolina and Virginia to Wash- 
ington," and a few days later, in a strain of grandiloquent appeal, 
said : " From the mountain tops and valleys to the shores of the 
sea, there is one wild shout of fierce resolve to capture Washing- 
ton City at all and every human hazard." Instead, therefore, of 
repossessing forts, places, and property unlawfully seized, or of 
coercing a State, as the seceders had cried out against, Mr. Lin- 
coln was obliged, first of all, to defend himself, the Government, 
and its archives from the actual assaults of the enemy. Insur- 
gent forces were drilling within sight of the Capitol itself, almost 
from the moment of his inauguration. Indeed, a skilfully 
arranged disposition of the military under the command of 
General Scott alone guaranteed safety for his induction into 
office. 

The plan for the capture of the Capital was ingeniously laid. 
The rebellious element in Baltimore, which had been purposely 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. H9 

strengthened by a rushing thither of reckless and daring men 
from many parts of the South, was able, for the time, to control 
the city. Its local Government, and even the Executive of the 
State, were understood to be lukewarm in their support of the 
National authority, and openly hostile to the passage of troops 
from the North over Maryland soil in their march to the Capital. 
If, therefore, the means of communication could be cut, and 
troops moving southward delayed until a sufficient force had been 
quietly gathered, the National seat of Government, with all its 
public property, including vast stores of military weapons and 
material, would fall an easy prey. But, like many other schemes 
of Southern leaders, this proved abortive. 

The defeat of the plans was largely due to the prompt arrival 
of Pennsylvania soldiers. As soon as the President's call, which 
was issued on the 15th of April, was received at Harrisburg, 
Governor Curtin made haste to repeat it throughout the Com- 
monwealth, and soon a tide of messages was flowing in, from 
officers of companies tendering the services of their commands. 
The first thus to respond, which from their good state of disci- 
pline and readiness to move, could be made available, were the 
Kinggold Light Artillery of Reading, Captain James McKnight ; 
the Logan Guards of Lewistown, Captain John B. Selheimer ; the 
Washington Artillery, Captain James Wren, and the National 
Light Infantry, Captain Edmund McDonald, both of Pottsville ; 
and the Allen Rifles, Captain Thomas Yeager, of Allentown. 
The first of these, the Ringgold Artillery, was remarkably well 
drilled and officered, and had been formed more than ten years 
previous. Its commander, Captain McKnight, had received inti- 
mations that his company would be called for in case of emer- 
gency. When the news came of the attack on Sumter, the com- 
pany was drilling in a field at some distance from the city. The 
intelligence created intense excitement, and the call was loudly 
made to be led at once to the aid of the Government. At the 
request of the author of this volume, Captain McKnight prepared 
a full and very interesting account of the service of his command, 
from which extracts are presented : " The company," he says, 
" was armed with four six-pounder brass field-pieces and caissons, 
with the full equipments of artillerists, including sabres. The 



120 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

men were very efficient in drill, and previous to the dread tocsin 
of actual war, had made several excursions, and lodged more 
than once upon the touted field. . . . Previous to the outbreak 
of hostilities, I deemed it prudent to get my company into the 
best possible condition. Indeed, as early as January, 18G1, it 
was intimated to me, through General William H. Keim, that the 
services of the Ringgolds would probably be required before long. 
The General, I recollect, asked me how much time would be 
needed to get ready. My reply was, that we were ready at any 
moment, and, as he spoke in behalf of the State, though privately, 
not to occasion unnecessary alarm, from that time the Ringgolds 
considered their services offered to the Government. Therefore 
frequent, almost daily drills were practised. When the news 
came that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, with the unanimous 
consent of the company, I held it in instant readiness for the 
service of the General Government. This was before President 
Lincoln made his call for 75,000 men. 

" It was a memorable day for us when the dispatch, announcing 
the attack on Fort Sumter, reached us. We were at drill about 
a mile and a half from the city, at about half past eleven A. M. 
The effect was electrical. All were impatient to start at once. 
This was on the 15th. Next day, the 16th, inarching orders 
reached us from Harrisburg, from Governor Curtin himself. I 
immediately got my men together, read the communication, and 
on the same afternoon at 2 o'clock, was ready to start ; but by 
the advice of the General Superintendent of the Reading Rail- 
road Company, G. A. Nicholls, instead of taking the special train 
offered, we waited for the regular evening train which started 
at G o'clock. At 8 o'clock p. m., we arrived in Harrisburg, and 
reported 152 men to the Secretary of State, Colonel Slifer, the 
Governor being absent in Washington." 

Mr. Slifer telegraphed for orders to the Secretary of War, and 
received an immediate response directing that the company be 
forwarded at once. An order to this effect was issued to Captain 
McKnight, but was soon after countermanded, that other troops 
then on the way might join him, and all proceed in a body. Had 
this order been executed the Ringgolds would have reached 
Washington at three o'clock on the morning of the 17th. But 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 121 

they were compelled instead to remain in Harrisburg. The four 
other companies named above arrived early on the morning of the 
17th, and on the morning of the 18th company H of the Fourth 
Artillery, under command of Lieutenant Pemberton, afterwards 
General Pemberton of the Rebel Army, came in from the West, 
having been ordered to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The six 
companies, accordingly, moved by the same train over the Nor- 
thern Central Railroad. By direction of the Secretary of War 
Captain McKnight's company left its guns, caissons, and equip- 
ments, except sabres, at Harrisburg, to the sore displeasure of the 
men. The Regulars, to the number of some forty or fifty, had 
their muskets, as had also a part of the Logan Guards. With 
the exception of these, and the sabres of the Ringgolds, the party 
was entirely unarmed. They arrived in Baltimore at half past 
three in the afternoon. 

Of their progress, Captain McKnight gives the following ac- 
count : " At Baltimore it was necessary for us to march a distance 
of about two miles to the Washington depot, and we proceeded 
in the following order; first was company H, Fourth United 
States Artillery, and then followed in succession the Logan 
Guards, Allen Rifles, Washington Artillery, National Light In- 
fantry, and the Ringgold Light Artillery. It will thus be seen 
that my company occupied the second post of honor, the Regulars 
having the first. The detail of our march through Baltimore I 
cannot give in more truthful or forcible language than that em- 
ployed by my friend, Captain E. L. Smith, in a letter addressed 
to his brother-in-law, the Hon. J. Depuy Davis, State Senator from 
this county (Berks), bearing date Washington, April 20th, 1861. 
Captain Smith, it is but proper to say, left his position as a leading 
lawyer and rising public man in the community, and joined my 
company as a private ; but before the expiration of our company's 
service he received his commission as Captain in the Regular 
Army. He says : ' We were under strict orders to say nothing to 
any one about our reception at, and march through Baltimore. It 
was feared, that if all the circumstances of our reception in that 
city were made public, the effect would be to alarm and intimidate. 
The attack of the mob on the Massachusetts volunteers yesterday 
(19th) has removed the injunction of secrecy, and I proceed to 



122 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

give you an account of our passage. We were accompanied from 
Harrisburg by a body of regulars from the West, numbering some 
forty or fifty, and the volunteers from Schuylkill, Lehigh, and 
Mifflin counties, in all some 400 strong. A large force of police met 
us, upon our landing at the depot, to escort us on our march of 
about two miles to the Washington Railroad terminus. We were 
greeted by the mob, which I judged from their appearance to be 
of all classes, with loud cheers for Jeff. Davis and Secession, and 
the display of disunion badges accompanied with groans for Lin- 
coln and the Wide-Awakes, with whom it was our misfortune to 
be at once identified. The Secessionists are, as yet, evidently of 
the opinion, that no one but a Republican of the North will fight 
for the Government. This delusion, which, in their situation is, 
perhaps, natural enough, encourages them, as much as anything 
else, to hold out against us, in the hope of a reaction in the North 
in their favor, on the part of the Democrats. The mob hemmed 
us in on every side, outnumbering ourselves by at least a hun- 
dred to one. I must do the rowdies of Baltimore the justice to 
say, that they proved themselves the most accomplished of their 
class. To tell you that they indulged in the vilest billingsgate 
conveys not the slightest idea of the Baltimore vocabulary, which 
is mi generis, abounding in taunt so remarkable in its ingenuity, 
that it was next to impossible not to reply to it, accompanied 
by appropriate gesticulations, superior to anything I have ever seen 
in the whole range of the theatre. . . . Without the most positive 
orders from our Captain under no circumstances to utter a word, 
it would not have been in my nature to have remained silent or 
passive. The first insult I heard was from a person, who, from 
his dress, et cetera, might have passed for a gentleman : " You 

ugly " said he, close to the Captain's face,. "but you can't 

help it, poor devils, you didn't make yourselves." " The whole 
lager-beer posse," said another, "will hardly make manure enough 
for one little cotton-plant; their sour-krout carcasses aren't guano 
nohow." Sometimes they would pitch into some particular indi- 
vidual with the vilest personal allusions, which, if the matter had 
not been so serious, would have provoked deserved laughter. " Do 
you see that tall four-eyed monster?" said one, pointing to a spec- 
tacled private, "Jeff. Davis will ventilate his window-panes in 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 123 

nine days." It would fill a volume to detail their smart and op- 
probrious sayings which were levelled at us all along the route, so 
near to our ears indeed, that it required the resolution of veterans 
to bear them. Fists were brandished close to our noses, and the 
most fearful menaces used. The regulars who accompanied us 
were our main reliance in case of an attack. The police did good 
service ; but it was plain, from the smiles of many of them at the 
jests of the crowd, that they were acting from a sense of duty 
only, and were not in sympathy with us. The regulars by their 
example did much to keep us from giving rein to the anger and 
indignation with which every breast was swelling. They marched 
like so many statues of bronze, seemingly deaf to the din and up- 
roar about them. You will be surprised to learn that not a man 
of our company was armed except with his sabre. Our swords 
indeed were formidable enough in their way, but would not have 
deterred the mob had they known we were without other weapons. 
They evidently supposed us to be well prepared for any emer- 
gency, and our soldierly bearing assisted the delusion. Compe- 
tent military men, who saw and have heard of our conduct, have 
expressed surprise that volunteers, and, indeed, many of us the 
rawest recruits, were so well equal to the critical condition of 
affairs. The slightest response, upon our side, to the insult of 
the mob, would have precipitated one of the bloodiest street fights 
imaginable. What made this ordeal the more trying to us was 
the fact, that we did not apprehend any molestation. We were 
fortified in this idea by our reception at every way-station on the 
road. The enthusiasm in the rural districts of Maryland for us, 
the display of the old Union banner, the approving smiles of 
the ladies, and the waving of handkerchiefs from every country 
mansion, showed that the Union feeling in Maryland was no less 
strong than that of our own State. Even in the very suburbs of 
Baltimore, these Union manifestations were observable, and in 
the city itself, many were the quiet spectators, who looked as if 
they longed to approach, but thought it wise to refrain. At some 
points shouts for the Union were given with a will, responded to 
by the execrations of the mob. One little fellow, an Irishman, 
at the Washington depot, told us not to fear, that our friends out- 
numbered the mob, and in case of need would stand by us. He 



124 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was at once surrounded by the frantic crowd, and it was a spec- 
tacle worth beholding and never to be forgotten, to see him alone, 
maintaining himself and his sentiments against thousands. He 
would speedily have been overwhelmed, but the police rescued 
him. Having endured this terrible ordeal of threatening and 
abuse, we were thrown pell-mell into cattle cars for Washington. 
But no sooner were we placed aboard than an attempt was made 
by the mob to detach the engine from the train and run it aw;iv. 
This was only prevented by the engineer and his assistants draw- 
ing revolvers, and threatening to shoot any who dared make the 
attempt. At length we were dismissed for the Capital, amid the 
yells and execrations of the hellish ruffians ; while incessant 
showers of stones, brickbats, and other missiles from their infu- 
riated hands saluted the cars. Yet by remarkable good fortune, 
not a man was hurt, and we arrived here at 7? o'clock of the 
same day, and were assigned quarters in the Hall of the House 
of Representatives. . . . '" 

The arrival of these companies caused great rejoicing at the 
Capital, as the city was entirely destitute of defences or defenders, 
and there was hourly expectation of the approach of the enemy. 
It was a matter of congratulation that they had escaped a colli- 
sion with the turbulent element which raged and seethed around 
them in the streets of Baltimore. The company of regulars that 
headed the column had filed off to go to Fort McHenry, their 
destination, while on the march through the city, and had left 
the volunteers to pursue their "way alone. This was the signal 
for renewed insults and intensified shoutings; but the Logan 
Guards, who were left at the head of the column, were uniformed 
and armed very nearly like the regulars, and by preserving a bold 
front and passions immovable, they escaped harm. They had 
had no food since leaving Harrisburg, and were worn out with 
fatigue and hunger; but their wants were speedily supplied, and 
the Capitol was warmed and lighted up, at once transforming its 
dismal and almost mournful aspect into one of comfort and cheer. 
As the brilliant lights shone forth, the rumor spread through the 
city that a large force of Northern troops, armed with Minie 
rifles, were quartered in the Capitol. Mr. Lossing gives the fol- 
lowing account of the origin of this rumor, which, by creating 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 125 

the impression that a much larger force had arrived than was 
actually there, may have saved it from capture : " This rumor 
was started by James D. Gay, a member of the Ringgold Light 
Artillery, who was in Washington City, on business, at the time 
of their arrival. He was already an enrolled member of a tem- 
porary home-guard in Washington, under Cassius M. Clay, which 
we shall consider presently, and was working with all his might 
for the salvation of the city. After exchanging greetings with 
his company at the Capitol, he hastened to Willard's Hotel to 
proclaim the news. In a letter to the writer, he says : ' The first 
man I met as I entered the doors was Lieutenant^Colonel Magru- 
der [who afterwards abandoned his flag, and was a General of the 
Confederate army]. I said, "Colonel, have you heard the good 
news ?" " What is it," he asked. I told him to step to the door. 
He did so. Pointing to the lights at the Capitol, I said, " Do you 
see that?" "Yes," he answered, "but what of that?" "Two 
thousand soldiers," I said, " have marched in there this evening, 
sir, armed with Minie rifles." " Possible ! so much ! " he ex- 
claimed, in an excited manner. Of course, what I told him was 
not true, but I thought that, in the absence of sufficient troops, 
this false report might save the city.' Mr. Gay's ' pious fraud ' 
had the desired effect." 

These five companies, the van of the great army which followed, 
were immediately supplied with arms and accoutrements, and were 
put to barricading the Capitol with barrels of flour and cement, 
and large sheets of boiler iron. Their arrival was opportune, and 
the promptitude and courage which they displayed was made the 
subject of the following resolution, unanimously passed by the 
House of Representatives : " That the thanks of this House are 
due, and are hereby tendered to the 530 soldiers from Pennsyl- 
vania, who passed through the mob of Baltimore, and reached 
Washington on the 18th of April last, for the defence of the 
National Capital." 

On the following day, with kindred zeal General William F. 
Small, of Philadelphia, who had early in the year recruited and 
organized a body of troops known as the Washington Brigade, 
acting under orders of the Secretary of War, also attempted to 
pass through Baltimore. General Small had started on the even- 



126 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ing of the 18th, with instructions to have the train bearing him 
taken through Baltimore before daylight, so as to avoid the mob ; 
but through treachery or culpable negligence, he was delayed, 
and did not reach that city until noon. The Massachusetts Sixth, 
under command of Colonel Jones, had' arrived in Philadelphia on 
the evening of the 18th, on its way from Boston to Washington, 
and had encamped for the night, intending to proceed on the fol- 
lowing day; but intelligence having been received at midnight 
that violence would probably be offered at Baltimore, Colonel 
Jones ordered the long roll beaten, and at one o'clock on the 
morning of the 19 th, started by special train on the Philadelphia, 
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, hoping to pass through the 
hostile city before its population should be astir. Mr. Felton, 
President of this road, says : " I called the Colonel and principal 
officers into my office, and told them of the dangers they would 
probably encounter, and advised that each soldier should load his 
musket before leaving, and be ready for any emergency." This 
advice was acted on ; but the train did not reach that place until 
near noon, having joined General Small on the way, and come in 
ahead of him. The track extends through the city, but for 
nearly two miles the cars have to be drawn by horses. Before 
reaching the city, Colonel Jones had issued the following order to 
his men : " The regiment will march through Baltimore in 
columns of sections, arms at will. You will undoubtedly be 
abused, insulted, and perhaps assaulted, to which you must pay 
no attention whatever, but march with your faces square to the 
front, and give no heed to the mob, even if they throw bricks, 
stones, and other missiles; but if you are fired upon, and any one 
of you is hit, your officers will order you to fire. Do not fire 
into any promiscuous crowds, but select any man whom you may 
see aiming at you, and be sure you drop him." 

As soon as the engine was detached, five cars, containing seven 
companies, were drawn by horses rapidly through the city, and 
reached the Washington depot without molestation. It was 
sometime before the car containing the next company moved ; 
but when it did, it was taken along singly, and was very soon 
thrown from the track, and the men were attacked by the mob 
with bricks and stones, and finally with pistols. The fire was 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 127 

returned by the company, and the fight continued with unabated 
fury until it rejoined the seven companies which had preceded 
it. The remaining three companies, with the band, had been 
detained on the road. When they finally reached the depot, they 
found the track demolished and the rails carried away. Their 
only alternative was then to inarch through the city. They 
had scarcely started, when they were assailed by every imagina- 
ble taunt and insult, and soon by missiles of every description, a 
pile of paving stones having been purposely loosened, ostensi- 
bly to repair the street. Finally fire arms were brought into use ; 
but not until two of the soldiers had been killed and a num- 
ber wounded did this courageous band of only about two hundred 
heed the insults and deadly attacks of the thousands of mad men 
by whom they were surrounded. They then received orders to 
fire, and under their well-directed aim, numbers of the mob began 
to drop. and give way before them. They finally reached their 
destination, and with their comrades, moved off for Washington. 
Five of the soldiers were killed and thirty-six were wounded. It 
is a circumstance worthy of mention, that this was the 19th of 
April, the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, where the first 
blood was shed in the War of Independence, and the first victims 
at Baltimore in the new war were from the county of Middlesex, 
Massachusetts, in which are Lexington, Concord, and Bunker 
Hill, and some of the attacked were the descendants of the men 
who contended on those historic fields. 

In the meantime, General Small had arrived, and finding the 
track demolished, saw at once that all hope of being taken 
through in cars was gone. His men were ununiformed and 
unarmed, but with the true spirit of a soldier he determined to 
brave every peril, and march through the city. The mob, 
having done with the Massachusetts men, now returned mad- 
dened by the taste of blood, to wreak their vengeance upon the 
Pennsylvanians. For a time, General Small was able to breast the 
storm, but finding the tumult thickening and his men unarmed, 
after having one killed and a number wounded, he decided to 
withdraw and return to Philadelphia. Not satisfied with its 
victory, the mob followed up the defenceless soldiers and pelted 
them with stones and clubs, pursuing the train so long as a missile 



128 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

could be made to reach them. Before this determination had 
been taken by General Small, and while his men were still strug- 
gling in the street, the Mayor of the city and Police Commission- 
ers sent the following telegram to Mr. Felton at Philadelphia: 
•• Withdraw the troops now in Baltimore, and send no more 
through Baltimore or Maryland." Bethinking himself of the 
Seaford and Annapolis route, which would avoid Baltimore, and 
feeling confident that the bridges by way of Baltimore would be 
burned in any event, Mr. Felton answered: "1 Mill withdraw 
the troops now in Baltimore, and send no more through the city 
till I first consult with von," being careful to say nothing about 
sending over other parts of Maryland; in fact, having already 
taken measures to secure the ferry-boat at Perry ville. 

During the night following the 10th, a consultation was held 
at the house of General Patterson, Governor Curtin, Mr. Felton, 
Mr. Thompson, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, 
Mr. Ila/.lehurst, and Mayor Henry being present, at which it was 
decided, after considerable discussion, to adopt the Perryville 
route, and means were adopted to procure boats to ply between 
Perryville and Annapolis. As was anticipated, the bridges on 
the Baltimore road were burned that night, as were also those on 
the Northern Central; the telegraph wires were cut, and all com- 
munication with the North was severed. Hon. Morrow B. Lowry, 
who tor nine succeeding years was State Senator from the Erie 
district, had the day before visited llarrishnrg to oiler his services 
to the Government, and had been sent by Governor Curtin to Balti- 
more to watch the progress of events, and keep the State authorities 
informed of what was transpiring, lie arrived on the 19th, the 
day of the passage ol' the Massachusetts troops, and was witness 
to the wild storm and tumult of the dangerous elements in that 
turbulent city, " No pen," he says, "can describe the horrors of 
that scene. Upon the pavement at my feet flowed the first blood 
that was shed in the slaveholder's rebellion. 1 telegraphed to 
the authorities at Harrisburg and Philadelphia to send no more 
troops, as ample preparations existed at Baltimore to send them 
to bloody graves. Towards evening the railroad bridges on the 
Northern Central, as well as the Philadelphia and Baltimore Rail- 
road were tired, and 1 was thankful to see the flames which would 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 129 

prevent the approach of more victims. Late in the evening I 
succeeded in getting a carriage, and went to make a personal 
examination of the destruction which had been done to these 
roads, and satisfy myself that no more troops could be taken over 
them. I then drove to the Washington depot, where I found a 
car would leave at midnight. I availed myself of the opportunity 
and reached the Capital at daylight, glad to part company with 
the roughs who had accompanied me, and who appeared to be 
there for no good purpose. I drove immediately to the residence 
of General Cameron, then Secretary of War. His servant 
informed me that he had not been at home that night. We then 
drove to the War Office. There was no sentinel on the outside, 
and I found no one upon the first floor except a colored man 
sleeping in his chair in the hall, whom I did not disturb, In it 
proceeded to the Secretary's room on the next story. Upon open- 
ing the door of the Secretary's private room, I found him Bleeping 
soundly upon a lounge, being exhausted with a hard night's work. 
I awoke him, when he sprang to his feet, and, calling me by 
name, demanded by what means I came there. In a few words 
I communicated to him the condition of the bridges and tele- 
graph lines, and in general the state of things in Baltimore. He 
at once said: 'Come with me and we will find Ceneral Scott.' His 
residence, a small brick house near the War Office, was soon 
reached. An old colored woman answered our call. We entered 
very unceremoniously, and proceeded to General Scott's room, a 
little bed place upon the floor above. General Cameron aroused 
him, and communicated the information I had brought. General 
Scott said: 'Do you know Mr. Lowry? Is he a reliable man?' On 
being assured of my reliability, turning to Mr. Cameron, he said : 
'Call a meeting of the Cabinet at the President's house in the 
shortest possible time.' Mr. Cameron started at once to find 
Secretary Seward, and I proceeded to the White House. 

" It was now broad daylight. A servant admitted me, whom 
I prevailed upon, after some hesitation, to call President Lincoln, 
and say to him that Mr. Lowry of Pennsylvania had startling 
intelligence to communicate. The President made his appear- 
ance half-dressed, and I related to him the story of the Baltimore 

mob, and the cutting off of communication North. Mr. Lincoln 
9 



130 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

realized the situation :>t once. Seeing my exhausted condition, 
he ordered refreshments for me, of which 1 stood greatly in ueed, 
having eaten nothing since noon oi' the previous day. It was 
evidenl that the salvation of Washington depended upon the 
Government being able to prevent the destruction of the bridges 
and road between Perryville and Philadelphia, so as to keep the 

Annapolis route open. It was also evident that it must repair 
the bridges of the Northern Central, and the Philadelphia and 
Wilmington roads and force a passage tor Northern troops 
through Baltimore. To further this it was determined that I 

should return, as best 1 could, to Philadelphia and Harrisburg. 
A slip of paper was given me, Bigned by Abraham Lincoln, and 

Simon Cameron, which read: 'Morrow 1>. Lowrv'has the confi- 
dence of the Government, and all its officers to whom he wishes 
to communicate must give him every facility in their power.' 
Concealing this about my person, at about ten o'clock, Saturday 
morning, I started back to Baltimore. I found a rougher set of 
men than 1 had gone over with, though some of thorn were the 
identical ones. The train was delayed, and we did not. reach 

Baltimore until half-past three 1 in the afternoon. 

" 1 did not like the attentions I received from some ol' those 
who had heen my lollow-passougors. so, as they left the ears on 

the north Bide, 1 took the south, and continued my journey on foot 

heading for Philadelphia. 1 had a farm ahont two miles north 
on the Philadelphia road, and there was living on the place a. 
man by the name oi' Shnnk. 1 went to his house, lie was ah- 
sent on mv arrival, but soon returned. He was not a Northern 
man in sentiment. I told him that it was important that 1 
should reach Philadelphia that night, and that if he would put 
me through to Perryville, 1 would give him $100. He said he 
could not do it. The truth was. he was afraid ii^ he seen with a 
Northern man. 1 then walked out through a lane, leading from 
my Own premises to the Philadelphia Pike. I had hardly 
entered it. before 1 was arrested by a half dozen men. some on 

horseback, who took charge of me as being a suspicious character. 
Every lane and avenue out oi' Baltimore appeared to he guarded. 
I invited my captors to a neighboring saloon, and supplied them 

plenteonsly with whiskey, assured them that I was all right, and 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. \;]\ 

took them back to Shunk, who vouched for me and satisfied 
them. After they left I arranged with Shunk to wait until mid- 
night, when he said he would smuggle me through to the head- 
quarters of an abolitionist named Felix Von Rueth, who lived In 
the direction of Philadelphia, about ten miles out. Soon after 
midnight we started on horseback through fields and by-ways, lie 
being familiar with the country. We did not reach our destina- 
tion until after daylight on Sabbath morning. 

" Von Rueth received me kindly. At his house 1 found three 
or four wounded soldiers, who had been beaten back from Balti- 
more. I acquainted him with the great necessity which existed of 
111 \ arriving early in Philadelphia, (or I had learned that it was 
the intention of the conspirators (hat evening to burn some bridges 
cast of Perry ville, which would break up communication with 
Annapolis. Von Rueth gave me breakfast, and placing me in an 
old-fashioned gig, sent his son Flavius (a, dashing young man) to 
drive me. We proceeded a, few miles, when we came to a tavern 
where there were four or five hundred men assembled, armed 
with every conceivable weapon, to head back the Northern horde, 
whom they had been told would attempt to pass to Baltimore on 
the Philadelphia turnpike. When we came in sight of the house, 
it was evident that we could not pass unmolested. So we made 
a virtue of necessity, and drove boldly up to tin 4 door. Before we 
could alight, my name and business were demanded. Von Rueth 
told them 1 was a clergyman, whom he was taking to preach at 
Perryville that night. After satisfying them that I belonged to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, we were allowed to go on 

our way unmolested. I might not have had any trouble in cros- 
sing at Perryville, but feared to make the attempt, and kept south 
a mile or two, where Von Rueth left me. The river is wide at 
this point, but a man was induced to set me across in a, crazy old 
skiff. I then walked through the marshy ground to the depot 
1 went at once to the telegraph office, and my heart was rejoiced 
to find, by the click of the instrument, that I could communicate 
with Philadelphia. It was about two o'clock Sabbath afternoon, 
when I telegraphed to General Patterson that 1 had important 
communications from the Government, and orders for him to 
send a strong force of men to guard every bridge between there 



132 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and Philadelphia. A special locomotive arrived in an incredibly 
short space of time, and I was not only in Philadelphia, but Har- 
risburg, before ten o'clock that night. I returned to Washington 
with General Butler on the first train over the road that had 
thus been so providentially saved for the Northern troops." 

On the lGth of April, Governor Curtin had appointed Major- 
Generals Robert Patterson and William H. Keim to the command 
of the troops called out by the Proclamation of President Lincoln 
of the preceding day, and shortly after, General Patterson was 
appointed by Lieutenant-General Scott, then General-in-chief, to 
command the Department of Washington, embracing the States 
of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and the District of 
Columbia, with headquarters at Philadelphia. Before the route 
to Washington through Baltimore had been closed, General Pat- 
terson, acting upon the advice of Mr. Felton, had selected the 
Annapolis route, and had sent his aide, Hon. John Sherman, of 
Ohio, to Washington, to recommend it to the attention of the 
Government. The dispatches brought through by Mr. Lowry 
gave him authority to act, and he immediately took measures to 
make it abundantly secure, placing General Butler with the Mas- 
sachusetts Eighth, and Colonel Lefferts with the New York 
Seventh, upon the road, who not only held it, but proceeded to 
repair the track and disabled engines, skilled mechanics being 
readily found in the ranks. 

The number of troops required from Pennsylvania under this 
first call was sixteen regiments of infantry, afterwards re- 
duced to fourteen. When several of the border States refused 
to furnish men, the number from the States willing to contribute 
Mas increased, and twenty-five regiments were finally accepted. 
k - Such was the patriotic ardor of the people," says Adjutant- 
General Russell, " that the services of about thirty regiments had 
to be refused, making in all more than one-half the requisition of 
the President." When the communication with Washington was 
severed, which remained so for several days, General Patterson 
was left without orders, and was obliged to act upon his own 
judgment. Foreseeing the desperate nature of the contest upon 
which the country was entering, and convinced that the small 
force called for three months would be unable to effect the pur- 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. I33 

pose for which they were summoned, and fearful that at the 
expiration of their term no troops would be in readiness to take 
their places, he assumed the responsibility of authorizing the for- 
mation of an additional force in the following words, addressed to 
the Governor of Pennsylvania : " I feel it my duty to express to 
you my clear and decided opinion that the force at the disposal 
of this Department should be increased without delay. I, there- 
fore, have to request of your Excellency to direct, that twenty- 
five additional regiments of infantry and one regiment of cavalry 
be called for forthwith, to be mustered into the service of the 
United States." Steps were immediately taken to raise this force, 
and considerable progress had been made, when communication 
with the Capital was restored, and the Government, not feeling 
itself warranted in calling more troops, revoked the General's 
order, accompanying the notice of revocation with the statement 
" that it was more important to reduce than enlarge the number " 
already ordered. 

The first duty after securing the Annapolis route, was to open 
that by way of Baltimore, and as soon as the troops were organ- 
ized and sufficiently in hand, it was promptly undertaken. The 
forces selected for this purpose were the Seventeenth Pennsylva- 
nia regiment, known in the militia as the First Artillery, T. W. 
Sherman's Light Battery, and five companies of the Third Regu- 
lar Infantry, all under command of Colonel Francis E. Patterson, 
son of the General. By this time, however, the rebellious ele- 
ment in Baltimore had lost strength and daring, and the Union 
sentiment had assumed a power and a vitality which made itself 
felt. Colonel Patterson's force, therefore, marched in without 
opposition. The National authority thus established was main- 
tained, and the tide of volunteers, which soon after began to flow 
towards the Capital, was not again interrupted. 

From the first dawning of the Rebellion, it was seen that 
Pennsylvania, by its long line of border contiguous to rebellious 
territory, was exposed to the invasion, or sudden sallies of the 
enemy. Pittsburg Avas a city of great wealth, and here were cast 
the heavy guns for the navy, siege guns for the army, and here 
much of the material for the war was manufactured. It lay, too, 
upon the track of a great thoroughfare for the passage of troops 



134 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to the Eastern army. It would, at any time, have been an 
important strategic point for the enemy to have held. But West 
Virginia proved true to the Hag, thus interposing loyal territory, 
and the city was too far away from the eastern rebellious armies 
to tempt them to make a difficult campaign to reduce it. 

But the Shenandoah Valley, of Virginia, leads naturally into 
the Cumberland Valley, of Pennsylvania. Indeed, one is but a 
continuation of the other. A heavy Union force was kept to 
guard the approaches to the Capital, and consequently the enemy 
sought to avoid exposing himself to a flank attack from that 
direction in moving for the invasion of the North, by interposing 
a great mountain range. The Shenandoah Valley, therefore, 
became the great natural highway for a hostile advance. How 
best to shut its mouth, and secure it against egress, was the 
first care of the Union leaders. Hence, when upon Virginia soil, 
the armies of Rebellion began to gather, General Patterson was 
sent into the Cumberland Valley to establish a camp and organize 
a force to guard the frontier, or if need be, drive back the enemy. 
His camp was formed at Chambersburg. With the exception of 
the Fourth and Fifth regiments, which were sent to Washington, 
the Twelfth, which was employed on the line of the Northern 
Central Railroad, and the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty- 
second, which were stationed at Baltimore and vicinity, the entire 
twenty-five Pennsylvania regiments were gathered in Patterson's 
column. Upon his staff, and of his brigade and division com- 
manders, were some of the ablest of the Union soldiers, who sub- 
sequently achieved a world-wide reputation. George H. Thomas, 
Abner Doubleday, David B. Birney, James S. Negley, and J. J. 
Abercronibie were among his subordinates, while Fitz John P.orter 
and John Newton served upon his staff, and Keim, Cadwalader, 
and Stone led his divisions. 

Beauregard, who commanded the rebel army being marshalled 
on the plains of Manassas, early sent a force into the Shenandoah 
Valley, under the afterwards famous Stonewall Jackson, who was 
subsequently superseded in chief command by General Joseph E. 
Johnston, Jackson remaining with him in a subordinate capacity. 
Johnston posted his forces at Harper's Ferry, and from that point, 
as headquarters, held the Valley in his firm grasp. Patterson's 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 135 

first care was to drive Johnston back, and after opening the Balti- 
more and Ohio Railway and Canal, to push forward towards Win- 
chester. When Johnston discovered that it was the intention of 
Patterson to cross and offer battle, he evacuated Harper's Ferry. 
So soon as General Scott learned this, he discouraged an advance 
by Patterson, apprehending that Johnston would be forced back 
and form a junction with Beauregard, thus increasing the com- 
plications in front of Washington. Pie accordingly ordered all 
the available field artillery, Regulars, and General Burnside's fine 
Rhode Island regiment, to Washington. When this order came, 
Patterson was already across, the Potomac, and advancing confi- 
dently. Without artillery he could do nothing, and much to his 
chagrin, he was obliged to retire to the Maryland shore, at the 
same time remonstrating vigorously against being thus stripped of 
artillery and trained troops, and pleading earnestly to have them 
returned to him ; but the order was imperative. Referring to 
this action, Hon. John Sherman, in a letter to General Patterson, 
said : " The great error of General Scott undoubtedly was, that he 
gave way to a causeless apprehension that Washington was to be 
attacked before the meeting of Congress, and therefore weakened 
you when you were advancing. No subsequent movement could 
repair that error." And General Patterson, in commenting upon 
this, says : " This, I venture to say, will be the conclusion of any 
one who dispassionately examines the subject. I was mortified 
and humiliated at having to recross the river without striking a 
blow. I knew that my reputation would be grievously damaged 
by it; the country could not understand the meaning of this 
crossing and recrossing, this marching and countermarching in 
the face of the foe, and that I would be censured without stint 
for such apparent vacillation and want of purpose." 

A few days after this, on the 20th of June, General Scott 
requested General Patterson to submit a plan of operations. This 
the latter did on the following day, just one month before the 
battle of Bull Run, and it was, in substance, to fortify and garri- 
son Maryland Heights, transfer the depot of supply and reserve 
force to Hagerstown, and then move with the whole remaining 
force, horse, foot, and artillery, across the Potomac to Leesburg, — 
then to threaten the enemy in the Valley should he attempt to 



136 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

advance to or cross the Potomac, — or join McDowell at Manassas 
the moment needed. This plan was rejected, and Patterson was 
ordered on the 2oth to remain in front of the enemy, and if, 
in superior or eqnal force, to cross and attack him. As soon as 
his troops could be put in order he did cross, came up with 
Stonewall Jackson at Falling Waters, fought and defeated him, 
and pushed forward to Martinsburg and Bunker Hill. Patterson 
was ordered to hold Johnston in the Valley by making a demon- 
stration on the day of the contemplated battle at Manassas. 
General Scott gave notice that the battle would be fought by 
McDowell on Tuesday, the 16th of July, and accordingly General 
Patterson made an active and noisy advance towards Winchester, 
causing Johnston, who was well entrenched there, to be reinforced 
from Strasburg, and who, as subsequently ascertained, was 
expecting an attack, and had his entire force in battle array. 
General Patterson had received, on the loth, a telegram from 
General Scott, in these words : " I telegraphed you yesterday, if 
not strong enough to beat the enemy early next week, to make 
demonstrations so as to detain him in the Valley of Winchester ; 
but if he retreats in force towards Manassas, and it be hazard- 
ous to follow him, then consider the route via Keyes' Ferry, 
Leesburg, etc." Well knowing that he was vastly inferior to 
Johnston in numbers, who, in addition to being well entrenched, 
had abundance of field and siege artillery, supposing that the 
contemplated battle at Bull Run was being fought on the 16th 
and 17th of July, as he had been advised it would be, and as he 
had been informed by telegram it had actually been begun on the 
latter day,* having seen his demonstration successful, he com- 
menced on the 18th moving towards Keyes' Ferry, as he had been 
directed to do, and as the best officers in his column, in council 
of war, had advised. 

But the battle of Bull Run was not fought until the 21st, and 
Johnston, thus left free to join Beauregard, having a direct route 
open, and a railroad upon which to move, abandoned Winchester, 
and arrived upon the field of Bull Run in time to take an active 

* McDowell's first day's work lias driven the enemy beyond Fairfax Court-House. The 
Junction will probably be carried to-morrow. — Telegram of General Scott to General Patterson, 
of July 17. 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 137 

part in the fight. It resulted disastrously to the Union arms, 
and General Patterson was blamed, and charged with the defeat. 
It was claimed that he should have attacked Johnston, or fol- 
lowed him, or reinforced McDowell, each of which was impracti- 
cable. General Abercrombie, a regular army officer, who com- 
manded a brigade in Patterson's column, in March, 1862, rode 
over the ground occupied by Johnston, at Winchester, and thus 
wrote to General Patterson : "I rode over the ground occupied 
by Johnston in July, and after a careful examination, I found 
that I had no reason to change my opinion as to the course you 
adopted. The works themselves were of no great strength, but 
the judicious disposition made of them, the favorable character 
of the ground, size, and number of guns, and numerical strength 
of force, ought to have defeated double the number. I think 
you may rely on this : Johnston had 26,000 volunteers that were 
mustered into the service, and between 6000 and 7000 of what 
they call militia, making some 32,000 or 33,000 men. The 
trenches extend some four or five miles. They commence at the 
turnpike leading to Charlestown, due east from Winchester, and 
run to the base of the hills west of the town, and at every few 
hundred paces we found platforms for heavy pivot guns, some of 
them rifled, so I am told. On the hills alluded to, some very 
heavy guns were admirably arranged, and commanded the whole 
valley. These, also, were made to traverse in every direction. 
Most of the earth-works were constructed with regard to the Mar- 
tinsburg route. On the 16th, Johnston had his whole force under 
arms in battle order, and waited some hours, under the impres- 
sion that you were approaching from Bunker Hill to attack him, 
and has since said he regrets not having attacked you. General 
Johnston had not less than 32,000 men, a very strong position, 
and between sixty and seventy guns, eleven of them pivot and 
of heavy calibre. I have conversed with a number of intelligent 
persons on the subject, and all agree very nearly as to the 
strength of Johnston's force and number of guns, and my own 
observations and personal inspection of the abandoned earth- 
works satisfy me of the correctness of their statements." 

On the other hand, General Patterson was operating with a 
force much inferior, deficient in cavalry, artillery and transporta- 



138 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tion, a considerable body of men ordered to him, for some 
cause having failed to reach him. " I was," General Patterson 
says, " probably operating with a force less by twelve regiments 
than the General-in-chief intended; a fact sufficient to explain 
his exaggerated ideas of the strength of my command. My 
largest force was accumulated at Martinsburg, about 18,200 men. 
When I marched from there, I had to leave two regiments, 
taking about 1G,800 men with me, and deducting from them the 
sick, the rear, and wagon guards, I could not have gone into 
action with more than 13,000 men, and at the time Johnston 
marched from Winchester I could not have taken into action 
10,000 men." 

Under these circumstances, to have attacked would have been 
fool-hardy, and sure to have entailed defeat. To have remained 
and made more determined demonstrations would have availed 
nothing, as Johnston could have left his militia to man the 
intrenchments, and have moved away the moment he was needed, 
and Patterson would have been powerless to prevent it. It 
would have been equally impossible for the latter to have 
attempted to follow, for he could not have known when the 
movement would take place. Indeed, the advance of so weak a 
force in the face of one powerful as was that of Johnston, who 
could at any moment have been strongly reinforced from Manas- 
sas, was a most hazardous one, and one which the Government 
and country should have regarded itself well out of when Patter- 
son brought off his forces in safety to Harpers Ferry. Another 
circumstance which made the situation of the Union commander 
all the more delicate was, that the term of service of nearly his 
entire command had either fully expired or would expire in a few 
days. So great was the difficulty of maintaining himself until 
he could be reinforced by fresh troops to supply the place of 
those retiring, that he was obliged to appeal to the latter to 
remain in the field, which they did. But instead of bestowing 
upon these troops the meed of praise, which by their patriotism 
they richly merited, and regarding their commander with grati- 
tude, the vials of denunciation and wrath were opened upon 
them in unstinted measure. 

General Patterson, in 1865, after the war was over, prepared 



THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. I39 

a narrative of the campaign, with all the correspondence which 
passed between himself and the General-in-chief. In one of the 
opening paragraphs he says : " The arms of the country had 
recently met with a severe disaster at Bull Run, and the public, 
whose expectation of success had been of the most sanguine char- 
acter, were correspondingly depressed. Although conscious that 
I had executed, as far as lay in my power, every order that I had 
received, and was in no degree responsible for a disaster that I 
could not prevent, I was not surprised that I, as well as every 
other officer holding any command of importance at the time, 
should be the object of popular clamor. I was quite satisfied, 
however, to await the returning sense of the people, and to abide 
by their decision, when the natural passion and disappointment 
of the hour should pass away, and the full knowledge of the facts 
should enable them to form an intelligent and dispassionate 
judgment. ... It was of course desirable for those who had 
directed the movements at Bull Run to refer their defeat to an 
occurrence for which they were not responsible, and not allow it 
to be attributed to any want of foresight or military skill on their 
part." 

The fault of the positions of Patterson's and McDowell's armies 
in that first campaign of the war is now generally recognized. A 
hostile army cannot be confined and guarded like a flock of 
sheep. Instead of stationing forces at various points to check 
its motion, the true theory is to keep all the guarding forces in 
one compact body in readiness to move and fight as exigences 
may require. To get the most power out of an army depends 
upon bringing the greatest accumulation of strength to bear upon 
the point of impact. If a stone mason desires to break a tough 
rock, he selects a hammer of sufficient weight to effect the purpose, 
and brings it to bear with the requisite force at some one point, 
instead of employing the same weight of metal in a number of 
small hammers, and applying them in futile attempts in several 
opposite directions. 

The two armies of Patterson and McDowell were separated 
by the two armies of Beauregard and Johnston, so posted, 
however, as to be practicady one. The latter could, therefore, 
choose either of the opposing forces for attack, unite their 



140 



MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



strength, and defeat that one, and then turn upon and demolish 
the other. This is precisely what happened at Bull Run. 
Beauregard and Johnston formed a junction, and defeated 
McDowell, and would then have turned upon Patterson, had he 
not opportunely withdrawn. For this separation of force in the 
plan of the campaign, neither Patterson nor the troops of Penn- 
sylvania, who served under him, were responsible. 




CHAPTER VI. 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 




^ANGERS now rapidly multiplied, and complica- 
tions hourly thickened. On the 20th of April, 
1861, the day following that in which the Massa- 
chusetts soldiers and General Small's Brigade of 
Pennsylvanians were attacked in Baltimore, Gov- 
ernor Curtin, recognizing the gravity of the dan- 
gers with which the State was threatened, issued 
the following Proclamation : " Whereas, an armed 
rebellion exists in a portion of the States of this 
Union, threatening the destruction of the National 
Government, perilling public and private property, 
endangering the peace and security of this Com- 
monwealth, and inviting systematic piracy ; and 
Whereas, adequate provision does not exist by law to enable the 
Executive to make the military power of the State as able and 
efficient as it should be for the common defence of the State and 
General Government, and Whereas, an occasion so extraordi- 
nary requires prompt legislative power, Therefore, I, by virtue 
of the power vested in me, do hereby convene the General As- 
sembly of this Commonwealth, and require the members to meet 
at their respective Houses at Harrisburg, on Tuesday, April 30th, 
at noon, then to take into consideration and adopt such mea- 
sures in the premises as the present exigences may demand." 
The seriousness of the situation was greatly enhanced by the 
fact that on the night previous to the issue of this call, all the 
lines of telegraph, and also all the great railroad thoroughfares 
leading to Washington, had been destroyed. The State was 
thus left open to attack, the General Government being unable 
to defend even its own Capital. 

141 



142 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In his Message at the opening of this extra session, the Gov- 
ernor said : " The insurrection must now be met by force of 
arms; and to re-establish the Government upon an enduring 
basis by asserting its entire supremacy, to repossess the forts 
and other Government property so unlawfully seized and held, 
to ensure personal freedom and safety to the people and com- 
merce of the Union, in every section, the people of the loyal 
States demand, as with one voice, and will contend for, as with 
one heart, and a quarter of a million of Pennsylvania's sons will 
answer the call to arms, if need be, to wrest us from a reign of 
anarchy and plunder, and secure for themselves and their chil- 
dren, for ages to come, the perpetuity of this Government and its 
beneficent institutions. ... It is impossible to predict the lengths 
to which the madness that rules the hour in the rebellious States 
shall lead us, or when the calamities which threaten our hitherto 
happy country shall terminate. ... To furnish ready support 
to those who have gone out, and to protect our borders, we should 
have a well-regulated military force. I, therefore, recommend 
the immediate organization, disciplining, and arming of at least 
fifteen regiments of cavalry and infantry, exclusive of those 
called into the service of the United States. As we have already 
ample warning of the necessity of being prepared for any sudden 
exigency that may arise, I cannot too much impress this 
upon you." 

A bill was accordingly drawn, which after being duly consid- 
ered and matured, was passed on the 15th of May, that gave the 
Governor the means and the authority to put the State in atti- 
tude to defend its southern border against the sudden incursions 
of the enemy, and to fly to the aid of the General Government 
in an emergency. By its terms the borrowing of $3,000,000 on 
the faith of the Commonwealth was authorized; the appoint- 
ment of one Major-General and two Brigadier-Generals, and a 
grand staff; the terms of service of the Adjutant, Quarter- 
master, and Commissary-Generals were fixed for three years ; 
soldiers were forbidden to leave the State to volunteer, and troops 
were prohibited from moving bej^ond the limits of the Common- 
wealth until fully armed and equipped; Associate Judges and 
County Commissioners were constituted a Board to meet monthly 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 143 

and provide relief at the expense of the county, for any in desti- 
tute circumstances dependent upon soldiers called into the mili- 
tary service, to meet which demands the Commissioners were 
empowered to make temporary loans; pensions were granted 
to the widow or minor children of one falling in the service ; 
county and municipal officers who wished to enlist were allowed 
to appoint deputies; and the establishment of a military pro- 
fessorship in universities, colleges, and academies of the Com- 
monwealth was authorized. These provisions indicate the earnest- 
ness which, at that early period, the Legislature manifested, and 
the enlarged and humane views by which it was swayed. 

But the most important provision of the law was that, in com- 
pliance with the recommendation of the Governor, which author- 
ized the formation of the Reserve Volunteer Corps of the Com- 
monwealth, that eventually achieved a wide reputation as the 
Pennsylvania Reserves. The duty of raising this corps was 
entrusted to the Commander-in-chief, and the officers of the 
grand staff. It was to consist of thirteen regiments of Infantry, 
one of Cavalry, and one of Light Artillery, to serve for three 
years unless sooner discharged, to be liable to be called into the 
service of the State to suppress insurrection or to repel invasion, 
and further, to be liable to be mustered into the service of the 
United States at the call of the President. The Governor was 
to establish camps of instruction, and armories, and was to desig- 
nate the time when the soldiers should attend upon instruction. 
When not in camp, nor in the field, they were to hold themselves 
in readiness to rendezvous upon the instant of warning. 

The plan as provided in this bill would have given the Common- 
wealth the advantage of the instant service of a body of 15,000 
picked troops, trained and disciplined by frequent and efficient 
drills, had it been executed as intended. Camps were established 
at West Chester, at Easton, at Harrisburg, and at Pittsburg, and 
George A. McCall, an experienced soldier, was appointed Major- 
General, under whose direction the corps was rapidly organized. 
Under the order of General Patterson for twenty-five regiments, 
while he was in command of the Department of .Washington, 
and while cut off from communication with the Government, 
considerable progress had been made in recruiting, and when 



l lt • s PKXSSYLY t.v/.l. 

that order was, countermanded, the work was not arrested, as 
there seemed • certain prospect that more troops would be 
needed; and when on the 16th of May, three weeks after the 
order of Patterson, the act providing for the Reserve Corps was 
d, main troops were in readiness to outer it. To make it 
realh the representative of the entire State, the Commander-in- 
chief made an estimate of the number, apportioned according to 
population, which could be received from each county. 
But an event was soon to occur which eclipsed in • 

the immediate defence of the southern border of the 
State, On the 21st of July was fought the first battle of Bull 
Hun, in which the Union anus Buffered a disastrous defeat The 
field was within hearing of the National Capital, atnl the beaten 
army was Largely composed of troops whose time had already 
ended, in- would soon expire. Great consternation prevailed lest 
the foe, animated by victory, should immediately march upon the 
Capital, while few troops were left to defend it, and capture or 
disperse the officers of the Government In this extremity the 
•out called for the Reserve Corps, which, thanks to the in- 
telligent policy of Pennsylvania, was in readiness to march. It 
arrived upon the front at a moment of dire extremity, and entered 
the hreach, assuring s to the city and Government Having 

thus been taken into the service of the Tinted States, and ; . 
porated with the National army, it never again returned to the 
\ b of Pennsylvania; and during the three years 

< duty, whether upon the march, or on the field of i 
wherever hardships were to be borne or danger met, it n 
taiiu r courage and gallantry unsui - .. the 

e of Reserves earn 3S to friend and terror I 

Thus the . -.thorities of lVnns\ Ivauia in 

vidiu v - \ unwonted upon the verj threshold 

i the border was left unprotected, except by 
enrolled militia and volunteers who came at the Executive's 
call. Previous to the passage of the aet tor the a of 

-. the President had called for thirty-nine regiments 
of in ■ dry to serve tor three years or the i 

and under this requisition four regiments were recruited 

Pennsylvania, which were mus into the 



THE GREAT UPRISING. \ \:> 

( Miitcd States service in advance of the Reserves. Hence, in 
numbering the new levies after the twenty-fire regiments of three 
months' troops, these four were interposed, which caused the Firsl 
of the Reserves i<> be the Thirtieth of the line. The Thirteenth 
of the Reserves was a rifle regiment known also as ihe Bucktail, 
which was consequently the Forty-second of the line, the artil- 
lery, the Fourteenth Reserve, the Forty-third, and the cavalry, 
the Fifteenth, the Forty-fourth. This duplicate aumbering occa- 
sioned some confusion and was the source of numberless mistakes. 
To add to the complication, there were two of the three months' 
regiments, the Eleventh and the Twenty-third, which, when they 
came to be organized and recruited for three years, though com- 
posed for the most, part of new men, like a knife with a new 
blade and anew handle, retained their old designations. Hence 
when the Eleventh regiment was spoken of, there was always 
doubt whether the Eleventh three months', the Eleventh three 
years', or the Eleventh Reserve, Fortieth of the line, was meant, 
and there was a, possibility thai the Eleventh cavalry, One Hun- 
dred and Eighth of the line, or the Eleventh militia, might be 

intended. In making up the records ol* the men belonging to 

the several regiments, frequent errors were discovered in official 
documents traceable to this cause, and some instances occurred 
in which it, was impossible, with the data at hand, to decide with 
certainty to what regiment they belonged. To render this sub- 
ject intelligible a table is given in which a, statement of the 

entire force of the Commonwealth is exhibited, to which the 

lender is referred. 

In a, message addressed, on the 8th of May, to the Legislature 
at its extra session of L861, the Governor informed that bod^ 
that the Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania had presented 

to him Ihe sum of $500 to ho UKC(1 towards arming and equipping 

its volunteer troops, and asked Hint, the manner of its use should 

he directed by statute. That Society was one whose original 
members were the representatives of the most exalted patriotism. 
They were (he surviving soldiers of the Revolutionary army, 
who, when they saw the great work to which they had addressed 
themselves accomplished, when a, long and sanguinary struggle, 
borne \>y a people meagre in numbers and with insignificant 
10 



146 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

resources, finally had terminated triumphantly, gathered them- 
selves together and pledged lasting friendship, and hearts respon- 
sive to the woes and wants of any who should be left destitute, 
or his widow, or his orphans. Washington was at its head, and 
Mifflin, and Wayne, and Reed, and Cadwalader, sainted names, 
were of them. That gift, though small in amount, was like a 
voice from patriot tombs, conjuring the soldiers of the present to 
fidelity to their trust. It was appropriately devoted to the pur- 
chase of flags to be carried at the head of the regiment, an inspi- 
ration in battle, and a perpetual reminder of the heroism of the 
men to which it allied them. 

The following resolutions were passed on the lGth : " Whereas, 
in the present unprecedented circumstances of the country, suffer- 
ing under a treasonable assault upon our constitutional liberties, 
this expression of patriotism, by a society founded by Washing- 
ton and the illustrious chiefs of the Revolution, and embracing 
in its present organization their immediate and lineal descen- 
dants, and which is so honorably, closely associated with the 
hallowed memories which cluster around the early struggles and 
checkered history of our Republic, demands special recognition 
and approval, therefore, Resolved, That the Governor be and is 
hereby directed to expend the said money in the purchase of 
regimental flags having the coat-of-arms of the State. . . . That 
the Governor be authorized and directed to convey to the patriotic 
donors the acknowledgments of this Legislature, for the generous 
contribution thus spontaneously made towards the preservation 
of that Union which was established by the labors and sacrifices, 
and cemented by the blood of the gallant founders of their 
honored Association." 

That the gift might be made the more significant, and might 
be a perpetual witness to all the soldiers of the State of its origin, 
a joint resolution was adopted instructing the Governor to ascer- 
tain how the regiments from Pennsylvania, during the war of the 
Revolution, of 1812, and of Mexico, were numbered, among what 
divisions of the service they were distributed, and where they 
distinguished themselves in action, and to procure regimental 
standards for troops now in the field or that may hereafter be 
recruited, and have them inscribed with the numbers of the afore- 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 147 

time regiments, have painted thereon the arms of the Common- 
wealth, and the names of the actions in which those regiments 
had won renown, and providing that all these standards, " after 
this unhappy Rebellion is ended, shall be returned to the Adju- 
tant-General of the State, to be further inscribed, as the valor 
and good conduct of each particular regiment may have deserved, 
and that they then be carefully preserved by the State, to be de- 
livered to such future regiments as the military necessities of the 
country may require Pennsylvania to raise." 

When, at the conclusion of the war, these flags were returned 
to the hands of the Governor, their condition gave little hope 
that this last provision would be executed. On that bright 
May morning, in 1861, when this resolution was discussed and 
moulded into form, the actors in the scene had little conception 
of the countless multitude, making the solid earth tremble with 
their tread, who were to be called to the field, of the roar of 
battle, filling the heavens with sulphurous smoke, which was to 
resound from one end of this broad continent to the other, for 
the space of four long years, of the whole land filled with mourn- 
ing for the myriads who, on the one side or the other, were to 
fall, or that these same flags would be rent and seamed with the 
hail of battle, and wrapt in the fiery billows of the conflict until 
many of them should be unrecognizable, and have not a shred 
left whereon to emblazon their story. 

The attempt to hold the Shenandoah Valley by detached troops 
posted at Winchester or at Harper's Ferry, even though num- 
bered by many thousands, to prevent the advance of the enemy 
across the Potomac, as in the case of Patterson in 1861, proved 
fruitless whenever an invasion of Maryland was attempted in 
force, and disasters of the most startling character to the Union 
arms were of frequent occurrence there throughout the greater 
portion of the war. On the 25th of May, 1862, a force of the 
enemy under Generals Ewell, Edward Johnson, and Stonewall 
Jackson, advancing down the valley, attacked General Banks who 
had been left at Winchester with about 4000 men. Spirited 
actions were maintained with the rebel vanguard, but from pau- 
city of numbers the Union troops were speedily compelled to 
give way. Banks had with him a train of 500 wagons. These 



148 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

he struggled to save, and finally succeeded in crossing the Po- 
tomac with about 450, the remainder having been destroyed to 
keep them from the enemy's hands, but with the loss of nearly 
a quarter of his force in killed, wounded, and missing. The 
moment this concentrated attack of the enemy was discovered 
at Washington, presuming that the movement was for invasion, 
the President called on the Executive for the militia of Pennsyl- 
vania to meet the threatened danger. An order- was promptly 
issued to the Major-Generals, and other officers of the State forces, 
and with alacrity and promptitude the citizen soldiery came flock- 
ing to the standard. But before they could be brought together 
at the camp of rendezvous, it was ascertained that the enemy's 
column had been checked by movements upon either flank by 
the forces under Fremont and McDowell, and that the necessity 
for immediate aid from the militia was past, when, on the 27th, 
the order was countermanded, and an acknowledgment of the 
patriotic zeal which had been shown was tendered. 

But early in September, the rebel Army of Virginia in all 
its force, having beaten McClellan upon the Peninsula, and 
routed Pope upon the plains of Manassas, did cross the 
Potomac, and the danger of a protracted invasion of Pennsyl- 
vania, and the making it the seat of war, seemed imminent. As 
threatened twice before, the passage of the Potomac was made 
from the Shenandoah Valley. The rebel Commander-in-chief, 
General Robert E. Lee, had no sooner planted his army on Mary- 
land soil, than he addressed a proclamation to the people of that 
State, in which he said : " The people of the Confederate States 
have long watched with the deepest sympathy the wrongs and 
outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a Common- 
wealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest social, 
political, and commercial ties. They have seen with the pro- 
foundest indignation their sister State deprived of every right, 
and reduced to the condition of a conquered province. . . . 
Believing that the people of Marjdand possessed a spirit too lofty 
to submit to such a Government, the people of the South have 
long Avished to aid 3-011 in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable 
you to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and restore inde- 
pendence and sovereignty to your State. In obedience to this 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 149 

wish, our army has come among you, and is prepared to assist 
you with the power of its arms in regaining the rights of which 
you have been despoiled." 

From the tenor of this proclamation it will be seen that a 
general uprising by the people of Maryland was anticipated, and 
the purpose of a permanent occupation foreshadowed. For how 
could they hope to " throw off the foreign yoke," and " restore 
independence and sovereignty," that is the independence and 
sovereignty of the rebel Government, unless a force of arms was 
maintained in their midst sufficient to repel any power which 
could be brought against them? But though the rebel leader 
was supreme in the State, and for many days held absolute sway, 
there was no rallying to his support, as he had anticipated. No 
foreign yoke was felt which they desired to throw off, as they 
already enjoyed that independence and sovereignty which was 
their choice. They gave him unmistakably to understand that 
his offer was gratuitous, and the grey-haired Barbara Fritchie, of 
" Fredericktown," whose courage the poet Whittier has immortal- 
ized in song, dared even to shake the Union flag in the leader's 
face. 

A force of nearly 14,000 Union troops, under Colonel Dixon 
H. Miles, had been occupying the mouth of the Shenandoah 
Valley, which retired, as the enemy advanced, to Harper's 
Ferry, where they were shut up and the place invested by an 
army under Stonewall Jackson, and General Hill, estimated at 
35,000 men. After a feeble resistance Miles surrendered, and, 
at the very moment of yielding, was instantly killed by the 
explosion of a shell. By this act, commonly regarded as one 
of disgraceful cowardice, or worse, nearly 12,000 men were sur- 
rendered prisoners of war, involving a loss of 11,000 stands of 
small arms, 1800 horses, and seventy-three pieces of artillery. 
Again was the futility of attempting to hold this highway of 
invasion by detached force demonstrated. 

As soon as the result of the second battle of Bull Run was 
known, attention was at once directed to the defenceless condition 
of Pennsylvania. It was an hour of gloom for the whole country, 
and especially so to this State. The drain upon the population 
by the frequent and heavy calls for troops to fill the national 



150 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

armies, had left but a small part of the men fit for military duty 
to carry on the ordinary avocations of life. On the 4th of Sep- 
tember, the day following that on which the combined Union 
forces fell back to the defences of Washington, Governor Curtin 
issued his proclamation, calling upon the people throughout the 
Commonwealth to rally for organization and drill, and to hold 
themselves in readiness to move at the moment of need. He 
recommended the formation of squadrons and companies, and that 
there might be opportunity for regular and systematic drill, 
advised that all business be suspended after three o'clock of each 
day, and that all classes, irrespective of rank or condition, should 
unite in the work of preparation. 

To the counsel of the Executive good heed was given. The 
lawyer left his briefs, the judge the bench. The voice of wisdom 
was hushed in the schools. The furrow stood half turned. The 
water flowed lazily by the mills, whose spindles it was wont to 
keep whirling in endless attune. The hammer at the forge was 
silent, and in all the walks of business where was accustomed to 
be heard the steady hum of industry, a Sabbath silence reigned. 
On the field of rendezvous stood shoulder to shoulder the man of 
rare culture and he with the horny hands of toil. 

On the 5th, the enemy crossed the Potomac at the various fords, 
and stood in force upon the Maryland shore; but authentic 
intelligence of his movements was slow in reaching the North. 
On the 10th, the Governor issued a General Order, calling on all 
able-bodied men to enroll, effect complete organizations, supply 
themselves with arms and sixty rounds of ammunition to the 
man, tendering arms to such as Avere unable to procure them ; 
and, on the following day, acting under the authority of the 
President, he called for 50,000 men, directing them to report 
by telegraph for orders to march. "This call," says the Gover- 
nor, in his message to the Legislature, " was promptly respon- 
ded to, and a large force was sent forward to the Cumberland 
Valley and its vicinity. The first part of this force, consisting 
of one regiment and eight companies of infantry, moved from 
Ilarrisburg on the night of the 12th of September, and was 
followed by other regiments as rapidly as they could be organized 
and transportation provided. The command of the whole force 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 151 

was taken by Brigadier-General John F. Reynolds, who left 
his corps in the Army of the Potomac at my urgent request, and 
hurried to the defence of his native State, for which he is entitled 
to the thanks of the Commonwealth. Of the volunteer militia, 
15,000 were pushed forward to Hagerstown and Boonsboro, in 
the State of Maryland; 10,000 were posted in the vicinity of 
Greencastle and Chambersburg; and about 25,000 were at 
Harrisburg, on their way to Harrisburg, or in readiness and 
waiting for transportation to proceed thither." 

In the meantime, the advance of the invading- army was 
arrested by the prompt movement of the Army of the Potomac. 
On the 14th, the enemy, who had taken possession of the passes 
of the South Mountain, was met and routed. Pushing rapidly 
forward, the Union Arm} 7 came up with the main body of the foe, 
concentrated upon a neck of ground partially encircled by the 
Potomac and Antietam streams, and during the afternoon and 
evening of the 16th, and day of the 17th, a fierce battle was 
fought, in which the enemy was worsted, and driven back into 
Virginia, the field, with the rebel dead and wounded, remaining 
in the hands of the victorious Army of the Union. 

The militia of the Commonwealth, though unable to participate 
in the struggle, reached the neighborhood of the field of strife in 
time to have been called into action, had their services been 
needed, proving their patriotism by their prompt response to the 
call and the readiness with which they seized the musket and 
transformed themselves from citizens to soldiers. On the 20th, 
General Reynolds issued an order for the return of these troops 
to Harrisburg, where had been established the general camp of 
rendezvous, and on the 24th they were disbanded and returned to 
their homes. 

A few days after the battle General McClellan addressed, from 
his headquarters at Sharpsburg, the following letter of acknow- 
ledgment, to Governor Curtin, and through him to the people of 
Pennsylvania : "I beg to avail myself of almost the first moment 
of leisure I have had since the recent battles, to tender to }^ou 
my thanks for your wise and energetic action in calling out the 
militia of Pennsylvania for its defence, when threatened by a 
numerous and victorious army cf the enemy. Fortunately, cir- 



152 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

cumstances rendered it impossible for the enemy to set foot upon 
the soil of Pennsylvania, but the moral support rendered to my 
army by your action was none the less mighty. In the name of 
my army, and for myself, I again tender to you our acknowledge 
ments for your patriotic course. The manner in which the people 
of Pennsylvania responded to your call, and hastened to the 
defence of their frontier, no doubt exercised a great influence 
upon the enemy." 

Governor Bradford, of Maryland, on whose soil the great strug- 
gles had occurred, and whose people the rebel General had pro- 
claimed he had come to assist in throwing off a foreign yoke, 
issued a general order, dated at the Executive Department at 
Annapolis, September 29th, 1862, in which he said : " The expul- 
sion of the rebel army from the soil of Maryland should not be 
suffered to pass without the proper acknowledgment and cordial 
thanks of her authorities, to those who were chiefly instrumental 
in compelling that evacuation. I would tender, therefore, on 
behalf of the State of Maryland, to Major-General McClellan, 
and the gallant officers and men under his command, my earnest 
and hearty thanks for the distinguished courage, skill, and gal- 
lantry with which that achievement was accomplished. It 
reflects a lustre upon the Commander-in-chief, and the heroism 
and endurance of his followers, that the country everywhere 
recognizes, and that even our enemies are constrained to acknow- 
ledge. To Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and the militia of 
his State, who rallied with such alacrity at the first symptoms of 
an invasion, our warmest thanks are also due. The readiness 
with which they crossed the border, and took their stand beside 
the Maryland brigade, shows that the border is, in all respects, 
but an ideal line, and that in such a cause as now unites us, 
Pennsylvania and Maryland are but one." 

A tribute could not have been more cordially or gracefully ren- 
dered to the promptitude and patriotism displayed by the citizens 
of Pennsylvania, who thus came to the rescue in this critical 
emergency than was this, and its value was enhanced by the 
evident sincerity and heartfelt gratitude which pervaded its every 
utterance. But if the words of the Governor, the chosen repre- 
sentative and mouthpiece of the people of the State, were pleasing 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 153 

to Pennsylvania, to the army, and indeed to the entire North, 
with what leaden weight must they have fallen upon the ears of 
the foe, who had been led to believe that Maryland was render- 
ing unwilling obedience to Union rule, and was ready for revolt 
when the opportunity should be afforded ? The result of this 
invasion dissipated a delusion which- had been filling the minds 
of the insurgents from the time when the mob in Baltimore had 
cut off communication with the North, to the triumph of the 
Union arms on the field of Antietam, and with which they were 
never afterwards troubled. 

For nearly six weeks the Union army remained upon the north 
bank of the Potomac. On the 19th of October, General Stuart, 
of the rebel army, with 1800 horsemen, under command of 
Generals Hampton, Lee, and Jones, and four pieces of flying 
artillery, crossed the Potomac at McCoy's, between Williamsport 
and Hancock, and headed for Pennsylvania. As he struck the 
national road he learned that General Cox, with six Ohio regi- 
ments and two batteries, had just passed in the direction of Cum- 
berland. Pushing forward he passed through Mercersburg at 
noon, and arrived before Chambersburg after dark. Determining 
not to wait until morning to attack, he sent in a flag of truce 
demanding its surrender. He found the town defenceless, and 
immediately entered; 275 Union sick and wounded soldiers were 
found in hospital and paroled. The troopers were busy gathering 
horses ; but with this exception, the night was passed in quiet. 
On the following morning the column was early astir, Hampton, 
who led, taking the road towards Gettysburg. Before departing, 
the rear guard notified the citizens living in the neighborhood of 
the Avarehouses to remove their families, as they were about to 
fire all public property. In one of these was a large amount of 
ammunition, captured from General Longstreet's train, but which 
was for the most part worthless. There were also stored some 
Government shoes and clothing, and muskets. At eleven o'clock 
the station-house, round-house, and machine shops of the railroad, 
and the warehouses near, were fired, and the last of the rebels 
took their departure. Fire companies were quickly brought out, 
but it was dangerous to approach. In a little time a terrible 
explosion told that the flames had reached the powder, and for 



154 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

hours shells were exploding incessantly. After crossing the 
South Mountain, the rebel column turned back eight or ten miles 
in the direction of Hagerstown, and then entered Maryland by 
way of Emmittsburg. Before reaching Frederick, it crossed the 
Monocacy, passed at night through Liberty, New Market, and 
Monravia, cutting the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at 
the latter place, intercepted at Hyattstown a portion of McClel- 
lan's wagon train, and after a sharp skirmish near Poolsville, 
escaped across the Potomac at White's Ford, incurring scarcely 
any loss, and carrying off all his booty. 

Some incidents of the rebel stay at Chambersburg were 
pleasantly narrated by Mr. Alexander McClure, in an article 
contributed at the time to the Chambersburg Repository, which 
paper he then edited. It was evening, and in the midst of a 
drenching rain, that they came. After going out with two others, 
Messrs. Kennedy and Kimmell, on behalf of the citizens, to 
respond to the demand of the rebels for the surrender of the 
town, and informing them that there was no military force there 
to oppose them, Mr. McClure hastened to his own home. "It 
was now midnight," he says, " and I sat on the porch observing 
their movements. They had my best cornfield beside them, and 
their horses fared well. In a little while one entered the yard, 
came up to me, and after a profound bow, politely asked for a few 
coals to start a fire. I supplied him, and informed him as blandly 
as possible where he would find wood conveniently, as I had dim 
visions of camp-fires made of my palings. I was thanked in 
return, and the mild-mannered villain proceeded at once to strip 
the fence and kindle fires. Soon after, a squad came and asked 
permission to get some water. I piloted them to the pump, and 
again received a profusion of thanks. 

" Communication having thus been opened between us, squads 
followed each other closely for water, but each called and asked 
permission before getting it, and promptly left the yard. I was 
somewhat bewildered at this uniform courtesy, and supposed it 
but a prelude to a general movement upon everything eatable in 
the morning. It was not a grateful reflection that my beautiful 
mountain trout, from twelve to twenty inches long, sporting in 
the spring, would probably grace the rebel breakfast table ; that 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 155 

the blooded calves in the yard beside them would most likely go 
with the trout ; and the dwarf pears had, I felt assured, abundant 
promise of early relief from their golden burdens. 

" About one o'clock, half a dozen officers came to the door and 
asked to have some coffee made for them, offering to pay liberally 
for it in Confederate scrip. After concluding a treaty with them 
on behalf of the colored servants, coffee was promised them, and 
they then asked for a little bread with it. They were wet and 
shivering, and seeing a bright, open wood-fire in the library, they 
asked permission to enter and warm themselves until their coffee 
should be ready, assuring me that under no circumstances should 
anything in the house be disturbed by their men. I had no 
alternative but to accept them as my guests until it might please 
them to depart, and I did so with as good grace as possible. 
Once seated around the fire, all reserve seemed forgotten on their 
part, and they opened a general conversation on politics, the war, 
the different battles, the merits of generals in both armies, etc. 
They spoke with entire freedom upon every subject but their 
movement into Chambersburg. Most of them were men of more 
than ordinary intelligence and culture, and their demeanor was 
in all respects eminently courteous. I took a cup of coffee with 
them, and have seldom seen anything more keenly relished. 
They said they had not tasted coffee for weeks before,- and then 
they had paid from six to ten dollars per pound for it. When 
they were through, they asked whether there was any coffee left, 
and finding that there was some, they proposed to bring some 
more officers and a few privates who were prostrated by exposure 
to get what was left. They were, of course, as welcome as those 
present, and on they came in squads of five or more, until every 
grain of browned coffee was exhausted. They then asked for 
tea, and that Avas served to some twenty more. . . . 

" In the meantime, the officers who had first entered the house 
had filled their pipes from the box of Killickinick on the mantel 
— after being assured that smoking was not offensive — and we 
had another hour of free talk on matters generally. When told 
that I was a decided Republican, they thanked me for being 
candid ; but when, in reply to their inquiries, I told them that I 
cordially sustained the President's Emancipation Proclamation, 



15G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

they betrayed a little nervousness, but did not for a moment 
forget their propriety. They admitted it to be the most serious 
danger that had yet threatened them, but they were all hopeful 
that it would not be sustained in the North with sufficient 
unanimity to enforce it. . . . They all declared themselves 
heartily sick of the war, but determined never to be reunited 
with the North. At four o'clock in the morning the wel- 
come blast of the bugle was heard, and they rose hurriedly 
to depart. Thanking me for the hospitality they had re- 
ceived, we parted, mutually expressing the hope that should 
we ever meet again, it would be under more pleasant circum- 
stances." 

The year 1862 proved one of endless activity. The camps at 
Harrisburg, at Pittsburg, and in the neighborhood of Philadelphia 
were kept constantly alive with troops, preparing for the field, 
and reminded one of hives at swarming time. From the middle 
of April, 1861, to the close of the year 1862, a period of a little 
more than twenty months, there were recruited and organized, 
111 regiments for a service of three years, including eleven regi- 
ments of cavalry and three of artillery; twenty-five regiments 
for three months, seventeen volunteer regiments for nine months, 
fifteen of drafted militia, and twenty-five of militia called 
out for the emergency — a grand aggregate of 193 regiments, 
embracing in their ranks over 200,000 men. In the work of 
bringing out so vast a body from the peaceful avocations of 
life, to swell the ranks of the National armies, there was 
exhibited a patriotism and a firmness unsurpassed. Mothers 
encouraged their sons to enlist, and sisters wrought industri- 
ously in preparing the outfit of the departing ones, exempli- 
fying the stern heroism of that matron of old who brought 
forth the shield, and giving it her son, bade him return with 
it, or on it. Nor was it a stoical resolve that actuated 
them. The tenderest emotions were stirred, and it was not 
without the most bitter pangs that loved ones were seen 
directing their footsteps to the field. They were daily remem- 
bered at the hearthstone, and followed by the prayers of purest 
and holiest affection. 

A voice heard above the stirring appeals of the Executive of 



THE GREAT UPRISING. 



157 



the Commonwealth, or of the Nation, a voice more potent than 
that of the rostrum, or the promptings of honor on the field of 
strife, moved all hearts. The song of Bryant in his thrilling 
strain, Our Country s Gall, which seemed more aptly addressed 
to Pennsylvania, from its physical figuration, than to any other 
State, expressed the sentiment which inspired and moved the 
gathering hosts : 



" Lay down the axe ; fling by the spade ; 

Leave in its track the toiling plough ; 
The rifle and the bayonet blade 

For arms like yours are fitter now. 
And let the hands that ply the pen 

Quit the light task, and learn to wield 
The horseman's crooked brand, and rein 

The charger on the battle-field. 

" Our country calls ; away ! away ! 

To where the blood-stream blots the green ; 
Strike to defend the gentlest sway 

That Time in all his course has seen. 
See, from a thousand coverts — see, 

Spring the armed foes that haunt her track ; 
They rush to smite her down, and we 

Must beat the banded traitors back. 

" Ho ! sturdy as the oak ye cleave, 

And moved as soon to fear and flight, 
Men of the glade and forest, leave 

Your woodcraft for the field of fight. 
The arms that wield the axe must pour 

An iron tempest on the foe ; 
His serried ranks shall reel before 

The arm that lays the panther low. 

" And ye who breast the mountain storm 
By grassy steep or highland lake, 

Come, for the land ye love, to form 
A bulwark that no foe can break. 



Stand like your own grey cliffs that mock 
The whirlwind, stand to her defence : 

The blast as soon shall move the rock, 
As rushing squadrons bear you thence. 

And ye whose homes are by her grand, 

Swift rivers, rising far away, 
Come from the depths of her green land 

As mighty in your march as they ; 
As terrible as when the rains 

Have swelled them over bank and bourne, 
With sudden floods to drown the plains, 

And sweep along the woods uptorn. 

"And ye who throng beside the deep 

Her ports and hamlets of the strand, 
In number like the waves that leap 

On his long murmuring marge of sand, 
Come, like that deep, when, o'er his brim, 

He rises all his floods to pour, 
And flings the proudest barks that swim 

A helpless wreck against the shore. 

" Few, few were they whose swords of old 

Won the fair land in which we dwell ; 
But we are many, we who hold 

The grim resolve to guard it well. 
Strike for that broad and goodly land, 

Blow after blow, till men shall see 
That Might and Right move hand in hand, 

And glorious must their triumph be." 




CHAPTER VII. 



PRELIMINARIES TO THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG UNDER IIOOKER. 




part of Virginia, which in the late war was every- 
where ploughed by battle, has more stirring asso- 
ciations, than that bordering upon the Rappahan- 
nock. At the head of navigation, upon the right 
bank of this stream, is Fredericksburg, and a dozen 
miles above this, on the same side, but a little 
back from the river, is Chancellorsville. For 
nearly a year, from October, 1862, to June, 1863, 
the two contending armies, that of the Potomac, 
and that of Northern Virginia, had lain stretched 
out upon the opposite banks, warily watching each 
other, but principally concentrated about the town 
of Fredericksburg. Twice during that time the 
Army of the Potomac had crossed and offered battle, first under 
General Burnside at Fredericksburg, on the loth of December, 
1862, a most inclement season, and again under General Hooker, 
at Chancellorsville, on the 2d and 3d of May. In both of these 
engagements, that army had been repulsed, and had returned 
decimated and dispirited to its old camps. 

Iu the latter battle, the rebel army had achieved a victory with 
only a part of its ordinary strength, heavy columns, upwards of 
40,000 men, having been sent away under some of its most 
trusted Generals, Longstreet, Hill, Picket, Hood, Garnett, Ander- 
son, Jenkins, and Pettigrew, to operate against the Union troops 
south of the James, principally at Little Washington, North Caro- 
lina, and at Suffolk, Virginia, with the design of regaining all 
that coast. Failing in carrying either of those places either by 
assault or by direct approaches, the siege of the latter, which had 
been conducted by Longstreet in person, had been raised on the 
very day that the most desperate fighting was in progress at 

158 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 159 

Chancellorsville. The new rebel department which had been 
erected in that locality, and over which General Longstreet had 
been placed, was broken up, and the troops thus released were 
hurried away to join General Lee upon the Rappahannock. 

Elated by two great victories, and made confident by the large 
accessions of strength he was receiving, the rebel chieftain at once 
began to meditate a systematic invasion of the North. In this 
he was seconded by the Government at Richmond. If a perma- 
nent lodgment could be made on Northern soil, great advantages 
were promised, and the hope, from the beginning cherished, of 
transferring the theatre of war to that section, would be realized ; 
the great network of railroads concentring at Harrisburg could 
be broken up ; the supply of coal from the anthracite regions of 
Pennsylvania, the almost sole reliance for the entire navy of the 
Union, could be deranged ; the casting of heavy guns for both the 
army and navy, at Pittsburg, could be impeded ; and foreign 
Governments, seeing the vitality displayed, might thereby be 
induced to recognize the new power as a nation. Doubtless 
political considerations at home also urged on the leaders to this 
enterprise. But greater than all these, the rebel President had 
learned that Vicksburg must fall before the victorious armies of 
Grant, and he hoped by a brilliant campaign on Northern soil to 
break the crushing weight of the blow thus impending from the 
West. 

An invasion seemed to promise some if not all of these advan- 
tages. Having gained victories so easily upon the Rappahannock, 
General Lee argued that he could gain them with equal ease upon 
the Susquehanna. Turning to the Union army, now commanded 
by General Hooker, he saw in its condition ample matter of 
encouragement. It was dispirited by defeat. There was a want 
of harmony among its Generals, and especially between its Com- 
mander and the General-in-chief of all the armies, Halleck. 
Besides, the time of about 40,000 nine-months' men had expired, 
and the places which they had left vacant had not been filled. 
But there was one untoward circumstance, the importance of 
which, in his overweening self-confidence, he had failed to recog- 
nize. On that evening in May, at Chancellorsville, when with 
the force of an avalanche his massed columns had been precipi- 



160 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tated upon the Union army, Stonewall Jackson, that thunderbolt 
in war, who had led his legions victorious in almost every battle, 
had fallen, mortally wounded, and was borne forever from the 
theatre of mortal strife. 

In his confidence the whole army and the entire South shared, 
and on the morning of the 3d of June, just one month from the 
close of the Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee put his columns in 
motion for a campaign in the North. He, however, skilfully 
masked his movements, leaving Hill's corps to occupy his old 
camps upon the immediate Union front, upon the Rappahannock, 
and to hold, apparently with his accustomed strength, the in- 
trenchments along all the heights, and sending clouds of cavalry 
to hover upon his right flank. He also exercised unceasing vigil- 
ance to prevent any one from crossing the river who could carry 
intelligence of his purposes into the Union lines, and all of 
Hookers scouts who had been sent across to ascertain what 
movements were in progress were seized, not one of them 
returning. 

But nothing could escape the keen eye of Hooker. The most 
insignificant change of camp was noted, and its interpretation 
divined. As early as the 28th of May, he telegraphed to Secre- 
tary Stanton : " It has been impossible for me to give any 
information concerning the movements of the enemy at all satis- 
factory. I have had several men over the river, but, as they do 
not return, I conclude that they have been captured. The 
enemy's camps are as numerous and as well filled as ever. It was 
reported to me this morning, by General Gregg, that the enemy's 
cavalry had made their appearance in the vicinity of Warrenton, 
on the strength of which I have ordered on to that line Buford's 
division, to drive them across the river and to keep them there. 
If necessary, I will send up additional forces. ... In the event a 
forward movement should be contemplated by the enemy, and he 
should have been reinforced by the army from Charleston, I am 
in doubt as to the direction he will take, but probably the one of 
last year, however desperate it may appear — desperate if his force 
should be no greater than we have reason to suppose. The 
enemy has always shown an unwillingness to attack fortified 
positions; still, you may rest assured that important movements 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 161 

are being made, and, in my opinion, it is necessary for every one 
to be watchful. The enemy has all his cavalry force, five brig- 
ades, collected at Culpeper and Jefferson. This would indicate 
a movement in the direction of the Orange and Alexandria Rail- 
road, and this it is my duty to look after." 

We see in this dispatch already prefigured in the mind of 
Hooker the probable course which the rebel army would take. 
Intimations continued to come to him from various sources 
strengthening this opinion. A Savannah paper had published an 
outline of the contemplated invasion, which had reached the 
Northern press. The movement of rebel troops northward was 
also discovered and reported to him from a signal station in 
the First corps. 

To enable the rebel army to move with assurance of success, 
its commander had been allowed to draw every available man, 
taking the armies from before Suffolk, from North Carolina, from 
Virginia in the direction of Tennessee, and from the rebel Capital. 
A like concentration was not attempted on the Union side. Dix 
was at Fortress Monroe, Peck at Suffolk, Foster in North Caro- 
lina, Heintzelman in the Department of Washington, Schenck at 
Baltimore, Tyler at Harper's Ferry, and Milroy at Winchester. 
Over the troops in these several districts, General Hooker had no 
control, and when a detachment from one of them near Harpers 
Ferry received an order from him, its commander refused to obey 
it, as did General Slough at Alexandria, when a brigade of the 
Pennsylvania Reserve corps was ordered up to the front. Against 
this isolation Hooker remonstrated repeatedly. In concluding 
an important dispatch of the 5th of June, he said : " In view of 
these contemplated movements of the enemy, I cannot too forci- 
bly impress upon the mind of his Excellency, the President, the 
necessity of having one commander for all the troops whose 
operations can have an influence on those of Lee's army. Under 
the present system all independent commanders are in ignorance 
of the movements of the others — at least such is my situation. 
I trust that I may not be considered in the way to this arrange- 
ment, as it is a position 1 do not desire, and only suggest it as I 
feel the necessity for concert, as well as vigor of action." But his 
appeal was not heeded, whether from lack of confidence in his 
ll 



1G2 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ability to direct operations on so large a scale, or whether it 
was deemed better to have minor movements under the control 
of the head of the army at Washington, is not apparent. 

In the midst of his efforts to harmonize counsels, and cen- 
tralize the Union forces, intimations thickened from all sides 
tending to the one conclusion, that Lee's army had been largely 
reinforced, and that it was secretly moving on an important cam- 
paign, either of invasion, or to turn the right flank of the Union 
army. Should he find the former supposition to be correct, Gen- 
eral Hooker, in the communication quoted from above, desired 
permission to cross the Rappahannock, and fall upon the isolated 
portion left in his front. The reply of Mr. Lincoln is charac- 
teristic, and illustrates remarkably the clearness of his concep- 
tions, and the homely but pointed similes with which he enforced 
them : " Yours of to-day," he says, " was received an hour ago. 
So much of professional military skill is requisite to answer it 
that I have turned the task over to General Halleck. He 
promises to perforin it with his utmost care. I have but one 
idea which I think worth suggesting to you, and that is, in case 
you find Lee coming to the north of the Rappahannock, I would 
by no means cross to the south of it. If he should leave a rear 
force at Fredericksburg tempting you to fall upon it, it would 
fight in intrenchments, and have you at a disadvantage, and so, 
man for man, worst you at that point, while his main force would 
be getting an advantage of you northward. In one word, I 
would not take any risk of being entangled upon the river, like 
an ox jumped half over a fence and liable to be torn by dogs 
front and rear, without a fair chance to gore one way or kick the 
other. If Lee would come to my side of the river, I would keep 
on the same side and fight him, or act on the defensive according 
as might be my estimate of his strength relatively to my own. 
But these are mere suggestions, which I desire to be controlled 
by the judgment of yourself and General Halleck." 

The opinion of Mr. Lincoln, expressed in his quaint but forci- 
ble way, must be acknowledged remarkably just, and withal is 
so modestly propounded that it cannot fail to commend itself to 
the most violent advocate of the opposing view. A small force 
in the intrenchments, upon those frowning heights which had 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 1G3 

been before attacked with such disastrous results, would have 
been equal to a much larger one in the attacking column. 

That he might, however, discover what was really behind the 
works on his front, the Sixth corps was ordered down to Frank- 
lin's crossing of the Rappahannock a little below Fredericksburg, 
on the morning of the 6th of June, and a portion of it, under 
command of General Howe, was thrown across. A strong demon- 
stration showed that the enemy was in heavy force in front, and 
that the heights, for a distance of twenty miles, were still firmly 
held, Hill's entire corps of 30,000 men being present. But that 
he might seem to threaten the rebel rear and retain his troops 
as long as possible, Hooker kept the Sixth corps in position at 
the river, with the Fifth at Banks' and United States Fords, and 
as late as the 12th threw across two pontoon bridges as if to pass 
over. Lee, in his official report, says : " General Hill disposed 
his forces to resist their advance, but as they seemed intended 
for the purpose of observation rather than attack, the movements 
in progress were not arrested." 

Determined to be satisfied of the real position of the rebel 
infantry, Pleasanton, who commanded the cavalry, was ordered 
to cross the Rappahannock at the fords above, at daylight on the 
morning of the 9th, with a strong column, stiffened by 3000 
infantry, and attack the enemy's cavalry camp, — supposed to be 
located in the direction of Culpeper. A severe battle ensued 
in the neighborhood of Brandy station, in which the enemy was 
roughly handled. But the rebel infantry coining to the rescue, 
Pleasanton was obliged to withdraw. From information obtained 
and official papers captured, it was learned that the enemy's 
cavalry, which, by accessions from the Shenandoah Valley and 
from North Carolina, now numbered 12,000 men, and had, the 
day before, been reviewed by General Lee, was on the following 
morning, the 10th, to have started on a raid into Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. 

The result of this reconnoissance was two-fold, and proved very 
important to the Union commander. It crippled the enemy's 
cavalry in such a manner that it did not recover so as to be effec- 
tive in the campaign upon which it was about entering, giving 
an evil omen to its opening scene ; and it disclosed the fact that 



164 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

two corps of the enemy, those of Ewell and Longstreet, were well 
on their way towards the Shenandoah Valley. It also demon- 
strated the very unpleasant fact that Lee's cavalry was at least 
a third stronger than Hooker's. Having abundant force to seize 
and hold all the fords of the river, the enemy was secure from 
attack while on the march, and when the valley was reached, by 
holding the passes of the Blue Ridge, he was completely protected 
by this great natural wall. 

Convinced that the movement of the opposing army was not 
a feint, but the opening of a real campaign northward, on the 
morning of the 12th, Hooker ordered General Reynolds to assume 
command of the right wing of the Union army, consisting of the 
First, his own, Third, and Eleventh corps, and all the cavalry, 
and proceed with it along the line of the Orange and Alexandria 
Railroad, to Manassas, a movement correspondent to that which 
the enemy was making, though upon an inner circle, with Wash- 
ington as a centre ; and on the following day ordered the Second, 
Fifth, Sixth, and Twelfth corps into motion northward. The 
moment the Union forces disappeared behind the hills of Stafford, 
Hill withdrew from his position and followed Lee. Ewell, who 
was in the advance, had crossed the Shenandoah river at Front 
Royal and passed down behind the great mountain range which 
walls it in on the south ; but Longstreet, seeing the Union army 
moving away from him, felt secure in marching by the more 
direct route on this side of the Blue range, and entered the valley 
by Snicker's Gap. Hill moved upon the track of Ewell. That 
his left flank might be protected from incursions from West 
Virginia, Lee sent Imboden with a body of cavalry towards Rom- 
ney, who destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, effectually 
cutting off communication from Union forces operating in that 
direction. 

The old counsel of keeping a force at Harper's Ferry to guard 
the mouth of the valley, and prevent incursions into Maryland 
and Pennsylvania, had been persevered in, and when the enemy's 
cavalry sent forward under Jenkins approached, closely followed 
by the infantry of Ewell, they found a Union force at Winchester 
of 7500 men under General Milroy, and another at Harper's 
Ferry under General Tyler of 10,000, — too many troops to throw 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 1(J5 

away, and too few to cope with the numbers brought against 
them, enough to tempt to enterprise, and give zest to the play. 
Again was this the field of shame, disaster, and defeat. By a 
strange oversight, neither General Halleck nor the Secretary of 
War had informed General Milroy, who was first to be struck, 
that the rebel army was moving in force down the valley, and 
he had no intimation of the fact until the head of E well's column 
was upon him. He made such resistance as was possible, but 
was speedily routed, and all his guns and many of his men fell 
into the enemy's hands. On the night of the 14th, having ascer- 
tained that two corps of the rebel army, numbering 60,000 men, 
were upon his front, and being convinced that further resistance 
was useless, he had determined, in council of war, to cut his way 
out. He accordingly spiked his guns, and leaving all his trains 
which had not already been sent away, marched at two in the 
morning of the 15th; but at a point four miles out on the Mar- 
tinsburg pike, he encountered a heavy column under Johnson 
posted to intercept him, and though making a gallant fight was 
unable to move the foe. His forces were broken, and while many 
of them escaped and made their way into the Union lines, the 
killed, wounded, and missing numbered more than half of his 
command. 

That Lee should not out-man ceuvre him, and by powerful 
demonstrations northward, suddenly turn and come in upon his 
rear, Hooker moved slowly, keeping himself constantly informed 
of the progress of the main body of his antagonist's force, and 
sending the Second corps to Thoroughfare Gap, and a division of 
cavalry supported by the Fifth corps, to Aldie. At this point 
a brisk action occurred with the cavalry of Stuart, wherein the 
latter was pushed back through Upperville into Ashby's Gap, by 
the division of General Gregg, supported by General Kilpatrick. 
" We took," says General Pleasanton, " two pieces of artillery, 
one being a Blakeley gun, together with three caissons, besides 
blowing one up. We also captured upwards of sixty prisoners, 
and more are coming in, including a Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, 
and five other officers, besides a wounded Colonel, and a large 
number of wounded rebels in the town of Upperville. They left 
their dead and wounded upon the field. Of the former I saw 



160 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

upwards of twenty. We also took a large number of carbines, 
pistols, and sabres. In fact, it was a most disastrous day for the 
rebel cavalry. Our loss has been very small both in men and 
horses. I never saw the troops behave better, or under more 
difficult circumstances." 

It was now thoroughly apparent to Hooker that the rebel 
army was intent not merely on crossing the Potomac but on 
pushing the invasion as far north as the Army of the Potomac 
would allow. He had, on the 15th, six days before this latter 
engagement, telegraphed to the President : " I now feel that inva- 
sion is his settled purpose. If so, he has more to accomplish, 
but with more hazard, by striking an easterly direction after 
crossing than a northerly one. It seems to me that he will be 
more likely to go north and to incline to the west. He can have 
no design to look after his rear. It is an act of desperation on 
his part, no matter in what force he moves." Hooker never 
appears to better advantage than in the few sentences here 
quoted, except it be in the manoeuvres preliminary to Chancellors- 
ville. He seems as conversant with his adversary's plans and 
purposes as does that adversary himself, and his movements are 
timed with a skill unexampled to completely shield Washington, 
and to be in readiness to strike should the opportunity be pre- 
sented. This is now made apparent by General Lee's own report. 
k * The position occupied by the enemy," he says, " opposite Fred- 
ericksburg, being one in which he could not be attacked to ad- 
vantage, it was determined to draw him from it. The execution 
of this purpose embraced the relief of the Shenandoah Valley 
from the troops that had occupied the lower part of it during the 
winter and spring, and, if practicable, the transfer of the scene of 
hostilities north of the Potomac. ... In addition to these ad- 
vantages, it was hoped that other valuable results might be 
attained by military success." 

What those valuable results were, may be inferred from the 
rumors which found their way into the Southern press, and were 
commented on in the most extravagant and visionary manner. 
The Richmond Wliiy, of July 1st, counting confidently on success, 
said : " If it be true that the Confederate forces occupy Harris- 
burg, the attention of the Commanding General will no doubt be 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 167 

directed to the coal-fields, which lie within forty or fifty miles of 
that city. His first aim will be to cut all the railroad connec- 
tions;, and thus put a stop to the transportation of fuel. His next 
will be to destroy the most costly and not easily replaced ma- 
chinery of the pits. Whether he would stop at this is ques- 
tionable. He might set fire to the pits, withdraw the forces sent 
out on this special duty, and leave the heart of Pennsylvania on 
fire, never to be quenched until a river is turned into the pits, 
or the vast supply of coal is reduced to ashes. The anthracite 
coal is found in large quantities in no other part of the world 
but Pennsylvania. Enormous quantities are used in the United 
States navy, the countless workshops and manufactories of the 
North, in the river boats and even upon locomotives. It can- 
not well be replaced by any other fuel. The bituminous coal 
which is found near Pittsburg would not answer the purpose, 
even if it would bear the cost of transportation. Our troops 
already hold the railroads and canals leading from the Cumber- 
land coal-fields. All that is needed is to seize the anthracite 
fields, destroy the roads and machinery of the pits, set fire to the 
mines and leave them. Northern industry will thus be paralyzed 
at a single blow. These views may have induced General Lee 
to move upon Harrisburg. We doubt whether he would fire the 
mines, but the destruction of the Mauch Chunk Railroad and pit 
implements would be as legitimate as blowing up tunnels and 
aqueducts, or burning bridges. Of one thing we may be sure, 
that whatever is best to be done will be done by General Lee, 
and if he thinks proper to destroy the Pennsylvania mines they 
will certainly be destroyed." 

Three days before this was written, General Lee records in his 
report : " Preparations were now made to move on Harrisburg," 
showing that the Richmond papers, though mistaken as to the 
result, were correctly informed of the purposes of the Confederate 
chieftain. 

While the armies of Hooker and Lee were moving northward, 
only separated from each other by a mountain chain, the States 
north of the Potomac, which lay directly in their way, began to 
take the alarm. But a narrow section of Maryland had to be 
traversed before the southern border of Pennsylvania would be 



168 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

reached, a country luxurious with waving grain, plenteous flocks 
and herds, and orchards bending with mellow fruit, tempting the 
hand of the spoiler. For the defence of the border no prepara- 
tions had been made, and no power existed capable of arresting 
the march of the veteran army of the enemy, other than an 
equally strong and well disciplined force. The attempt to have 
kept a body of militia, or even of trained soldiers unskilled in 
battle, to guard it, would have been as impracticable as it would 
have been useless. But to prepare for temporary defence, and to 
succor the army of the Union in its grapple with its adversary, 
which was sure to come, was now the part of discretion ; and 
accordingly, on the 9th of June, two military departments were 
erected, one embracing all that part of Pennsylvania east of 
Johnstown and the Laurel Hill range, with headquarters at Har- 
risburg, at the head of which Major-General Darius N. Couch was 
placed, and the other, the portion of the State west of that line, 
together with parts of West Virginia and Ohio contiguous, with 
headquarters at Pittsburg, and to the command of which Major- 
General William T. H. Brooks was assigned. These officers were 
charged with organizing troops within their respective districts, 
under the title of departmental corps. In this work they were 
powerfully aided by Governor Curtin^who issued his proclama- 
tion on the 12th, assuring the people of the danger impending, 
and urging them to enlist in the proposed organizations, and on 
the 14th, especially called upon citizens of African descent to 
rally around the standard of the State. 

But little progress was made in the work of gathering troops. 
Men were slow to come. It was at a season of the year when 
every laboring man was needed to gather the maturing crops, and 
every walk of life had been already depleted to swell the ranks 
of the National armies. It would seem, too, that even those in 
authority were not impressed with the belief that an invasion by 
the whole rebel army was meditated. In his proclamation. 
Governor Curtin said: "Information has been obtained by the 
War Department, that a large rebel force, composed of cavalry, 
artillery, and mounted infantry, has been prepared for the pur- 
pose of making a raid into Pennsylvania;" and General Couch, 
in his order announcing the formation of his corps : " To pre- 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 169 

vent serious raids by the enemy, it is deemed necessary to call 
upon the citizens of Pennsylvania to furnish promptly all the 
men necessary to organize an army corps of volunteer infantry, 
cavalry, and artillery, to be designated the Army Corps of the 
Susquehanna." 

Unfortunately for getting an immediate strong force to act for 
the emergency, it was announced by General Couch that the 
troops " would be mustered into the service of the United States, 
to serve during the pleasure of the President, or the continuance 
of the war." The majority of men were deterred, by this condi- 
tion, from enlisting, who, to meet the emergency, if one really 
existed, would have come promptly forward. The inference 
derived from the language of Governor Curtin, and of General 
Couch, left the impression that no invasion in force was antici- 
pated, but that the General Government was desirous of taking 
advantage of the threatened rebel advance to obtain soldiers for 
the National armies. In the two former years, these rumors had 
been frequent, but had never resulted in any material harm to 
the State, and it was now scarcely credited that the enemy would 
be so adventurous as to come, with all his legions, upon Pennsyl- 
vania soil. 

But the disposition of the enemy to advance became daily more 
apparent. On Sunday evening, June the 14th, affrighted contra- 
bands from the Shenandoah Valley commenced arriving in Green- 
castle, the first town in Pennsylvania over the border, and soon 
after reached Chambersburg, bringing intelligence of the route of 
Milroy, and the rapid advance of the head of the conquering 
rebel column. As it was known that at Winchester and Harper's 
Ferry there was a strong army corps, it was now perceived that 
the enemy was coming in earnest. " On Monday morning," says 
Mr. McClure, in an article published in the Chambersburg 
Repository, " the flood of rumors from the Potomac fully con- 
firmed the advance of the rebels, and the citizens of Chambers- 
burg and vicinity, feeling unable to resist the rebel columns, 
commenced to make prompt preparation for the movement of 
stealable property. Nearly every horse, good, bad, and indif- 
erent, was started for the mountains as early on Monday as 
possible, and the negroes darkened the different roads northward 



170 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

for hours, loaded with household effects, sable babies, etc., and 
horses, wagons, and cattle crowded every avenue to places of 
safety." 

The hegira thus commenced received a fresh impetus at nine 
o'clock on that morning, by the arrival of the advance of Milroy's 
wagon train, which had escaped across the Potomac, and was 
making haste to put itself beyond the reach of the enemy. As 
the long dusky train wound through the town, and for hours con- 
tinued to wend its weary way, affright seized the inhabitants and 
spread wildly through the country. Valuable stock of all descrip- 
tions was put upon the road northward, and did not halt in its 
course until the Susquehanna had been left behind. The more 
common and less valuable was hurried away to the mountains 
and by-places. The great covered bridge across the Susquehanna 
at Harrisburg presented a scene of endless activity, and never 
was such a toll business done there before. Milroy's train reached 
it first, and in its rear came an endless stream of human beings 
of every age and size, and beasts and four-footed things innu- 
merable. By night the steady tramp and rumble of the heavy 
teams lulled the senses of the weary, and through the long hours 
of the sultry June day, a cloud of dust rose constantly far down 
the valley, reaching forward and across the stream, as far in the 
opposite direction as the eye could penetrate. With the fine impal- 
pable particles settling down ceaselessly, rider and horse, vehicle 
and occupants, flocks, herds, all were enveloped, until thick folds 
wrapped them like a garment. 

Not until the 15th did the General Government seem to be 
fully impressed with the seriousness of the situation, or realize 
that the predictions of Hooker, made ten days before, were the 
words of truth and soberness. On that day, the President issued 
a proclamation for 100,000 men from the States immediately 
menaced, to serve for six months, unless sooner discharged ; 50,000 
from Pennsylvania, 30,000 from Ohio, and 10,000 each from Mary- 
land and West Virginia. Governor Curtin seconded the call by a 
proclamation, in which he said : " That it is the purpose of the 
enemy to invade our borders with all the strength he can com- 
mand is now apparent. Our only defence rests upon the deter- 
mined action of the citizens of our Commonwealth. I therefore 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 171 

call on the people of Pennsylvania, capable of bearing arms, to 
enroll themselves in military organizations, and- to encourage all 
others to give aid and assistance to the efforts which will be put 
forth for the protection of the State, and the salvation of our 
common country." Indications of mischief thickened so rapidly 
at Harrisburg, that preparations were commenced for removing 
the archives of the Government, and in the hours of a short 
summer night, the papers of all the departments, even to the 
28,000 volumes of the State Library, and the fine old portraits 
of the Governors, were securely put upon cars and moved to 
Philadelphia. The excitement likewise ran high at Pittsburg. 
Fears were entertained that the rebel army, or at least a strong 
detachment, might bear westward, especially if, in a general 
battle, the enemy should prove victorious. Engineers were 
accordingly employed in locating and planning forts, and thou- 
sands of busy hands were at work in constructing them. The 
merchants and mechanics organized themselves into military 
companies for the defence of the city ; business was suspended, 
all the bars, restaurants, and drinking saloons were closed, and 
the sale or giving away of liquors stopped. 

On the loth, General Jenkins crossed the Potomac, and 
cautiously made his way northward. The rebel army was in 
need of transportation and supplies, and Jenkins from the first 
kept a sharp look out for these. Greencastle was possessed with- 
out opposition, and in due time Chambersburg. Of his entrance 
to the latter place Mr. McClure, in the article above quoted, gives 
a facetious account, though it was to his own sore spoliation. 
" Jenkins," he says, " had doubtless read the papers in his day, 
and knew that there were green fields in the ' Green Spot ; ' 
and what is rather remarkable, at midnight he could start for a 
forty-acre clover-patch belonging to the editor of the Repository 
without so much as stopping to ask where the gate might be 
found. Not even a halt was called to find it; but the march was 
continued until the gate was reached, when the order 'file right !' 
was given, and Jenkins was in clover. Happy fellow, thus to find 
luxuriant and extensive clover, as if by instinct. By the way of 
giving the Devil his due, it must be said that, although there 
were over sixty acres of wheat, and eighty acres of corn and oats, 



172 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

in the same field, he protected it most carefully, and picketed his 
horses so that it could not be injured. . . . For prudential reasons 
the editor was not at home to do the honors at his own table; but 
Jenkins was not particular, nor was his appetite impaired thereby. 
He called upon the ladies of the house, shared their hospitality, 
behaved in all respects like a gentleman, and expressed very 
earnest regrets that he had not been able to make the personal 
acquaintance of the editor. We beg to say that we reciprocate 
the wish of the General, and shall be glad to make his acquaint- 
ance personally — ' when this cruel war is over.' . . . General 
Jenkins also had the fullest information of the movements of the 
editor of this paper. He told, at our house, when we had left, the 
direction w r e had gone, and described the horse we rode." 

For nearly a week, Chambersburg and all the southern part of 
Franklin county was occupied by the rebel forces, busy in gather- 
ing horses, which were regarded as contraband of war, and in 
seizing whatever goods of every variety that could be of use to 
them, pretending payment by delivering in exchange their worth- 
less Confederate scrip. Though falling upon all this afflicted 
region with a crushing weight, yet in telling the story, their 
chronicler, Mr. McClure, yields to a grim humor. " True," he 
says, "the system of Jenkins would be considered a little informal 
in business circles ; but it's his way, and our people agreed to it 
perhaps, to some extent, because of the novelty, but mainly 
because of the necessity of the thing. But Jenkins was liberal — 
eminently liberal. He didn't stop to higgle about a few odd 
pennies in making a bargain. For instance, he took the drugs of 
Messrs. Miller, Spangler, Nixon, and Heyser, and told them to 
make out a bill, or if they could not do that, to guess at the 
amount and the bills were paid. Doubtless our merchants and 
druggists would have preferred greenbacks to Confederate scrip, 
that is never payable and is worth just its weight in old paper; 
but Jenkins hadn't greenbacks, and he had Confederate scrip, 
and such as he had he gave unto them. Thus he dealt largely 
in our place. To avoid jealousies growing out of rivalry in busi- 
ness, he patronized all the merchants, and bought pretty much 
everything he could conveniently use and carry. Some people, 
with antiquated ideas of business, might call it stealing to take 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 173 

goods and pay for them in bogus money ; but Jenkins calls it 
business, and for the time being what Jenkins calls business was 
business. . . . Jenkins, like most doctors, don't seem to have 
relished his own prescriptions. Several horses had been captured 
by some of our boys, and notice was given by the General com- 
manding that they must be surrendered or the town would be 
destroyed. The city fathers, commonly known as the town 
Council, were appealed to in order to avert the impending fate 
threatened us. One of the horses, we believe, and some of the 
equipments were found and returned, but there was still a balance 
in favor of Jenkins. We do not know who audited the account, 
but it was finally adjusted by the Council appropriating the sum 
of $900 to pay the claim. Doubtless Jenkins hoped for $900 in 
'greenbacks,' but he had flooded the town with Confederate scrip, 
pronouncing it better than United States currency, and the Council 
evidently believed him ; and, desiring to be accommodating with a 
conqueror, decided to favor him by the payment of his bill in Con- 
federate scrip. It was so done, and Jenkins got just $900 worth 
of nothing for his trouble. He took it, however, without a mur- 
mur, and doubtless considered it a clever joke." 

Of a piece with the above is the account of Jenkins himself: 
" He graduated at Jefferson College in this State, in the same 
class, we believe, with J. McDowell Sharpe, Esq., and gave 
promise of future usefulness and greatness. His downward career 
commenced some five years ago, when in an evil hour he became 
a Member of Congress from Western Virginia, and from thence 
may be dated his decline and fall. From Congress he naturally 
enough turned fire-eater, secessionist, and guerilla. He is of 
medium size, has a flat but good head, light brown hair, blue eyes, 
immense flowing beard, of a sandy hue, and rather a pleasant 
face. He professes to cherish the utmost regard for the human- 
ities of war, and seemed sensitive on the subject of his reputation 
as a humane military leader." 

The sudden removal of horses, flocks, and herds, into the moun- 
tains, and across the Susquehanna before his arrival, greatly 
interfered with the purposes of Jenkins ; yet he succeeded in 
sweeping together a vast body of plunder, which he hurried away 
to the Potomac, and into the folds of the main force. He came 



174 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

clown upon the fairest and wealthiest portion of Franklin county, 
and, as he retired, separated into squadrons, which scoured every 
road and byway, spending some time at Greencastle, Waynes- 
boro, and Welsh Run, and at Mercersburg a detachment crossed 
Cove Mountain and penetrated to McConnellsburg, passing on 
down the valley from that point. It would appear that Lee had 
hoped by this demonstration to have induced Hooker either to 
rush forward and cross the Potomac, and thus uncover Washing- 
ton, or to have tempted him to attack the rebel army while on 
the march northward, when a rapid concentration would have 
been made, and a defensive battle fought, in which Lee felt con- 
fident of a victory. These purposes are plainly disclosed in Lee's 
report. He says : " With a view to draw him (Hooker) further 
from his base, and at the same time to cover the march of A. P. 
Hill, who, in accordance with instructions, left Fredericksburg 
for the valley as soon as the enemy withdrew from his front, 
Longstreet moved from Culpeper Court House on the 15th, and 
advancing along the east side of the Blue Ridge, occupied Ashby's 
and Snicker's Gaps. ... As these demonstrations (Jenkins') did 
not have the effect of causing the Federal army to leave Virginia, 
and as it did not seem disposed to advance upon the position held 
by Longstreet, the latter was withdrawn to the west side of the 
Shenandoah, General Hill having already reached the valley." 

But Hooker was too wary to be caught in either of these traps, 
and while beating back the enemy through the passes of the minor 
range of mountains which still interposed between himself and 
Longstreet, and guarding well his flank, he was in no haste to 
advance into Maryland. Mr. Lincoln, in his great anxiety to 
protect the entire territory of the North, and to ward off the dis- 
grace of invasion, had telegraphed to Hooker on the 16th : " Your 
idea to send your cavalry to this side of the river may be right, 
probably is ; still, it pains me a little that it looks like the defen- 
sive merely, and seems to abandon the fair chance now presented 
of breaking the enemy's lengthy and necessarily slow line 
stretched from the Rappahannock to Pennsylvania." But to this 
Hooker says : " With all deference to the views of his Excellency, 
the President, it appeared to me that the wisest course for me to 
pursue was to move the army on a concentric but inner circle to 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 175 

the one followed by the enemy, and endeavor to keep abreast of 
his main column. This would relieve me from all embarrassment 
concerning my communications and supplies, and would enable me 
to act promptly, with my force concentrated, in thwarting the 
general designs of the enemy. To have followed the plan sug- 
gested, it seemed to me that I would be inarching the army away 
from the point at which it was most needed." 

Close upon the heels of Jenkins followed Ewell, who, with 
12,000 men and sixteen pieces of artillery, crossed the Po- 
tomac at Williamsport on the 15th, the same day that the for- 
mer reached Chambersburg. He did not advance far, however, 
remaining between the bank of the stream and the borough of 
Hagerstown, and, like an attentive gallant, gracefully handing the 
plunder of Jenkins across to Lee. From the 15th to the 22d, this 
delightful work was continued without material change, Lee re- 
ceiving much needed stores, and bringing up the rear of his army. 

In the meantime, the troops called out to meet the emergency 
gathered slowly. On the 16th, Governor Curtin addressed an ap- 
peal to the people of Philadelphia, in which he exhorted them to 
come forward at once, to close their places of business, and apply 
their hearts to the work. But the apparent halt in the rebel 
column at the Potomac, and its inactivity beyond that of gathering- 
supplies, created the impression that the main body was not 
coming. The leading editorial of the Philadelphia Press on the 
morning of the 17th contained the following view : "As we under- 
stand the situation, as it appears at midnight, there is less ground 
for alarm than prevailed during the day. The rebels have occu- 
pied Chambersburg ; but beyond that point no force is known to 
be advancing. . . . This suggests to us that the rebels have too 
great a dread of Hooker to divide themselves in his front, and 
that, while they might rejoice in the opportunity of occupying and 
holding Pennsylvania, they would not dare to do so with a power- 
ful army on their line of communications." 

Great consternation, however, prevailed at Harrisburg, and 
endless trains still continued to move out of the valley across the 
Susquehanna. Rifle-pits were thrown up in Harris' Park to com- 
mand the ford just below the island. A large fort, inclosing 
several acres, was surveyed by competent engineers on the bluff 



17G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

just above the heads of the bridges leading to the city, and mes- 
sengers were sent through every street requesting the inhabitants 
to set out empty barrels upon the side-walks to be used in con- 
structing it. Day and night the work was vigorously pushed. 
Just beneath the soil was a loose shale, not of sufficient solidity 
to require blasting, but so much so as to render the labor difficult. 
A heavy earthwork was finally' completed, with dry ditch and 
numerous platforms for guns. Half a mile in advance was a 
minor work erected upon a bold spur which commanded the 
valley on all sides. The few clumps of trees which dotted the 
fields here and there were swept away, as was also the grove, 
grateful for shade, and relief of the prospect from the city's side 
which stood upon the utmost summit, where the main fort was 
located. A span of each bridge was severed, ready for instant 
destruction, but supported by props until the necessity should ar- 
rive for its demolition. 

Jenkins, having brought in his cattle and horses gathered 
during the week to the Potomac, worshipped on Sunday with 
Ewell at Hagerstown, and early Monday morning, the 22d, headed 
again towards Chambersburg, now accompanied by the infantry 
of Ewell's corps. Rodes and Early, the division commanders of 
Ewell, moved in advance, the former reaching Chambersburg on 
the 23d, followed by Johnson. Maryland was by this time tho- 
roughly aroused. The Councils of Baltimore had appropriated, 
on the 16th, $400,000 for defence, and the labor of fortifying was 
vigorously pushed, earthworks being erected around the north 
and west sides of the city. To provide against a sudden incursion 
of cavalry, the streets were barricaded with barrels and hogsheads 
tilled with bricks and sand, where it could be effectually stopped. 
At Harrisburg, the camp which had been established began to 
swarm with volunteers, and the white tents were spread out fa: 1 
and wide. On the 19th, Captain William H. Boyd, who had 
been instrumental in saving Milroy's train, was dispatched with 
his company from Harrisburg on cars to Shippensburg, where, 
finding the road impassable, he mounted and rode to Greencastle, 
back to Chambersburg, and forward again to Greencastle before 
he found an enemy. Here he had a smart skirmish with the head 
of the hostile column, now on its second advance. Boyd continued 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 177 

upon its front, observing and reporting its progress, and dashing 
in upon its trains at every favorable point. On the 20th, a force 
under the command of Brigadier-General Knipe, consisting of 
E. Spencer Millers Battery and two regiments of militia, moved 
down the Cumberland Valley to occupy Chambersburg. But, 
finding on his arrival near that the rebel cavalry were al- 
ready there, with infantry advancing to their support, he fell 
back, skirmishing as he went, until he reached Carlisle. In the 
meanwhile, General Imboden, of the rebel cavalry, who had been 
sent out by Lee upon the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, having 
broken up that line and rendered the canal useless, thus prevent- 
ing troops from West Virginia from coming suddenly upon the 
flanks of the rebel main force, in obedience to his orders struck 
boldly out towards Fulton county, and after a short skirmish 
with a fragment of the First New York Cavalry, occupied McCon- 
nellsburg. 

Early on Sunday morning, the Philadelphia City Troop, an 
organization which had been preserved since the days of the 
Revolution, and which in that struggle acted as body-guard to 
Washington, now composed of about forty members, some of them 
the descendants of its original members, with holy memories of 
that early service, arrived in Gettysburg, and in company with a 
small body of mounted militia, under Captain Bell, moved out 
upon the Chambersburg Pike towards the South Mountain. At 
Monterey, a little village on the way, they came up with a party 
of rebel skirmishers, with whom they exchanged shots. These 
reconnoissances were repeated on the 23d, and on the following 
day Colonel William W. Jennings, with the Twenty-sixth regi- 
ment of the Pennsylvania militia, one company of which, under 
Captain F. Klinefelter, was composed principally of students from 
the Pennsylvania College and from the Theological School, both 
located at Gettysburg, arrived in town. Major Granville 0. 
Haller, of General Couch's staff, had been sent by that officer to 
represent him at this point, and assume command of all the Union 
forces. His conduct of affairs was most unfortunate. At the 
moment when veterans of the enemy were advancing on the 
town, he ordered this regiment of undisciplined men out to meet 

them — a most suicidal policy, which must have resulted in its 
12 



178 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

certain capture had not Colonel Jennings, who was an officer of 
experience, skilfully withdrawn it in time. Major Haller was 
subsequently dismissed from the service, " for disloyal conduct," 
strengthening the belief which was entertained at the time, that 
he was not devoted to the cause he represented. 

At Chambersburg, General Ewell separated his two advance 
divisions, sending Early in the direction of Gettysburg, and 
Rodes towards Carlisle and Harrisburg. Early reached Gettys- 
burg on the afternoon of Friday, the 2Gth, with Gordon's brigade 
of 5000 men, and took possession unopposed, having been pre- 
ceded by a battalion of cavalry, which dashed in, uttering 
demoniac yells, and delivering an indiscriminate fire from their 
pistols. He made large demands for sugar, coffee, flour, salt, 
bacon, whisky, onions, hats, and shoes, amounting in value to 
$6000, or in lieu thereof, $5000 in money. The town council 
pled poverty, and he appearing to be satisfied that the place was 
poverty-stricken, abandoned his suit, getting neither goods nor 
money. Early remained in town over night, but his forces 
hurried on to Hanover and York, that they might come upon 
those places before all the valuables they contained had been 
spirited away, and they be found as bare as was Gettysburg. At 
Hanover Junction the work of destruction on the Northern Cen- 
tral Railroad began, as it had likewise been practised on the 
Gett}*sburg branch. Bridges were burned, tracks torn up, rails 
twisted, and rolling stock demolished. Soon after the departure 
of Early from Gettysburg, on Saturday the 28th, three mounted 
Union scouts came in from Emmittsburg, where the advance of 
Pleasanton's cavalry then was, who captured two of the enemy, 
one of them a chaplain, bearing a dispatch from Ewell, then at 
Shippensburg, to Early, cautioning the latter about advancing too 
fast. At noon of the following day two regiments of Union 
cavalry, under General Cowpland, arrived from Emmittsburg, on 
a reconnoissance. They encamped for the night near by, and 
departed on the following morning in the direction of Littles- 
town. 

The Twentieth regiment of emergency militia had been sent 
out from Harrisburg, under Colonel Thomas, to guard the 
Northern Central Railroad and the Wrightsville branch. But as 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 179 

the veteran troops of Early advanced, Thomas was obliged to 
fall back, a part of his regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sickels, towards Wrightsville, and the remainder towards Har- 
risburg. Major Haller, with the City Troop, had also retired 
before the rebel advance, and had reached Wrightsville for the 
purpose of defending the passage of the magnificent bridge which 
there spanned the Susquehanna. Early was likewise eager to 
grasp that rich prize, as it would afford, if once securely in rebel 
hands, ready means of throwing Lee's entire army across a wide 
and difficult stream, that would otherwise prove a formidable 
barrier in his way. Its importance had been recognized by 
General Couch, who had four days before sent Colonel Frick, with 
the Twenty-seventh emergency regiment, with instructions to 
hold it to the last extremity, and subsequently ordered, if likely 
to fall into the enemy's hands, to destroy it. Upon his arrival, 
he was met by the City Troop and a part of the Twentieth, 
under Lieutenant-Colonel Sickels, and was joined by four com- 
panies of militia, three white and one colored, from Columbia, 
situated at the eastern head of the bridge, a detachment of con- 
valescent soldiers from the hospital at York, and the Petapsco 
Guards, in all less than 1500 men. Frick took position on com- 
manding ground, a half mile back from the western head of the 
bridge, and proceeded to fortify. 

Early, who was doubtless kept constantly advised of the num- 
ber and character of the forces set to guard the bridge, had no 
sooner reached York, than he hurried forward Gordon's brigade, 
well provided with artillery, to seize it. Frick made a stubborn 
resistance, and in the fighting which ensued, had several wounded. 
Having no artillery with which to meet that of the enemy, and 
being greatly outnumbered by veteran troops, he soon saw that 
he would be compelled to yield. He had ordered his engineer to 
prepare one span of the bridge to be blown up in case it became 
necessary to abandon it. When, therefore, he was forced back, 
he ordered the match to be applied ; but the train failed to ignite 
the powder, and the only alternative remaining was to apply the 
torch, and that immense structure, more than a mile and a 
quarter in length, lighting up the heavens for many miles around 
with its flames, was utterly consumed. 



180 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

At York, Early found a profusion of those things which he had 
failed to obtain at Gettysburg. He had come with five brigades 
of infantry, three batteries of artillery, and part of two regiments 
of cavalry. Being prepared to enforce his demands, and having 
a rich old city in his grasp, he made a requisition for supplies 
similar to that at Gettysburg, and in addition, for $28,000 in 
money. Should it be complied with promptly, he agreed to spare 
all private property; otherwise, he would take what he could 
find, and would not be responsible for the conduct of his troops 
while in the city. There appearing to be no other alternative, 
the stores and money were delivered, and he scrupulously kept 
his word, order being strictly enforced, and private property left 
untouched. 

A few facts recorded by Mr. Gall, of the Sanitary Commission, 
respecting the condition and habits of Early's men, as seen at 
this point, will serve as a fair specimen of the make-up of the 
entire rebel army : " Physically," he. says, " the men looked about 
equal to the generality of our own troops, and there were fewer 
boys among them. Their dress was a wretched mixture of all 
cuts and colors. There was not the slightest attempt at uni- 
formity in this respect. Every man seemed to have put on what- 
ever he could get hold of, without regard to shape or color. I 
noticed a pretty large sprinkling of blue pants among them, some 
of those, doubtless, that were left by Milroy at Winchester. 
Their shoes, as a general thing, were poor; some of the men 
were entirely barefooted. Their equipments were light, as com- 
pared with those of our men. They consisted of a thin woollen 
blanket, coiled up and slung from the shoulder in the form of a 
sash, a haversack swung from the opposite shoulder, and a 
cartridge-box. The whole cannot weigh more than twelve or 
fourteen pounds. Is it strange, then, that with such light loads, 
they should be aide to make longer and more rapid marches than 
our men ? The marching of the men was irregular and careless, 
their arms were rusty and ill kept. Their whole appearance was 
greatly inferior to that of our soldiers. . . . There were no tents 
for the men, and but few for the officers. The men were busy 
cooking their dinner, which consisted of fresh beef, part of the 
York levy, wheat griddle cakes raised with soda, and cold water. 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 181 

No coffee nor sugar had been issued to the men for a long time. 
. . . The men expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with this 
kind of food, and said they greatly preferred the bread prepared 
in the way they do it, to the crackers issued to the Union 
soldiers. I asked one of the men how he got along without a 
shelter tent. His answer was, l First rate.' ' In the first place,' 
said he, ' I wouldn't tote one, and in the second place, I feel just as 
well, if not better, without it.' ' But how do you manage when 
it rains ? ' I inquired. ' Wall,' said he, ' me and this other man 
has a gum blanket atween us ; when it rains we spread one of 
our woollen blankets on the ground to lie on, then we spread the 
other woollen blanket over us, and the gum blanket over that, 
and the rain can't tech us.' And this is the way the rebel army, 
with the exception of a few of the most important officers, sleeps. 
Everything that will trammel or impede the movement of the 
army is discarded, no matter what the consequences may be to 
the men. ... In speaking of our soldiers, the same officer 
remarked : ' They are too well fed, too well clothed, and have far 
too much to carry.' That our men are too well fed, I do not 
believe, neither that they are too well clothed ; that they have 
too much to carry, I can very well believe, after witnessing the 
march of the Army of the Potomac to Chancellorsville. Each 
man had eight days' rations to carry, besides sixty rounds of 
ammunition, musket, woollen blanket, rubber blanket, overcoat, 
extra shirt, drawers, socks, and shelter tent, amounting in all to 
about sixty pounds. Think of men, and boys too, staggering 
along under such a load, at the rate of fifteen to twenty miles a 
day. On Tuesday morning, 30th, at about four o'clock, the last 
remaining brigade passed through the city, with flags flying and 
band playing, and took the road to Carlisle." 

While Early was demonstrating in the direction of Columbia, 
the remainder of the corps, and much the larger part, under 
Ewell's immediate command, proceeded towards Harrisburg. As 
it went, the Cumberland Valley Railroad was destroyed. The 
militia, who had taken post at Carlisle, were quickly driven 
before the strong columns of Rodes and Johnson, and the town 
was occupied. Here many of the rebels were at home ; for some 
had been educated at Dickinson College, others had been sta- 



182 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tioned at the United States barracks, and a few had even married 
their wives here. But their visit now was not so agreeable as of 
yore, when, as gallant young collegians, or spruce officers, they 
had escorted the blushing maidens of the city, and been welcome 
at the firesides of its people. 

General Knipe, who was still in command of the force of obser- 
vation, had fallen back before the rebel advance, until the night 
of the 28th, when he reached Oyster Point, within four miles of 
Harrisburg. The enemy having approached, apparently with 
the design of pushing on still nearer to the city, Knipe opened 
upon them with the guns of Miller's battery with good effect, 
causing a rapid movement to the rear. This was the nearest 
approach to the capital of Pennsylvania of the enemy in force, 
though his scouts were captured in and about the city. One, a 
powerful man, with a sinister face, and evidently a person of 
great daring, was taken in the vicinity of Camp Curtin, and was 
held under guard at the head-quarters of General Couch, Avhere 
he was gazed upon by the curious. Another was seized Avhile in 
the act of making drawings of the fort and its armament opposite 
the town. A little flat boat was overhauled in the Susquehanna 
river, on the night of the 1st of July, in which was a rebel with 
an ingenious contrivance for discovering the fords of the stream. 
He had a small stone suspended* by a cord which, as he floated 
on down the main channel, would not impede his progress; 
but the moment he came to a shoal place, less than three or 
four feet deep, it would drag upon the bottom and stop his craft. 
In this way, the fords of the river were noted. A map was 
found upon his person, containing a draft of the river, with 
the fords above and opposite the city marked on the Cum- 
berland shore for their entrance. 

In the meantime, troops had been rapidly assembling at the 
camps at Harrisburg, Pittsburg, and Philadelphia, and regiments 
were daily organized. As the enemy advanced, he broke up all 
means of communication, and was careful to spread false rumors. 
In the midst of the wild excitement which prevailed, it was diffi- 
cult to sift the true from the false, and arrive at a just conclusion 
respecting the numbers, position, or purpose of the rebel army. 
A judgment could be formed by balancing probabilities, and the 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 183 

most favorable view, the wish sometimes being father to the 
thought, was entertained. As late as the morning of the 2Cth, 
the New York Herald contained the following judgment: " We 
have no idea that General Lee meditates an advance upon either 
Harrisburg or Baltimore. In the one case, the trip would not 
pay expenses, as the broad, rocky Susquehanna river is in his 
way, and in the other case, his army, in getting into Baltimore, 
would get into a trap, from which Lee would never extricate it." 
And the Philadelphia Press of the 27th, but three days before the 
great battle began at Gettysburg, expressed the following opinion : 
" Our intelligence as to what force of rebels has entered Pennsyl- 
vania is still unsatisfactory and unreliable. Probably Ewell's 
corps, which is estimated to number about 34,000 men, is alone 
in this aggressive movement ; although it would not greatly sur- 
prise us to learn that General Lee's entire force, having crossed 
the Potomac, is within supporting distance." 

So threatening, however, had the aspect of affairs become on 
the 26th, that Governor Curtin issued his proclamation calling 
for G 0,000 State militia. He said: " Pennsylvanians ! The 
enemy is advancing in force into Pennsylvania. He has a strong 
column within twenty-three miles of Harrisburg, and other 
columns are moving by Fulton and Adams counties, and it can 
no longer be doubted that a formidable invasion of our State is 
in actual progress. The calls already made for volunteer militia 
in the exigency have not been met as fully as the crisis requires. 
I therefore now issue this my proclamation, calling for 60,000 
men to come promptly forward to defend the State. . . . The 
time has now come when we must all stand or fall together in 
defence of our State, and in support of our Government." 

As the enemy approached Harrisburg, and the dangers of occu- 
pation thickened, preparations for meeting them were hastened. 
One of the wealthiest and most powerful corporations in the 
State, and one which was contributing immensely to the support 
of the National Government, the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany, had its property of many millions exposed to destruction. 
Vigorous measures were taken to save it. Block houses of 
sufficient strength to resist infantry attacks were erected so as to 
cover the bridges, and the great number of valuable locomotives 



184 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and vast quantities of rolling stock, kept at Harrisburg, were 
moved to Philadelphia. 

As soon as the advance-guard of the rebel army, consisting of 
Ewell's corps and Jenkins' cavalry, had commenced its march for 
the Susquehanna, striking for the bridges at Columbia and Har- 
risburg, Lee, who now had his remaining force in hand, prepared 
to follow, and on the 24th and 25th crossed the Potomac, Hill 
near Shepherdstown, and Longstreet at Williamsport. The two 
columns reunited at Hagerstown, and moved thence to Chambers- 
burg, where they arrived and encamped on the 27th. Hooker 
had no sooner seen that his antagonist was about to cross the 
Potomac than he prepared to execute the corresponding move- 
ment; and on the 25th and 26th, one day behind Lee, he likewise 
passed over, effecting the crossing upon pontoons at Edward's Ferry. 

The Union General now realized that a battle could not long 
be delayed, and he was filled with anxiety lest his force should 
be insufficient to fight it with a fair prospect of success. He had 
ascertained by the most trustworthy testimony that the actual 
strength of the enemy's army then moving forward into Pennsyl- 
vania, was 91,000 infantry, 5000 with the artillery numbering 
280 pieces, and 11,000 cavalry, a grand aggregate of 107,000. 
This was a larger number by several thousands than he then 
had in hand, and would be fully equal to his with all the addi- 
tions he could receive from the neighboring departments. He, 
accordingly, dispatched his Chief-of-staff, Major General Butter- 
field, to Washington to obtain the returns of soldiers under 
General Heintzelman there, and under General Schenck at Bal- 
timore, and from these two departments to organize a column of 
15,000 troops to move without delay to Frederick, Maryland. 
Though he found under General Heintzelman over 36,000 men, 
yet it was deemed inadvisable by General Halleck, in view of 
the immense depots of material there accumulated, and the 
necessity of guarding the Capital, to lessen it. At Baltimore he 
found but a small force, there being 12,000 of Schenck's com- 
mand at Harper's Ferry, and 7500 at Winchester, the latter 
having been already broken and nearly destroyed. Of the force 
under immediate command, General Schenck promptly ordered 
out Lockwood's Brigade, consisting of 2500 men. The force at 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 185 

Harper's Ferry, now under the command of General French, was 
the only considerable one which Hooker could therefore hope to 
obtain. 

Accordingly, as soon as his army was across the river, he 
directed General Reynolds, in command of the right wing of the 
army, to send detachments to seize the passes of the South 
Mountain, at Turner's and Crampton's Gaps ; and with the First, 
Third, and Eleventh corps to follow and take position at Middle- 
town, across the Cotocton range, his object being to confine the 
rebel line of advance to the one valley in which he then was, and 
to bring a strong force within supporting distance should the 
enemy turn back from Pennsylvania and offer battle to the force 
which Hooker was about to send upon his rear. The Second and 
Sixth corps he ordered to Frederick. The Twelfth he directed 
to move to Harper's Ferry, which he accompanied in person, 
there to be joined by two strong brigades from General French's 
command, thence to march upon the enemy's line of communica- 
tions at Williamsport, destroy his pontoon bridge at that point, 
and stop the enormous quantities of flour, grain, horses and horned 
cattle which were steadily flowing into Virginia. After visiting 
Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights, and finding the point to 
possess no strategic value, presenting no obstacle to the invaders, 
defending no ford of the river, and being itself indefensible, he 
decided to abandon the post, and transfer the material collected 
there to Washington. This would release 10,000 good troops to 
join his army. " After ascertaining," he says, " that the public 
property could all be removed before twelve o'clock at night, I 
seated myself, and was engaged in writing an order for the 
abandonment at daylight." 

But what was his surprise and disappointment to receive at 
that moment a dispatch from General Halleck, saying : " Mary- 
land Heights have always been regarded as an important point 
to be held by us. ... I cannot approve of their abandonment 
except in case of absolute necessity." And this, after Halleck had 
himself placed the troops at this point under Hooker's control in 
the following words, telegraphed on the 22d : " In order to give 
compactness to the command of troops in the field covering 
Washington and Baltimore, it is proposed to place that part 



18G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the Middle Department east of Cumberland, and commanded 
by General Schenck, under your direct orders. The President 
directs me to ask you if that arrangement would be agreeable." 
To this Hooker answered : " Yes, provided the same authority 
is continued to me that I now have, which is to give orders 
direct to the troops in the departments of Generals Schenck 
and Heintzelman." To send the Twelfth corps alone to 
Williamsport, without the addition of French's troops, he did 
not regard advisable, as the enemy might suddenly turn upon 
and overwhelm it before he could bring up his supporting 
forces. He accordingly abandoned, the movement, and ordered 
that corps to countermarch and follow the other troops to 
Frederick. 

He now felt that to have his plans thus interfered with, and 
his movements in the face of the enemy cut short when in 
full progress by one far from the field, who could not know 
the exigences of the moment, would only result in shame and 
defeat to the army. He accordingly telegraphed, at one P. M. 
of the 27th, to General Halleck : "My original instructions 
were to cover Harper's Ferry and Washington. I have now 
imposed upon me, in addition, an enemy in my front of more 
than my numbers. I beg to be understood, respectfully, but 
firmly, that I am unable to comply with these conditions with 
the means at my disposal, and I earnestly request that I may 
be at once relieved from the position I occupy." This desire 
was immediately granted, and at four o'clock on the following 
morning, Colonel Hardie, a special messenger from Washington, 
arrived in camp bearing an order relieving General Hooker 
from duty, and directing him to turn over the command of the 
army to General Meade, then at the head of the Fifth corps. 

Of General Hooker's ability as displayed in the prelimi- 
nary movements at Chancellorsville, and in the movements 
up to the moment of yielding his authority, the best mili- 
tary critics award him very high praise. That he was right 
in demanding the use of the troops at Harper's Ferry, and 
in abandoning the post, is undisputed, and was virtually 
acknowledged by General Halleck himself, inasmuch as he 
allowed the successor of Hooker to take them. But Halleck, 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER HOOKER. 187 

it appears, had distrusted the ability of Hooker from the 
first, and when it was proposed, in September, 1862, to make 
the latter the successor of General McClellan instead of General 
Burnside, and the President and five members of the cabinet 
were of that mind, Halleck opposed it, and, with the remainder 
of the President's advisers, succeeded in defeating him. Of 
this opposition to him Hooker was aware, when, finally, he was 
placed in chief command of the Potomac army, and in accept- 
ing the position, he made but one request of the President, that 
he would stand between Halleck and himself. 




,/r V 



CHAPTER VIII. 



PRELIMINARIES TO THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 




GETTYSBURG, upon the slopes and hills around 
which the great battle was fought, a quiet 
village of 2500 inhabitants, is the capital of 
Adams county, Pennsylvania. For miles around, 
the country is for the most part gently rolling. 
The soil is fertile, and kept under a high state 
of cultivation, little timber being left standing. 
To the northwest, eight or ten miles away, is the 
f^ South Mountain chain, extending from northeast 
to southwest, until lost to view in the dim distance. 
"From an elevation a little below the Monterey 
House on the summit of South Mountain," says 
one long schooled by European travel, " the view 
of the flat lands extending towards the Susquehanna, as far -as 
the eye can reach, is magnificent in the extreme. I have seen 
few views in Italy which exceed it in romantic beauty.'' 

In the neighborhood of Gettysburg are several minor ridges, 
parallel to this principal one. That to the west of the town, and 
but half a mile away, is known as Seminary Ridge, from the fact 
that upon its brow, where it is crossed by the Chambersburg 
Pike, are located the buildings of a Theological School of the 
Lutheran denomination. It is also known as Oak Ridge. Beyond 
this, at intervals of a quarter of a mile, or less, are two or 
three other slight ridges, and a mile and a half out is Willoughby 
Run. 

To the east and south of the town is a ridge whose general 
direction is parallel to the others, but broken and quite irregular, 
at some points rising into much higher and bolder outline than 
the opposite Seminary Ridge, and at others falling away to a 
level, or even lower than the intervening plain 
188 



This is desig- 




c^u* Q /%u^u^ 



\ 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 189 

nated Cemetery Ridge, from the beautiful Evergreen Cemetery 
located upon the summit of its nearest approach to the town, and 
by the side of which is the National ground where, now sleep 
those who there fell. A little to the west and south is Zeigler's 
Grove, a half acre or more of forest oaks. From this the ridge, 
which presents a shelving rock on the west of a feAV feet in 
height, is well defined for a mile south, when it falls away, and 
for at least another half mile is low, wet, clay soil, where it is 
entirely lost, but again suddenly breaks out into bold, rugged, 
rocky, wooded ground, and terminates in a granite spur known as 
Little Round Top. Beyond this, and separated from it by a 
narrow valley, is Round Top, much more rugged and precipitous 
than its neighbor, and attaining a height of four hundred feet 
above the waters of neighboring streams. " When the force 
which folded and raised up the strata," says Professor Jacobs, in 
his "Later Rambles at Gettysburg," "which form the South Moun- 
tain was in action, it produced fissures in the strata of red shale, 
which covers the surface of this region of country, permitting the 
fused material from beneath to rise and fill them, on cooling, 
with trap dykes, or greenstone and syenitic greenstone. This 
rock, being for the most part very hard, remained as the axes 
and crests of hills and ridges, when the softer shale in the inter- 
vening spaces was excavated by great water-currents into valleys 
and plains." 

Science thus renders a reasonable account of the huge masses 
of rock which are reared in the most various and fantastic shapes 
upon the sides and summits of these bold mounts, the casting 
about of which, in a superstitious age, may well have been 
regarded as the sport of the giants. At a little way beyond the 
Cemetery, in the opposite direction, the ridge makes a sharp turn 
nearly at right angles to its main course, and at less than half a 
mile distant reaches up into a bold and precipitous headland, 
looking towards the town, known as Culp's Hill ; and further to 
the right is Rock Creek, which stream cuts through the ridge at 
less than a mile away, separating Culp's from Wolf's Hill, still 
farther to the right. At the time of the battle, all this beautiful 
country was clothed in verdure ; the fields were covered with 
waving grain, whitening for the harvest; the flocks and herds, 



190 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

revelling in abundant pasturage and sated by cool fountains, 
rested beneath refreshing shade; the whole presenting with all its 
innumerable concomitants a rare picture of repose and peace. 

General Lee had, for several days, been halting at Cham- 
bersburg, while the main body of his army was concentrating 
about that place, and his advance corps under Ewell was reach- 
ing out towards the Susquehanna, approaching the stream at 
Columbia and Harrisburg, evidently feeling for a crossing. When 
his purposes were thwarted at the former point by the burning 
of the bridge, the division sent in that direction was ordered to 
march to Carlisle, plainly indicating the intention of moving 
the entire army that way. General Hooker had concluded, 
from the fact that he did not take a pontoon train along with 
him, that Lee did not design to cross the Susquehanna, and 
so expressed himself to General Meade. But at this season of 
the year that stream is shallow and fordable at many points. 
His scouts were already searching for them, as has been shown 
in the case of the one captured. But of his purposes we are not 
left to conjecture. In his official report he says : "Preparations 
were now made to advance upon Harrisburg; but on the night of 
the 29th, information was received from a scout that the Federal 
army, having crossed the Potomac, was advancing northward, and 
that the head of the column had reached the South Mountain.* 

Of Hooker's intention to march upon Williamsport, and break 
up his communications, or even of the passage of the Potomac by 
the Union army, up to this time, Lee knew nothing. That he 
should have so long remained in ignorance of these movements 
was due to the mishaps .which befell the operations of that 
division of his cavalry under Stuart. When about to cross the 
Potomac, Lee had ordered that daring cavalry leader to remain 
on guard at the passes of the Blue Ridge, leading to the Shenan- 
doah Valley, and observe the movements of the Union forces, 
and should they attempt to cross the Potomac, he was to make 
demonstrations upon their rear, so as to detain them as long as 
possible in Virginia. But, in the event of their passage, he was 
also to cross, cither on the east or west side of the Blue Ridge, as 
to him should seem best, and take position upon the right flank 
of the main rebel column. So far south had his demonstrations 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 191 

carried him, however, that Stuart determined to cross at Seneca, 
some distance to the east of the point where the Union army 
had passed. When once over he found it impossible to reach 
his chief, and take position upon the flank as ordered, the 
Union army being interposed. He accordingly kept northward, 
passing through Hanover, and did not arrive at Carlisle, where 
he expected to find the main rebel column, until the 1st of July, 
after Ewell had been recalled from that place and was on his way 
to Gettysburg. He was at Carlisle met by a messenger from Lee 
ordering him forward to the scene of conflict, but did not arrive 
until the result of the battle had been well-nigh decided, and the 
star of his chief had gone down in blood. The need of cavalry 
was sorely felt by Lee in the manoeuvres preliminary to the 
fight, as he was thereby stripped of the means for ascertaining 
the whereabouts of his antagonist, and his flanks and rear were 
indifferently protected. Thus are the. plans even of great leaders 
the sport of fortune. 

The moment Lee became aware of the position of the Union 
army he initiated movements to checkmate it. " As our com- 
munications," he says in his report, "with the Potomac were 
thus menaced, it was resolved to prevent his further progress in 
that direction by concentrating our army on the east side of the 
mountains. Accordingly Longstreet and Hill were directed to 
proceed from Chambersburg to Gettysburg, to which point Gen- 
eral Ewell was also instructed to march from Carlisle." Thus 
on the evening of the 29th, orders went out for a concentration, 
and on the following morning the whole rebel army was march- 
ing on Gettysburg. 

This point had been well reconnoitred by the enemy's forces 
while on their way to York, Early having passed the night there 
four days before. It possessed great strategic value. So easily 
are the rugged features which surround it shunned, that great 
highways approach it from almost every point of the compass, 
centring here like spokes in the hub of a wheel, those from Ship- 
pensburg and Carlisle on the north, from Harrisburg, York, and 
Hanover on the east, from Baltimore, Littlestown, Tanejtown 
and Emmittsburg on the south, and from Fairfield and Chambers- 
burg on the west. Several of these roads were macadamized, and 



192 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

there was in addition a railroad leading out to the Northern Cen- 
tral Road by way of Hanover. Should Lee concentrate his army 
here, he would secure a route to his base at Williamsport, much 
shorter than by Chambersburg, over which he could bring up his 
ammunition, and in case of disaster, hold it for retreat. It would 
give him the control of a complete system of roads, any one of 
which, he could move upon at will as policy should dictate. In 
case of being attacked and forced to fight a battle there, he would 
have an abundance of good solid ways in his rear, on which to 
manoeuvre his troops, and take his heavy guns from one part of 
the line to another, — a consideration of great importance, as a 
battle is not unfrequently lost by the delay imposed in construct- 
ing a road over some brook or impassable slough, or in cutting 
through an impenetrable wood for the passage of guns and am- 
munition. 

But it was not alone the rebel commander who had regarded 
with a soldier's eye the strategic value of Gettysburg. General 
Pleasanton says : " I may say here that I had studied that whole 
country the year before very carefully indeed, all its roads and 
topographical features, and was probably about as well posted in 
regard to it as any officer in the army. ... I was satisfied from 
my general knowledge of the country — and so mentioned to Gen- 
eral Meade several times — that there was but one position in 
which for us to have a light, and that was at Gettysburg." 

At the moment when these orders went out from Lee for the 
rebel army to concentrate at Gettysburg, the Union army was 
reposing at Frederick, and was upon the eve of marching to find 
the enemy, under the belief that he was still moving towards the 
Susquehanna. The 28th was the Sabbath, and " that day," says 
General Hooker, " I designed to give my army to rest," an ex- 
ample of regard for the Sabbath as noble as it is unusual in 
military operations. But at dawn on the morning of that day 
he was relieved of command. To the army his removal came 
like a thunder-clap from a cloudless sky. To the rank and file 
he had become greatly endeared, for he had brought his com- 
mand from a condition of demoralization to one of great efficiency. 
To strike down a popular commander in the very face of the 
enemy, and on the eve of a great battle, was an act, that in 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 193 

almost any other country, would have been attended with extreme 
hazard. But the temper of that army was known to be one of 
intense devotion to the National cause, and full confidence was 
felt that it would fight under any commander, or even without 
a commander if need be. The course of General Hooker at this 
critical moment was one of most disinterested patriotism and 
gallantry. In his farewell order he says : " Impressed with the 
belief that my usefulness as the commander of the Army of the 
Potomac is impaired, I part from it, yet not without the deepest 
emotions. The sorrow of parting with the comrades of so many 
battles is relieved by the conviction that the courage and devo- 
tion of this army will never cease nor fail ; that it will yield 
to my successor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty support." 
By the testimony of General Butterfield, General Hooker had 
advised, in case he was relieved, that General Meade should be 
appointed in his place, and when the officers who had served 
under him called in a body to bid him farewell at his departure, 
he said that " General Meade was a brave and gallant man, who 
would undoubtedly lead them to success, and that he hoped that 
all who regarded him, or his wishes, or his feelings, would devote 
every energy and ability to the support of General Meade." 

The new commander had made a good record. He had been 
with that army from its organization, and at Beaver Dam Creek. 
at Gaines' Mill, at Charles City Cross Roads, at the second Bull 
Run, and more especially at Fredericksburg, he had exhibited 
the qualities of an able soldier. In his order, he said : " B} r direc- 
tion of the President of the United States, I hereby assume com- 
mand of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obeying this 
order — an order totally unexpected and unsolicited — I have no 
promises nor pledges to make. The country looks to this army to 
relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. 
Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to 
undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the 
interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, 
leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the con- 
test. It is with just diffidence that I relieve in the command 
of this army an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name 
must ever appear conspicuous in the history of its achievements ; 

13 



194 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms 
to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the important trust 
which has been confided to me." 

His first care was to acquaint himself with the late move- 
ments, and exact position of the enemy, and the plans and pur- 
poses of General Hooker. To this end he retained the officers 
who had formed General Hooker's military family — General But- 
ter field, chief of staff, General Warren, chief of engineers, 
General Hunt, chief of artillery, and General Williams, adju- 
tant-general. He himself had a conference with General Hooker, 
before his departure, respecting his plan of campaign ; but that 
he might be fully assured of the latter's purposes, he requested 
General Butterfield to have another official conversation with 
the retiring chief, and make himself thoroughly conversant with 
the movements in contemplation. 

The operations indicated by Hooker were in the main adopted. 
General Meade very cogently inferred from the movements of the 
enemy that it was his intention to cross the Susquehanna, a pur- 
pose which Lee declares he was acting on up to the evening of 
the 29th. Accordingly, in his telegram accepting the position to 
which he had been assigned, he said : " Totally unexpected as it 
has been, and in ignorance of the exact condition of the troops 
and position of the enemy, I can only now say that it appears to 
me I must move towards the Susquehanna, keeping Washington 
and Baltimore well covered, and if the enemy is checked in his 
attempt to cross the Susquehanna, or if he turns towards Balti- 
more, to give him battle. I would say that I trust that every 
available man that can be spared will be sent to me, as, from all 
accounts, the enemy is in strong force." In response to this 
latter request, not only the garrison at Harpers Ferry, which had 
been the bone of contention between Hooker and Halleck, and 
the withholding of which was the immediate cause of the 
former's resignation, was placed at his disposal, but also the 
entire force of militia at Harrisburg, under General Couch, and 
such forces as could be used from the departments of West Vir- 
ginia, Baltimore, and Washington, from Fortress Monroe, and 
even the returning troops from North Carolina, were hurried 
forward to his support, thus proving conclusively that it was not 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 195 

a necessity of holding the troops at Harper's Ferry, but a distrust 
of Hooker's ability as a soldier, which made Halleck unwilling to 
give them to him. 

Orders were accordingly issued on the 28th, for the army to 
move forward on the following morning, in fan shape, in three 
columns, from Frederick, where it had been principally concen- 
trated, on to a line represented by the road running from 
Emmittsburg to Westminster, the First and Eleventh corps being- 
directed to Emmittsburg, the Third and Twelfth to Taneytown, 
Second to Frizelburg, Fifth to Union Mills, and the Sixth to New 
Windsor ; the cavalry, likewise in three columns, moving upon 
the flanks of the infantry — Buford upon the left, Gregg upon the 
right, and Kilpatrick in advance — and this order of march was 
continued on the 30th. On this latter day Stuart, who, with the 
main body of the enemy's cavalry, had been hanging upon the 
rear of the Union army, and having crossed the Potomac at 
Seneca, was moving up on the right flank, fell in with Kilpatrick 
at Hanover, and had a sharp encounter, in which the enemy was 
worsted, and one battle-flag and a number of prisoners were 
taken. 

The order of march issued on the 30th, for the movement of 
the army on the 1st day of July, was for the Third corps to go to 
Emmittsburg, Second to Taneytown, Fifth to Hanover, Twelfth 
to Two Taverns, First to Gettysburg, Eleventh to Gettysburg in 
supporting distance, and Sixth to Manchester. General Reynolds 
had been continued in command of what had been the right 
wing, now getting into position upon the left, consisting of the 
First, Third, and Eleventh corps, and the cavalry, and as he was 
now approaching the enemy, he had turned over the command of 
his own corps, the First, to General Doubleday, and was himself 
directing the general movements. 

In the meantime, the orders issued by General Lee on the 
evening of the 29 th, for all his forces to concentrate at Gettys- 
burg, were being executed, but not with the usual enterprise 
and daring, the rebel commander sorely feeling the need of his 
cavalry, that which he had depended on having been isolated, as 
we have seen, and by the fight at Hanover been pushed still 
farther away towards the Susquehanna. He says in his report : 



]96 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

" The march towards Gettysburg was conducted more slowly 
than it would have been, had the movements of the Federal 
army been known." Had his cavalry been present, those move- 
ments would have been observed, and constantly reported to him. 
Thus, precisely what had happened to Hooker at Chancellorsville, 
the absence of cavalry, and which lost him the battle, befell Lee 
in this campaign. The strategic prize was Gettysburg. Which- 
ever party should seize that, would strike with great advantages 
in his favor. 

But while the two armies were approaching, each with imper- 
fect knowledge of the other's movements, for a death grapple, the 
Union commander was unaware of the change which had 
occurred in the plans of his antagonist, and supposed him still 
pushing forward to cross the Susquehanna. Hence, while Lee 
was making all possible speed to concentrate on the Union flank, 
Meade, all unsuspicious of danger, was moving, much scattered, 
to catch Lee before he should get across. But the moment 
EwelFs forces began to fall back from before Harrisburg, they 
were followed up by the militia at that place, under General 
William F. (Baldy) Smith, who had been assigned by General 
Couch to that duty. As Ewell withdrew from Carlisle, Smith 
entered it, but, as the enemy thought, in too much haste, and 
turned upon him. A sharp skirmish ensued, and the solid shot 
from the enemy's battery, planted upon an eminence to the south 
of the place, tore wildly through the astonished city. No great 
injury was done, but the anger of the foe at the obstinacy of 
Smith, in not again surrendering the town, was vented in firing 
and utterly destroying the United States barracks, near that 
place, and the arsenal of supplies. This determination of Smith 
to press upon the rear of the rebels disclosed their purpose of 
concentrating, and the intelligence was flashed over the wires to 
Washington, and thence to Westminster, which had now become 
the base of intelligence as well as of supply to the Union force. 
On the 30th, Couch telegraphed to Halleck : " My latest informa- 
tion is that Early, with his 8000 men, went towards Gettysburg 
or Hanover, saying they expected to fight a great battle there. 
At Carlisle, they said they were not going to be outflanked by 
Hooker." No man was more active or successful in gaining 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 197 

accurate information, or divining the purposes of the enemy, than 
the Hon. Thomas A. Scott, Vice-President of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company, and subsequently Assistant Secretary of War. 
In this, as in the management of the great corporation with 
which he is associated, he showed Napoleonic vigor. On the 
same day, Couch, from information furnished by Scott, again 
telegraphed : " Lee is falling back suddenly from the vicinity of 
Harrisburg, and concentrating all his forces. York has been 
evacuated. Carlisle is being evacuated. The concentration seems 
to be at or near Chambersburg ; the object, apparently, a sudden 
movement against Meade, of which he should be advised by 
courier immediately; " and at a little past midnight Couch sent 
still another telegram : " Information just received, leads to the 
belief that the concentration of the forces of the enemy will be at 
Gettysburg, rather than at Chambersburg. The movement on 
their part is very rapid and hurried. They retired from Carlisle 
in the direction of Gettysburg, by the way of the Petersburg pike. 
Firing about Petersburg and Dillstown this P. M., continued some 
hours. Meade should, by all means, be informed and prepared 
for a sudden attack from Lee's whole army." 

At about the same hour, July 1st, at a quarter before one in 
the morning, General Schenck telegraphed from Baltimore : " Lee, 
I think, is either massing his troops, or making a general retreat 
towards Cumberland Valley. Most likely the former. They are 
so near that I shall not be surprised if a battle comes on to-day." 

Up to the moment of receiving these messages, which did not 
reach him until the morning of the 1st of July, General Meade 
had been moving his army forward by rapid marches towards 
the Susquehanna under the apprehension that Lee was intent on 
crossing that stream. It is true that he had obtained reports 
which induced him, on the evening of the 30th, to issue a circular 
to each corps commander, saying : " The Commanding General 
has received information that the enemy are advancing, probably 
in strong force, on Gettysburg. It is the intention to hold this 
army pretty nearly in the position it now occupies until the 
plans of the enemy shall have been more fully developed. . . . 
Corps commanders will hold their commands in readiness at a 
moment's notice, upon receiving orders, to march against the 



198 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

enemy. . . . The men must be provided with three days' rations 
in haversacks, and with sixty rounds of ammunition in the boxes 
and upon the person." 

It would seem from the following telegram from Meade to 
Halleck, sent at seven o'clock on the morning of the 1st of July, 
that Meade had not yet been apprised of the important messages 
from Schenck and Couch, quoted above, and which were dis- 
patched to Washington at a little after midnight : " My positions 
to-day are, one corps at Emmittsburg, two at Gettysburg, one at 
Taneytown, one at Two Taverns, one at Manchester, one at 
Hanover. These were ordered yesterday, before receipt of 
advices of Lee's movements. . . . The point of Lee's concentra- 
tion, and the nature of the country, when ascertained, will deter- 
mine whether I attack him or not." 

Thus it will be seen that thirty-six hours had elapsed from the 
time Lee had issued orders for all his forces to concentrate at 
Gettysburg, before Meade became fully aware that such a con- 
centration was in progress, and during all those hours, pregnant 
with the gravest issues, he was moving on, "fan-shape," as he 
terms it, by this time sweeping a broad belt of more than thirty 
miles, intent upon striking the enemy before he should cross the 
Susquehanna, or while entangled upon the stream. This is 
evident from his telegram to General Halleck of the 29th, in 
which he says : " If he [Lee] is crossing the Susquehanna, I shall 
rely upon General Couch, with his force, holding him until I can 
fall upon his rear and give him battle, which I shall endeavor 
to do." The purpose here expressed is confirmed by his testi- 
mony before the committee of Congress on the Conduct of the 
War : " I determined," he says, " and so notified the General-in- 
chief, that I should move my army as promptly as possible on 
the main line from Frederick to Harrisburg, extending my wings 
on both sides of that line as far as I could consistently with the 
safety and the rapid concentration of that army, and should con- 
tinue that movement until I either encountered the enemy, or 
had reason to believe that the enemy would advance upon me ; 
my object being at all hazards to compel him to loose his hold on 
the Susquehanna, and meet me in battle at some point. It was 
my firm determination, never for an instant deviated from, to give 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 199 

battle wherever, and as soon as I could possibly find the enemy, 
modified, of course, by such general considerations as govern 
every general officer — that when I came into his immediate neigh- 
borhood some manoeuvres might be made- by me with a view to 
secure advantages on my side in that battle, and not allow them 
to be secured by him." 

As soon, however, as it became evident to him that the enemy 
had let go of the Susquehanna, and was rapidly concentrating 
on his flank, he instantly realized that a change of policy was 
necessary. 

He accordingly issued a circular on the morning of the 1st of 
July, of which the following extracts indicate the purport: 
" From information received the Commanding General is satisfied 
that the object of the movement of the army in this direction has 
been accomplished, viz : the relief of Harrisburg and the preven- 
tion of the enemy's intended invasion of Pennsylvania beyond 
the Susquehanna. It is no longer his intention to assume the 
oifensive until the enemy's movements or position should render 
such an operation certain of success. If the enemy assume the 
offensive, and attack, it is his intention, after holding them in 
check sufficiently long to withdraw the trains and other impedi- 
menta, to withdraw the army from its present position, and form 
line of battle with the left resting in the neighborhood of Middle- 
burg, and the right at Manchester, the general direction being 
that of Pipe Creek. For this purpose General Reynolds, in com- 
mand of the left, will withdraw the force at present at Gettj-s- 
burg, two corps [First and Eleventh] by the road to Taneytown 
and Westminster, and after crossing Pipe Creek, deploy towards 
Middleburg. The corps at Emmittsburg [Third] will be with- 
drawn, by way of Mechanicsville, to Middleburg. General Slocum 
will assume command of the two corps at Hanover and Two 
Taverns [Fifth and Twelfth] and withdraw them by Union 
Mills. . . . The time for falling back can only be developed by 
circumstances. Whenever such circumstances arise as would 
seem to indicate the necessity for falling back and assuming this 
general line indicated, notice of such movement will at once be 
communicated to these headquarters, and to all adjoining corps 
commanders. . . . This order is communicated that a general 



200 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

plan, perfectly understood by all, may be had for receiving attack 
if made in strong force upon any portion of our present position. 
Developments may cause the Commanding General to assume 
the offensive from his present positions." 

Against the movements contemplated in this circular, which 
was merely a notification of a purpose which would be followed 
by an order when the trains of the several corps could be dis- 
posed of, and the movements of the enemy should make it 
advisable, some of Meade's officers entered vigorous protests. 
But to the adoption of this plan he was incited by many weighty 
considerations. He was convinced, from information hourly 
reaching him, that the whole rebel army, numerically stronger 
than his own, was rapidly concentrating, and was probably 
within striking distance of Gettysburg. Should he push the two 
corps which he had approaching that place into the town, and 
attempt to hold it, the probabilities were that they would be 
fallen upon and annihilated before he could bring up the balance 
of his army to their support, one corps of which, the Sixth, was 
over thirty miles away. It was his intention, therefore, that 
these two corps, instead of resolutely fighting the whole rebel 
army, should simply hold the attacking force in check, in case 
the enemy should assume the offensive, sufficiently to bring off 
the trains, and then concentrate his whole army before engaging 
in a general battle. He was convinced, besides, that however 
excellent the position at Gettysburg might be, and however great 
its strategic value, it was then absolutely beyond his power to 
keep it from the enemy's grasp. The sequel shows that both 
these catastrophies, which the quick military eye of Meade saw 
impending, did actually follow, the two corps being crushed with 
a loss of 10,000 of their number, and the town falling into the 
enemy's hands. Meade did not know, having never been at Get- 
tysburg, nor could any one in his army have known, until he 
reached the ground, nor does any one now claim to have been 
aware, that there was a position outside the town which could be 
taken up after the town- itself had fallen, that would prove more 
favorable for gaining a victory than the possession of Gettysburg 
itself, though counted upon as of so great value. The whole 
advantage, to the Union side, of Gettysburg as a battle-ground, 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 201 

after the town was lost, consisted in the fact that a position was 
found near there which proved to be a good one from which to 
fight a defensive battle. Not knowing that any such ground 
existed, and not having been advised by any of those who are 
now most loud-mouthed in claiming the credit of indicating Get- 
tysburg as a favorable battle-field, the design of Meade to con- 
centrate, made known in this circular, was a proper one, and 
dictated by the highest considerations of military policy. Besides, 
if he could withdraw the isolated wing, now shown for the first 
time by the telegrams of Couch and Schenck to be threatened 
with destruction, and take the position a few miles to the rear, 
which he had selected, he would be brought nearer his own base, 
at Westminster, which could be held with only slight diminution 
of his strength for guard. He would at the same time be draw- 
ing his antagonist still farther from his base, and would thereby 
make him so much the more vulnerable. 

It is true that to that portion of the army which was at the 
moment in advance of the line he had selected, the contemplated 
movement would appear like a falling back, and in that view 
might have a demoralizing effect. General Butterfield says : 
" When General Meade presented this order to me, which was in 
his own handwriting, I stated to him that I thought the effect of 
an order to fall back would be very bad upon the morals of the 
army, and that it ought to be avoided if possible. General 
Meade seemed to think that we were going ahead without any 
well understood plan, and that, by reason of that, we might be 
liable to disaster." But the effect here deprecated by Butterfield 
would not have applied to the main body of the army, which was 
already on or near the line selected, and could have had no seri- 
ous influence upon the wing touched. 

The only fault then that can be imputed to Meade in regard to 
this order, which was probably more a misfortune than a fault, 
was that he had allowed his antagonist to be thirty-six hours 
concentrating, before he discovered the fact, and he, in the mean- 
time, marching on with corps scattered, 'and allowing a contin- 
gency to occur which necessitated such an order. 

There was, however, one consideration, which subsequent dis- 
closures show to have been of the highest importance, that failed 



202 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to impress the mind of the Union leader. Suppose he had fallen 
back, and found a strong position, and got his army concentrated, 
would the enemy come forward and attack him in it ? General 
Lee says, in his official report : " It had not been intended to 
fight a general battle at such a distance from our base, unless 
attacked by the enemy." Swinton, in his " Campaigns of the 
Army of the Potomac," says that after the conclusion of the war 
he had a conversation with General Longstreet, concerning this 
battle, in which the latter declared that " General Lee expressly 
promised his corps commanders that he would not assume a 
tactical offensive, but force his antagonist to attack him." It 
would seem, therefore, that any strong position selected and 
fortified by Meade would have been futile, as he would have 
been obliged, in the end, to have come out from behind his fast- 
nesses, and have attacked. But this does not militate against 
the soundness of his order for concentration, as that was impera- 
tive, before, with the hope of success, he could attack an enemy 
who had had thirty-six hours the start in drawing in his legions 
and compacting them for the onset. 

Bat a power above human wisdom was controlling events 
which set at nought the counsels of the wise. Buford, who had 
been charged with moving upon the left flank of the Union army, 
with one of the divisions of cavalry, having encamped at Foun- 
tain Dale on the night of the 29 th of June, started in the morn- 
ing towards Gettysburg; but unexpectedly coming upon a detach- 
ment of the enemy's infantry, Avhile on the way, which proved to 
be a part of Pettigrew's brigade of Heth's division of Hill's corps, 
which recoiled before him, he retraced his steps, not having 
orders to attack, to Fountain Dale, and thence moved to Emmitts- 
burg, where he received orders to march to Gettysburg, from 
Pleasanton, chief of cavalry, and to hold the town to the last 
extremity, receiving assurance of support from the infantry. On 
the same morning a portion of Heth's division of Hill's corps, 
which had crossed the mountains some days before, and had been 
engaged in gathering stfpplies of beef, flour, and grain, approached 
Gettysburg, accompanied with artillery, and a train of fifteen 
wagons, the whole, several thousand in number, forming a line a 
mile and a half in length, apparently having been ordered out to 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 203 

take possession of the town. The head of this column had 
reached the crest of Seminary Ridge, and the pickets as far down 
as Mr. Shead's house, in the outskirts of the place, when it was 
halted. After the officers, with their field glasses, had ridden 
back and forth for some time, reconnoitring and conversing with 
the inhabitants, the column countermarched, and at half-past ten 
had disappeared. It is not difficult to account for this singular 
manoeuvre, for Buford, with his resolute cavalry division, was 
rapidly approaching. As the enemy withdrew, they attempted 
an ambuscade when arrived at Marsh Creek, hiding themselves 
to right and left of the road, under cover of a wood that skirts 
the stream, while a minor force was thrown forward as a 
decoy. But the disguise was too thin for the practised eye 
of Buford. 

In an hour after the rebels had departed, the magnificent 
column of Buford arrived, and to the gladdened eyes of the 
inhabitants, unused to gaze on hostile pageants, it seemed indeed 
" terrible as an army with banners." With firm tread it moved 
up the main street of the town, and out upon the Chambersburg 
pike. It consisted, at the time, of only two brigades, a third 
under Merritt being at Mechanicstown with the trains, one com- 
manded by Colonel J. M. Gamble, composed of the Eighth Illinois, 
Eighth Indiana, and Eighth New York, the other by Colonel 
Thomas C. Devin, embracing the Sixth New York (Ira Harris), 
Ninth New York, and the Seventeenth Pennsylvania, and a 
battery of light guns of the Second Artillery, under Lieutenants 
Clark and Calef. It was reputed to contain 4000 men, and prob- 
ably bore that number upon its rolls; but when drawn up for 
action could only present 2200 muskets. At the distance of a mile 
and a half from the town it was deployed, Gamble across the Cham- 
bersburg, and Devin across the Mummasburg and Carlisle roads. 

Thus was the column of the enemy, which had approached the 
town in the early morning evidently for the purpose of taking 
forcible possession, foiled, and the advantage in the preliminary 
manoeuvre was with the Union side, an augury of ultimate 
triumph. Gamble threw out his scouting parties towards Cash- 
town, and Devin towards Hunterstown, which scoured the 
country, capturing stragglers from the enemy, from whom import- 



204 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ant information was obtained. Buford now became satisfied that 
the mass of the rebel army was converging towards Gettysburg, 
and that heavy columns were already in close proximity. 

A Lieutenant, who was signal officer of Buford's Division, 
reports the conversation of the chiefs on the occasion, which is 
published by General De Peyster in his "Decisive Conflicts": "On 
the night of the 30th," he says, "General Buford spent some 
hours with Colonel Tom Devin, and while commenting upon the 
information brought in by Devin's scouts, remarked that ' the 
battle would be fought at that point,' and that 'he was afraid it 
would be commenced in the morning before the infantry would 
get up.' These are his own words. Devin did not believe in so 
early an advance of the enemy, and remarked that he would 
' take care of all that would attack his front during the ensuing 
twenty-four hours.' Buford answered : ' No, you won't. They 
will attack you in the morning and they will come booming — 
skirmishers three deep. You will have to fight' like the devil to 
hold your own until supports arrive. The enemy must know the 
importance of this position and will strain every nerve to secure 
it, and if we are able to hold we Avill do well.' Upon his return, 
he ordered me, then First Lieutenant and signal officer of his 
division, to seek out the most prominent points and watch 
everything; to be careful to look out for camp-fires, and in the 
morning for dust. He seemed anxious, more so than I ever 
saw him." 

The judgment of Buford was just, showing that he was pos- 
sessed of remarkable discernment and penetration. Two divis- 
ions of Hill's corps were already across the mountains, the last 
to leave the Rappahannock, and the first to appear upon the 
front of the new field, while his remaining division and two 
divisions of Longstreet's corps were already upon the western 
slope ready to cross at dawn, and the body of Ewell's corps was 
in bivouac at Heidlersburg, only nine miles away. 

The Union army, too, had been moving thitherward, and at 
the moment when Buford was holding this conversation in 
the tent of Colonel Devin, Reynolds was bivouacing on the 
bank of Marsh Creek, four miles away, with the First corps ; 
Howard with the Eleventh was on the Emmittsburg road 



PRELIMINARIES TO GETTYSBURG UNDER MEADE. 205 

some miles farther back, Sickels with the Third corps was at 
Emmittsburg, Hancock with the Second at Frizelburg, Slocum 
with the Twelfth at Littlestown, Sykes with the Fifth at 
Union Mills towards Hanover, and Sedgwick with the Sixth 
at Manchester. 

The army was now on Northern soil or verging upon it. As 
they crossed the Pennsylvania line the fact was announced to 
the men from the heads of the columns, and the passage was 
signalized by the wildest enthusiasm, and demonstrations of joy. 
Caps flew in air, shouts of rejoicing resounded, bands struck up 
the National airs, and the heavens echoed with patriot songs. 
General Meade, recognizing the importance of exciting the fervor 
of his men, and intent on seizing every opportunity to heighten it, 
issued the following earnest appeal : "The Commanding General 
requests that, previous to the engagement soon expected with the 
enemy, corps, and all other commanding officers will address their 
troops, explaining to them briefly the immense issues involved in 
the struggle. The enemy are on our soil ; the whole country now 
looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the presence of 
the foe ; our failure to do so will leave us no such welcome as the 
swelling of millions of hearts with pride and joy at our success 
would give to every soldier of this army. Homes, firesides, and 
domestic altars are involved. The army has fought well here- 
tofore; it is believed that it will fight more desperately and 
bravely than ever if it is addressed in fitting terms. Corps com- 
manders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier 
who fails in his duty at this hour." 

General Reynolds, having been kept aware of the movements 
of the enemy by the ever watchful Buford, had taken up a strong 
position on the heights beyond Emmittsburg, on which, should he 
be assailed, he could make a good defence, and here he had 
passed the night of the 29th. On the 30th he moved forward 
only a few miles, where he again formed his camp on ground 
from which he would fight if attacked, until he could withdraw 
to his position of the night before near Emmittsburg. But the 
night of the 30th passed peacefully, and on the morning of 
the 1st — the last of earth's mornings for him — he was early- 
astir, having been apprised of the near approach of the foe. 



206 



MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Seeing that Buford was about to be attacked, he put Wads- 
worth's division, accompanied by Hall's Maine battery in motion 
towards Gettysburg, and sent for Doubleday, who was in com- 
mand of the First corps. After reading and explaining his tele- 
grams, he directed Doubleday to move with the remaining two 
divisions close upon the footsteps of Wadsworth., He then 
mounted his horse and rode rapidly towards the front. 




CHAPTER IX. 

FIRST DAT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 




CING well assured that the enemy was about to 
attack him, Buford was early in the saddle, and 
had made the most imposing disposition to meet 
them which his little force would admit. Had he 
had at his back the half million of troops, that a 
farmer's wife, in reply to inquiries of rebel officers, 
had declared were in Gettysburg, he could have 
scarcely made one more so. But in addition to 
being imposing it had the virtue of being effective, 
and when the rebels came on " booming, skirmish- 
ers three deep," as Buford had predicted, they met 
a stubborn resistance. 

His skirmish line extended from the point where 
the Millerstown road crosses Willoughby Run, following the some- 
what tortuous bluff bordering the left bank of that stream across 
the Chambersburg way, and thence around crossing the Mummas- 
burg, Carlisle, and Harrisburg pikes, and the railroad, reaching 
quite to Rock Creek, thus covering all the great highways enter- 
ing the town from the north and west. In rear of this, upon a 
ridge running parallel with Seminary Ridge, and a half mile from 
it, were posted the rest of his forces dismounted. Covering the 
roads on which the enemy was expected first to advance were 
planted the guns of his light batteries. 

Having every disposition made, he watched eagerly for any 
indication which could disclose the purpose of the foe. He had 
not long to wait ; for the enemy, being in strong force, and intent 
on seizing the coveted prize, which he now believed was within 
his grasp, moved up his skirmishers. The first shot was de- 
livered by the enemy at a little before ten o'clock, which was 
responded to on the Union side by three single shots, the signal 

207 



208 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

for a general discharge along the skirmish line, and the Battle of 
Gettysburg was begun. 

As Buford's men for the most part fought dismounted, the 
enemy at first took them for infantry, and consequently moved 
tardily, and with much circumspection, giving time for the First 
corps, which was now rapidly approaching, to come up. So from 
the opening, fortune favored the Union arms. A constantly in- 
creasing skirmish fire was continued for half an hour, when the 
enemy, having brought up his artillery, opened with much spirit, 
The guns of Buford answered promptly, and maintained the 
contest gallantly, preserving the delusion that he was well sup- 
ported. The fury of the fight increased at every moment, and 
Buford saw that the weight of numbers bearing on him would 
soon press him off the field ; but not an inch was yielded, though 
he had every preparation made for retiring to Cemetery Hill 
when he could hold out no longer. It was a moment of gloom 
and anxiety to that true heart. Would he be left to his fate, 
and be at last obliged to sacrifice that vantage ground he had 
striven so hard to hold ? 

The signal officer, above quoted, had early in the morning 
taken his station in the cupola of the Theological Seminary, 
whence the country for many miles around lay open to view. 
" The engagement," he says, " was desperate, as we were opposed 
to the whole front of Hill's corps. We held them in check fully 
two hours, and were nearly overpowered when, in looking about 
the country, I saw the corps flag of General Reynolds. I was 
still in the Seminary steeple, but being the only signal officer 
with the cavalry, had no one to communicate with, so I sent one 
of my men to Buford, who came up, and looking through my 
glass, confirmed my report, and remarked : ' Now we can hold 
the place !' " With what joy was the eye of the leader gladdened 
as he beheld the folds of that flag floating upon the morning air, 
and read in its bright emblems the assurance of succor ! "General 
Reynolds," continues the signal officer, " and staff came up on a 
gallop in advance of the corps, when I made the following com- 
munication : ' Reynolds, himself, will be here in five minutes. 
His corps is about a mile behind.' Buford returned and watched 
anxiously my observations made through my signal-telescope. 




GEN JOHN !•' REYNOLDS 



FIRST BAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 209 

When Reynolds came up, seeing Buford in the cupola, he cried 
out: 'What's the matter, John?' 'The devil's to pay,' said Bu- 
ford ; and going down the ladder, Reynolds said : ' I hope you 
can hold out until my corps comes up.' ' I reckon I can,' was 
the characteristic reply. Reynolds then said : ' Let's ride out 
and see all about it,' and mounting we rode away. The skirmish- 
ing was then very brisk, the cavalry fighting dismounted. Bu- 
ford said : ' General, do not expose yourself so much ;' but Rey- 
nolds laughed, and moved nearer still." 

Having closely reconnoitred the field, he requested Buford to 
hold fast the position he had, and said that he would bring up 
the whole right wing of the army of which he had been put in 
formal command on the previous morning by the new chief, as 
rapidly as it could be concentrated. He then dispatched his staff 
officers, one to Howard, who was already on the way, with orders 
to bring up his corps with all possible dispatch ; another to Sickles, 
to look for the Third corps ; and a third to hasten on the divi- 
sions of the First corps. Having shown his determination by 
these orders to concentrate and to fight, Reynolds again mounted 
and rode back to meet the head of his column. As he was 
descending the hill, after having passed the Seminary, accom- 
panied by his escort, he met an old man, possessing an air of 
authority, whom Reynolds asked if he could not point out a 
shorter way back to the Emmittsburg road than by the centre of 
the town, by which he had come. The old man was John Burns, 
who had been entrusted by his fellow citizens with the office of 
Constable, and for several days had been watching for suspected 
persons, having already a number of rebel spies and messengers 
locked up in the Gettysburg jail. Burns assented to the request 
of the General, and recognizing the need of haste, at once started 
down a by-street on a rapid run, the cavalcade dashing on after 
him. Burns' blood was now up, and he watched eagerly for Rey- 
nolds' return. Having come near the town with the leading 
division, Reynolds determined to strike across the fields by the 
most direct route to the Seminary, and ordered the fences lev- 
elled. " The pioneers," says Burns, who watched every move- 
ment with the greatest interest, " made the fences fly with their 
bright axes." 

14 



210 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

When General Reynolds arrived at the front, the enemy were 
pressing the cavalry with much energy, and he accordingly led 
his troops at once to its support. Cutler's brigade of Wadsworth's 
division had the advance. Three regiments of this brigade, the 
Seventy-sixth and One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York, 
and the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania, Reynolds ordered Wadsworth, 
accompanied by Cutler, to take to the right of the line facing 
westward, north of the bed of an old unfinished railroad, while 
Reynolds himself took the two remaining regiments, the Ninety- 
fifth New York and the Fourteenth Brooklyn, with Hall's battery 
to the south of the railroad grading, and posted them on a line 
with, but a little in advance of the other regiments of the brigade, 
the battery being placed upon the pike. As the infantry moved 
up, the cavalry retired. The regiments to the right of the cut 
had scarcely got into position before they were heavily engaged 
with superior numbers. General Cutler, in a letter to Governor 
Curtin, written soon after the battle, said : " It was my fortune 
to be in advance on the morning of July 1st. When we came 
upon the ground in front of the enemy, Colonel Hofmann's regi- 
ment, the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania, being the second in the 
column, got into position a moment sooner than the others, the 
enemy now advancing in line of battle in easy musket range. 
The atmosphere being a little thick, I took out my glass to 
examine the enemy. Being a few paces in the rear of Colonel 
Hofmann, he turned to me and inquired, 'Is that the enemy?' 
My reply was, ' Yes.' Turning to his men he commanded, 
' Ready, right-oblique, aim, fire ! ' . . . The fire was followed by 
other regiments instantly ; still, that battle on the soil of Penn- 
sylvania was opened by her own sons, and it is just that it 
should become a matter of history. When Colonel Hofmann gave 
the command, ' aim,' I doubted whether the enemy was near 
enough to have the fire effective, and asked him if he was within 
range ; but not hearing my question, he fired, and I received my 
reply in a shower of bullets, by which many of the Colonel's men 
were killed, and wounded. My own horse, and those of two of 
my staff, were wounded at the same time." 

Hill's corps, a force of 30,000 men in three divisions, had 
crossed the South Mountain in the order of Heth's, Pender's, and 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 211 

Anderson's ; and Longstreet's corps, of like strength and divisions, 
was following in the order of McLaws', Hood's, and Pickett's ; the 
latter, however, left for one day at Chambersbnrg to hand for- 
ward the ammunition, reserve artillery, and trains safely, and to 
hold itself in readiness to come up the moment the battle should 
wax warm. Ewell, who commanded the remaining corps, and 
was coming in from Carlisle and York, had started from Heidlers- 
burg early on the morning of the 1st, and with his three divisions 
was marching in the order of Early's, Rodes', and Johnson's. 
The divisions of Heth and Pender were the first to strike the head 
of the Union army. As they arrived upon the field they were de- 
ployed upon the bluff overlooking the west bank of Willoughby 
Run, Heth upon the right and Pender upon the left, and at com- 
manding points along this bluff the artillery was planted. At the 
point where the rebel line was formed, there is a cross-road run- 
ning north, and from it another branching east and approaching 
the town in general course nearly parallel with the Chambersburg 
pike. On this, Pender advanced and finally reached out towards 
Oak Hill, a commanding eminence, destined to be an important 
point in the day's battle, and in the direction in which Ewell 
was approaching. 

General Doubleday, who had been directed to bring up the 
two remaining divisions of the First corps, having seen them 
fairly in motion, galloped forward and overtook the First division 
just as it was filing through the fields at the foot of Seminary 
Ridge, and immediately sent his aid, Lieutenant Martin, to Gen- 
eral Reynolds for instructions. The aid returned bringing orders 
for Doubleday to attend to the Millerstown road, the next south 
of the Chambersburg. Midway between these two roads was a 
triangular piece of woods, the base resting on Willoughby Run, 
and the apex reaching up towards the Seminary Ridge, the eleva- 
tion on which Cutler's troops were forming, cutting through its 
upper extremity. " These woods," says Doubleday, " possessed 
all the advantages of a redoubt, strengthening the centre of our 
line, and enfilading the enemy's columns should they advance in 
the open space on either side. I deemed the extremity of the 
woods, which extended to the summit of the ridge, the key of the 
position." To seize and hold this, therefore, was of prime necessity. 



212 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The brigade of Meredith followed close upon that of Cutler, 
and the latter had scarcely got into position, before it also came 
upon the field. It was composed of Western men, gallant soldiers, 
and gallantly led. It was known as the Iron Brigade. This 
tongue of wood, the importance of which General Doubleday had 
recognized, was also coveted by the enemy, and Archer's brigade 
of Heth's division had been sent across the run to occupy it, and 
was already advancing upon its base when Meredith arrived. 
Not a moment was to be lost, if it was to be saved to the Union 
side. Doubleday detached one regiment, the Sixth Wisconsin, 
to remain as a reserve, and immediately ordered the others to 
form and charge into the woods. " I urged them," says Double- 
day, " to hold it to the last extremity. Full of the memory of 
past achievements, they replied cheerfully and proudly, ' If we 
can't hold it, where will you find the men who can?'" Led by 
the Second Wisconsin in line, under Colonel Fairchild, since Gov- 
ernor, and followed, en echelon, by the Seventh Wisconsin, Nine- 
teenth Indiana, and Twenty-fourth Michigan, this sturdy body of 
men dashed forward. As the leading regiment was approaching 
the wood, General Reynolds, accompanied by two aids, Captains 
Mitchell and Baird, and an orderly, Charles IT. Veil, rode up, 
and ordering it to advance at double-quick, joined in the charge. 
As it moved he exclaimed, " Forward ! men, forward ! for God's 
sake, and drive those fellows out of the woods." He then turned 
to look for his supports and to hasten them on. The woods were 
full of the enemy's sharp-shooters, and as he turned he was struck 
in the brain, and never spoke more. An abler or more devoted 
soldier perished not in the Union cause. His fall was not noticed 
by the troops, who swept on, and pressing Archer's brigade 
closely, compelled it to surrender, taking 1000 prisoners, and 
Archer himself, who was brought in by private Patrick Maloney 
of Colonel Fairchild's regiment, who afterwards fell on the field 
of his heroic exploit. The enthusiasm of the charge was so great 
that the brigade was carried across the run, and was formed on 
the high ground beyond. Seeing that this was too far in advance 
of the main line, it was ordered back and posted in the woods. 

General Doubleday was now informed of the fall of Reynolds, 
by which sad event the whole responsibility of maintaining the 



FIBST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 213 

fight was thrown upon him. At about this time, and before 
Doubleclay could communicate with his officers, other disasters 
fell upon his little force. The enemy having formed in two lines 
in front, and to the right of Cutler's brigade, advanced upon it in 
vastly superior numbers, while another force charged up the rail- 
road cut, and attacked the guns of Hall's battery. So overwhelm- 
ing was this onset, that Wadsworth was induced to order Hall to 
retire with his guns to the Seminary Ridge, and also to withdraw 
the three regiments of Cutler's brigade posted north of the cut. 
One of these regiments, the One Hundred and Forty-seventh, 
under Major Harney, failed to receive the order, and remained 
upon the front battling with the swarming foe until nearly 
annihilated, and so far surrounded as to preclude the possibility 
of withdrawing. Hall had again been ordered forward, and the 
guns of his battery did fearful execution by the free use of canis- 
ter. He had held in check the charging columns for some time; 
but seeing his supports withdrawn and his guns in danger of 
being lost, and receiving a summons from Wadsworth, he fell 
back. The last gun to retire lost all its horses, and before the 
men sent to rescue it could accomplish the purpose, they were 
either shot or taken prisoners, and the gun was for the time left 
upon the field. 

At this juncture Doubleday was for the first time able to give 
attention to that part of the ground. Seeing that the right of 
his line had been crushed, and that the disaster, if not speedily 
repaired, would work the ruin of his corps, he sent for his reserve 
regiment, the Sixth Wisconsin, and forming it upon the enemy's 
flank, at right angles to the line of battle, ordered a charge. To 
save themselves from the determined front presented by this 
regiment the enemy sprang into the railroad cut near by, and 
commenced a murderous fire from this sheltered position. As the 
Sixth moved it was joined by the two regiments of Cutler, which 
had been originally posted on the left of the cut. The struggle 
for a time was desperate, and while some of the enemy gave 
token of surrender, the more resolute still held out. Finally, 
Colonel Dawes of the Sixth threw a squad into the cut upon his 
right, so as to enfilade the enemy's line, and pressing him in 
front, carried the position at the point of the bayonet. A por- 



214 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tion of two regiments of Davis' brigade with their battle flags 
were taken prisoners, and marched off to the rear. This relieved 
the One Hundred and Forty-seventh, which had been surrounded 
and had suffered fearful losses, and the gun of Hall's battery, that 
had been left, was rescued. 

So bold a manoeuvre astonished the enemy, and gave assurance 
to the troops which Wadsworth had ordered back, insomuch that 
the line was reestablished, and one of Tidball's batteries was 
advanced to take the place of Hall. Tidball's guns were soon 
hotly engaged, and after replying to the enemy with spirit and 
effect for some time, they were relieved by Captain Reynolds'. 

Though suffering severe losses in killed and wounded, this 
single division of only two brigades had achieved a marked 
success, two brigades of Heth's division, Archer's and Davis', 
having been broken and large numbers captured, and the ground 
originally taken triumphantly held. This furnished a favorable 
opportunity to have retired, and taken position on more defensible 
ground. But Doubleday, who was still in chief command on the 
iield, did not deem it wise to withdraw until a more determined 
fight had been made. He believed that General Reynolds, who 
had been placed in command of the whole right wing of the 
army, and who enjoyed the full confidence of his chief, had 
taken this position with the intention of holding it until supports 
should come up, which had been already ordered and whose 
arrival was hourly expected, and of preventing the enemy from 
gaining possession of the town. He was aware that the remaining 
divisions of his own corps were near at hand, that the Eleventh 
corps was approaching, and that the Third and Twelfth corps 
were within striking distance. He accordingly determined to 
hold fast and breast the storm. A passage of his official report 
discloses the patriotic devotion with which, at this perilous 
moment, he was actuated. " A retreat," he says, " without hard 
fighting has a tendency to demoralize the troops who retire, and 
Mould in the present instance, in my opinion, have dispirited the 
whole army, and injured its morale, while it would have encour- 
aged the enemy in the same proportion. There never was an 
occasion in which the result could have been more momentous 
upon our national destiny. Final success in this war can only be 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 215 

obtained by desperate fighting, and the infliction of heavy loss 
upon the enemy." 

But the successes thus attained were not suffered to remain 
long undisputed. New actors were rapidly coming upon the 
scene. Pender's division, which had not yet been engaged, was 
now deployed, and on the Union side, the two remaining divisions 
of the First corps, Rowley's and Robinson's, arrived on the field. 
Robinson was at first ordered to hold his men in reserve, and to 
throw up a barricade in front of the Seminary, to which, in case 
of necessity, the line of battle could retire. Rowley's — Double- 
day's own before taking the corps — was divided. One brigade, 
commanded by Colonel Chapman Biddle of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-first Pennsylvania, was sent to the left to cover the Mil- 
lerstown Road, and the left flank of the Iron brigade. Biddle 
made a skilful disposition of his troops, sending two companies of 
skirmishers forward to occupy a brick house and stone barn con- 
siderably to* the front of his line, who did fearful execution upon 
the advancing enemy, without being themselves exposed. Later 
in the day* they were obliged to abandon this coigne of vantage 
to escape capture as the enemy in overwhelming numbers ad- 
vanced, and the buildings were finally burned. 

Stone's brigade, which was composed of the One Hundred and 
Forty-second, One Hundred and Forty-ninth, and One Hundred 
and Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiments, and was known as the 
Bucktail Brigade, sturdy men from the forest region, was posted 
on open ground to the right of Meredith, where they were much 
exposed. Stone was a man of undaunted courage, and accus- 
tomed to manoeuvre troops in the face of the enemy, having led 
a battalion of the original Bucktail regiment upon the Peninsula 
with eminent skill. Doubled ay had great confidence in this fine 
body of men, and assigned it to this most critical portion of the 
field. " The men," says Doubleday, " were in very fine spirits, 
and were elated to the highest degree. One division that I had 
[Rowley's] was composed almost entirely of Pennsylvanians. 
I made short speeches to each regiment as it passed and went 
into action, and the men were full of enthusiasm. I had assigned 
one brigade under Colonel Stone to quite an open position, where 
they were shelled pretty severely. Colonel Stone remarked, as 



21 G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

he took the position, ' We have come to stay.' This went quickly 
through his brigade, the men adopting it as a watchword ; they 
all said, ' We have come to stay,' and a very large portion of 
them never left that ground." 

In gaining his position, Stone showed the most determined 
spirit. The skirmish line which he sent forward to occupy a 
fence on his front towards Willoughby Run, had to meet un- 
shielded the deliberate lire of a heavy line of the enemy's skir- 
mishers, who already had possession of it. But disregarding the 
rapid fall of companions they rushed on, drove out the foe, and 
held the fence against every attempt to regain it. 

But now a new terror threatened. The veteran troops of 
Ewell, Stonewall Jackson's old corps, men who had rarely been 
led but to victory, had been marching since early morn from 
Heidlersburg, and the head of the column was already deploy- 
ing, the skirmishers pushing into every nook and sheltered way 
where they could come unobserved upon the Union line. Devin's 
brigade of cavalry was there, and though its commander had 
expressed his confidence the night before that he could hold his 
own for twenty-four hours, before midday he found himself hard 
pressed. Never Avas a line of cavalry put to severer strain. The 
ground whereon it stood was open, with no advantageous posi- 
tions from which to fight. The advance of Ewell was first felt 
on the Ilunterstown Road. The instant the firing commenced, 
Devin disposed his men so as to strengthen that part of the line. 
" Shortly after this," says the signal officer, " the prophecy of 
Buford was fulfilled. 'Booming skirmishers three deep' came, 
nearly a mile long, and it seemed that a handful of men could 
not hold them in check an instant. But taking advantage of 
every particle of fence, timber, or rise in the front, they held the 
forces of Ewell temporarily in check." The fighting on the part 
of Devin was dismounted, and proved very effective, that whole 
(rout, looking northward, being held by that small cavalry force 
aided by the light guns of Calef, until relief came. 

Reynolds had early on the morning of the 1st ordered Howard, 
who was in the neighborhood of Emmittsburg, to move up to 
Gettysburg in compliance with Meade's order of march for this 
day. " I am very clear and distinct," says Captain Rosengarten 



FIRST BAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 217 

of Reynolds' staff, " in my recollection of the fact that one of 
General Howard's aids [Captain Hall] reported to General Rey- 
nolds as we were near Gettysburg, the early arrival of the 
Eleventh corps on the Taney town Road. General Reynolds 
made some inquiries as to the condition of the men, and the 
distance of the divisions from each other, and then desired the 
aid to return to Howard, with orders to move on rapidly to Ceme- 
tery Hill where he would be put in position. When Reynolds 
got to the front, and found the pressing need for troops, and the 
long intervals between the arrival of successive divisions, he sent 
back to Cemetery Hill, and to the Eleventh corps, to bring the 
head of Howard's column up to the front. He was killed long 
before the return of the aid who carried this message." 

HoAvard's corps had rested in the neighborhood of Emmitts- 
burg on the night of the 30th, but had moved early, and finding 
the road leading to Gettysburg occupied by the trains, and by 
Robinson's division of the First corps, had moved to the right on a 
by-way leading to the Taneytown Road, and was still on this way 
eleven miles from Gettysburg, when the messenger of Reynolds 
met him. General Buford, ever watchful, remained near his 
signal officer, regarding every movement of friend and foe. " One 
of my men at the glass," says the signal officer, " came down to 
me with a message, saying that they saw another infantry corps, 
and thought that it must be Howard's. This proved to be the 
case. Buford then ordered me to ride as fast as my horse could 
carry me, and ask Howard to come up on the double-quick. I did 
so. He ordered his batteries forward, but his men came slowly." 

Howard had ridden up, when he found that the First corps was 
engaged, in advance of his column, arriving at about one o'clock, 
and, ranking Doubleday, assumed command of the field. Double- 
day continued in command of the First corps, that of the Eleventh 
being turned over to Carl Schurz. The Eleventh was composed 
of three divisions, commanded by Generals Von Steinwehr, Bar- 
low, and Schemmelfinnig. The division of Von Steinwehr, with 
the artillery, was posted on Cemetery Hill, in accordance with 
the order of Reynolds, and the divisions of Barlow and Schem- 
melfinnig were moved forward, and relieved the cavalry brigade 
of Devin, north of the town, Barlow on the right, reaching around 



218 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to Rock Creek, and Schemmelfimiig extending towards Seminary 
Hill, but not quite reaching the right of the First corps. 

In the meantime the divisions of Pender and Heth, of Hill's 
corps, had developed their full strength, nearly three times that 
of the entire First corps, and the troops of Pender had extended 
their line upon the left until they grasped the hands of Rodes' divi- 
sion of E well's corps. At the point where these two corps joined, 
Oak Hill rises to a considerable altitude. This hill is really a 
part of Seminary Ridge, but a little to the west of it. Here 
powerful batteries were planted so as to enfilade the First corps 
line of battle. This necessitated a change of the Union front. 
The whole line might have been withdrawn to Seminary Ridge ; 
but as that ridge is in some parts open, a line of battle would 
have there been enfiladed from Oak Hill. Accordingly, Doubleday 
ordered Wadsworth to retire his force north of the railroad bed 
to the crest of Seminary Ridge, which was wooded, and Reynolds' 
battery was also withdrawn. Captain Reynolds himself had 
received a shot in the eye, but refused to leave the field. This 
modification of the line necessitated a change of position of 
Rowley's division. Stone, leaving Wister's regiment facing west- 
ward, brought his two remaining ones, first Lieutenant-Colonel 
Dwight's, and finally Colonel Dana's, into the Chambersburg pike 
so as to face northward. This left a considerable interval be- 
tween Stone and Cutler. Through this, Cooper's battery, which 
had been posted in the wheatfield in rear of Stone, also facing 
northward, answered the enemy's heavy guns on Oak Hill. At 
the same time Biddle's brigade was likewise faced northward to 
support the guns of Cooper. 

Though Howard had arrived on the field and was now in 
chief command, he was wholly occupied in directing his own 
corps, leaving the First entirely to the management of Doubleday. 
" General Buford now reported to me," says Doubleday, " that the 
rebel General Ewell, with his whole corps, was coming down 
from York on my right flank, making another 30,000. I sent 
word to General Howard and requested him to keep Ewell off 
my flank, as I had as much as I could do to attend to A. P. Hill. 
About the same time I received an order from General Howard, 
to this effect: 'Tell Doubleday to fight on the left, and I will 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 219 

fight on the right.' A little later, he sent word to me that if 
forced back I must try and hold on to the Seminary. These 
were all the orders I received from him during the day, that I 
remember." 

The First corps, with Buford's two brigades of cavalry, had 
borne the brunt of the battle. It was destined still to do so. 
There had been a lull in the storm, the enemy apparently pre- 
paring to crush at one blow the small force which they had now 
learned was checking them. This they were well able to do. 
For they had in hand Heth's and Pender's divisions of Hill's 
corps, and Rodes' and Early's of Ewell's, a full half of the entire 
rebel army, with the remainder in supporting distance. "At 
about half past one in the afternoon," says Colonel Stone in his 
official report, " the grand advance of the enemy's infantry began. 
From my position I was enabled to trace their formation for at 
least two miles. It appeared to be a nearly continuous double 
line of deployed battalions, with other battalions in mass as re- 
serves." As this powerful body advanced, its formation being 
continuous, it could not conform to the Union line, which as we 
have seen was irregular. In consequence of this the rebel left 
became first engaged, striking the northern extremity of the 
First corps line. As there was here a gap between the First and 
Eleventh corps, Doubleday ordered Robinson, who had been held 
in reserve, to send one of his brigades, that of Baxter, to fill it. 
The latter arrived in time to meet the enemy's advance ; but his 
small brigade proved insufficient to measure the open space, and 
though fighting gallantly, driving back the enemy, and taking 
many prisoners and three battle-flags, he was constantly out- 
flanked and exposed to a hot enfilading fire. Recognizing the 
danger which threatened at this point, Doubleday ordered Gen- 
eral Robinson himself with Paul's brigade, his last remaining 
reserve, to this part of the field. Stewart's battery of the Fourth 
United States Artillery was also sent to the assistance of Robin- 
son. Although Robinson was still unable to close the opening 
at the angle made by the two corps, yet by swinging his right 
around upon the Mummasburg road, he was enabled to protect 
the flank and prevent the enemy from marching in. 

The battle now waxed warm, the enemy attacking with the 



220 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

most determined valor. At that point in his long line, as it 
originally advanced, opposite that where Cutler's left ended, it 
had separated, the southern extremity holding back before Mere- 
dith and that part of Stone's brigade which looked westward, 
and the northern portion sweeping up to meet Cutler and Baxter. 
This gave that part of Stone's line which looked northward, and 
Cooper's battery, a good opportunity to attack upon the Hank as 
the hostile lines swept past, and, though at long range for in- 
fantry, with excellent effect; and when the troops of Baxter 
dashed gallantly forward, the rebels seeing themselves pushed 
on three sides, surrendered in large numbers and were swept into 
the Union lines. Repeated assaults were made upon Paul and 
Baxter with ever fresh troops, as if determined to break through 
and bear down all before them. But more daring or skilful 
leaders than Robinson, Paul, and Baxter Avere not in the whole 
army, and their men w T ere of the same spirit ; and though suffer- 
ing grievously at every fresh onset, hurled back the foe and 
maintained their ground intact. In one of these fierce assaults, 
General Paul, the veteran commander of the First brigade, 
while gallantly encouraging and directing the fight, w r as severely 
wounded, losing both his eyes. 

While the chief force of the attack fell upon Robinson and 
Wads worth, Stone was able to effectually supplement their opera- 
tions ; but when the enemy, unable to make an impression, 
turned upon Stone, Robinson and Wadsworth were too far away 
to return the compliment, and the blow fell with withering effect. 
In two lines, formed parallel to the pike, and at right-angles to 
Wadsworth, the enemy first advanced upon Stone, who, antici- 
pating such a movement, had thrown one of his regiments under 
Colonel Dwight forward to the railroad cut where the men 
a.waited the approach. When arrived at a fence within pistol 
shot, Dwight delivered a withering fire. Nothing daunted, the 
hostile lines crossed the fence, and continued to move forward. 
By this time Dwight's men had reloaded, and when the advancing 
foe had arrived close upon the bank, they delivered another tell- 
ing volley. They then leaped the bank and vaulted forward 
with the bayonet, uttering wild shouts, before which the rebels 
lied in dismay. On returning, Dwight found that the enemy had 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 221 

planted a battery away to the west, so as to completely enfilade 
the railroad cut, making it untenable ; whereupon he returned to 
his original position on the pike. 

At this juncture, Colonel Stone fell, severely wounded, and 
was borne off, the command devolving upon Colonel Wister. 
Foiled in their first attempt, with fresh troops the rebel leaders 
came on from the northwest, that if possible the weak spot in 
the Bucktail line might be found. But Wister, disposing the 
regiment which in part faced the north to meet them, checked 
and drove them back from this point also. Again, with an 
enthusiasm never bated, they advanced from the north, and now 
crossing the railroad cut, which the rebel guns guarded, rushed 
forward ; but a resolute bayonet charge sent them back again, 
and that front was once more clear. Believing that a single thin 
line unsupported, unrenewed, and unprotected by breast-works, 
must eventually yield, a determined attack was again made from 
the west ; but with no better results than before, being met by 
the intrepid Colonel Huidckoper, who had succeeded to the com- 
mand of Wister's regiment, and though receiving a grievous 
wound from the effect of which he lost his right arm, the ground 
was firmly held, and the enemy was sent reeling back. 

But the wave of battle as it rolled southward reached every 
part in turn, and the extreme Union left, where Biddle's brigade 
was posted, at length felt its power. A body of troops, appar- 
ently an entire division, drawn out in heavy lines, came down 
from the west and south, and overlapping both of Biddle's flanks, 
moved defiantly on. Only three small regiments were in position 
to receive them ; but ordering up the One Hundred and Fifty- 
first Pennsylvania, which had been detached for special duty, 
and throwing it into the gap between Meredith's and his own, 
and wheeling the battery into position, Biddle awaited the 
approach. As the enemy appeared beyond the wood, under 
cover of which they had formed, a torrent of death-dealing 
missiles leaped from the guns. Terrible rents were made ; but 
closing up, they came on undaunted. Never were guns better 
served ; and though the ground was strewn with the slain, their 
line seemed instantly to grow together. The infantry fire was 
terrific on both sides ; but the enemy, outflanking Biddle, sent a 



222 MARTIAL LEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

direct and a doubly destructive oblique fire, before which it seemed 
impossible to stand. But though the dead fell until the living 
could fight from behind them as from a bulwark, they stood fast 
as if rooted to the ground. 

It was upon this part of the field, and soon after Stone's 
brigade had come into position, that an old man with hair of 
grizzly grey, dressed in a long swallow- tailed coat, and a silk hat 
badly battered and worn, carrying a musket, came up at a rapid 
walk through the wheatfield, from the direction of the town, and 
desired permission to fight. Colonel Wister, to whom he addressed 
himself, asked him if he knew how to shoot. He answered that 
he would show them whether he could or not if they would give 
him a chance. " Where is your ammunition?" inquired Wister. 
Slapping his hand upon his pocket, he replied : " I have it here." 
Colonel Wister told him that he could have a chance to fight, but 
advised him to go to the woods where the Iron brigade was 
posted, as he could there shelter himself. This did not suit the 
old man's idea of fight, and he persisted in going forward to the 
skirmish line at the fence, upon the extreme front, and here he 
fought so long as that fence was held. Few were the useless 
shots he fired, and many a foeman was made to bite the dust 
before the sweep of his faithful rifle. When that skirmish line 
retired he was the last to leave. He subsequently fought with 
the Iron brigade until the end of the battle, and was left wounded 
upon the field. That old man was constable John Burns, the 
only civilian, so far as known, who fought in the battle of Get- 
tysburg. 

While the battle was raging with such fury on the First corps 
front, it was warmly maintained on the right, where two divisions 
of the Eleventh corps had been posted. When General Howard 
first arrived on the field, and became aware that the enemy was 
advancing in great force from the north, he saw at a glance that 
Seminary Ridge would not for a moment be tenable, unless the 
descent from this direction could be checked. Early, who was 
upon that front, seemed indisposed to make a determined assault 
until the bulk of his corps was up, and he could act in conjunc- 
tion with the forces of Hill, advancing from the west. He accord- 
ingly pushed Rodes with the advance division over upon the right 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 223 

until it formed a junction with Hill. He likewise sent the division 
of Early upon the left until he flanked the position which the 
cavalry of Buford was holding. Howard saw the great disad- 
vantages of the field which he would be obliged to contend upon, 
and doubtless from the first realized that sooner or later both 
corps would have to fall back, unless he should receive timely 
and powerful support. In his anxiety to hold the town until 
evening, and until the balance of the army could come up, he 
committed the fatal error of attempting to string out his two 
divisions in one thin, continuous line, so as to cover the whole 
open front, upon any part of which the enemy could mass and 
easily break through, or by planting his artillery in commanding 
positions, could rake with an oblique and even an enfilading fire. 
Had Howard, instead of attempting to cover the whole front 
with an attenuated line, selected some commanding positions on 
which to have planted his artillery, and instantly have thrown 
up simple works for the protection of the pieces, and so posted his 
infantry as to have charged upon any force that should have 
attempted to wedge its way through the unoccupied spaces, as was 
done in the case of the First corps ; or, had he made the north 
bank of the north branch of Stevens' Run his main line, making 
the Almshouse a fortified point, which would have enabled him 
to hold a strong reserve ready to meet any assault from what- 
ever direction it should come, there is no doubt that the ground 
would have been longer and more successfully held, perhaps with 
the fruits of captives and standards. Bloody work may have 
been entailed ;• but with skilful management the enemy would 
likely have suffered much greater losses, as he would have been 
forced to be the attacking party. 

But, notwithstanding this seeming error, the fact must ever 
remain apparent, that the task attempted by Howard was a 
difficult one. When he came upon the field, he found the First 
corps on ground of its own selection, skilfully posted for meeting 
a front attack, but incapable of holding its own when pressed 
upon its flanks, and indeed at that moment most seriously 
threatened with capture. The position left for him to take, and 
which he was forced to occupy to save the First corps, was one 
not easily defensible, and by the time his corps arrived upon the 



22-4 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

field the enemy was already upon the front and flanks of that 
position, or in easy supporting distance, in numbers treble those he 
could bring to oppose to them. It is evident, therefore, that he 
went there with the expectation of playing a losing game; that 
he realized that he could only interpose a temporary check, and 
thereby be enabled to withdraw to a more favorable position ; and 
though he might by a more skilful disposition of his forces have 
made a more stubborn resistance and have withdrawn his little 
army with less loss, yet the possibility of permanently holding that 
position unaided could not reasonably have been entertained. 

But there was one labor which was being executed at this time 
under the direction of General Howard which proved of vital 
importance in the final cast of the battle : it was the fortifying 
of Cemetery Hill. This is the boldest and most commanding 
ground upon the central portion of the line where the struggle 
during the two succeeding days occurred. Reynolds had noticed 
the great advantage it presented, and had designated it as the 
position on which to hold his reserves, and as a rallying point 
in case he was forced back from the more advanced position in 
front of the town where he had made his stand, and had himself 
early fallen. When Howard came up he left one division under 
General Alexander Yon Steinwehr upon this hill, with directions 
to have it posted most advantageously to hold the position, and 
to cover retiring troops. Around the base of this hill were low 
stone walls, tier above tier, extending from the Tancytown 
Road around to the westerly extremity of Wolf's Hill. These 
afforded excellent protection to infantry, and behind them the 
soldiers, weary with the long march and covered with dust, 
threw themselves for rest. Upon the summit were beautiful 
green fields, now covered by a second growth, which to the tread 
had the seeming of a carpet of velvet. 

Von Steinwehr was an accomplished soldier, having been 
thoroughly schooled in the practice of the Prussian army. His 
military eye was delighted with this position, and thither he drew 
his heavy pieces, and planted them on the very summit, at the 
uttermost verge towards the town. But the position, though bold 
and commanding, was itself commanded, and Steinwehr instantly 
realized that there would be blows to take as well as to give. No 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 225 

tree, no house, no obstruction of any kind shielded it from the 
innumerable points on the opposite hills, from Benner's on the 
extreme right, beyond Wolf's Hill, around far south on Seminary 
Ridge to the left ; but it stood out in bold relief, the guns pre- 
senting excellent targets for the enemy's missiles the moment he 
should come within artillery range. However powerful and 
effective his own guns might prove, while unassailed, Stein wehr 
saw that they would be unable to live long when attacked, unless 
protected. Nor would any light works be of avail. There was 
no time to build a fort, for which the ground was admirably 
adapted. He accordingly threw up lunettes around each gun. 
These were not mere heaps of stubble and turf, but solid works of 
such height and thickness as to defy the most powerful bolts which 
the enemy could throw against them, with smooth and perfectly 
level platforms on which the guns could be worked. If the First 
and Eleventh corps performed no other service in holding on to 
their positions, though sustaining fearful losses, the giving oppor- 
tunity for the construction of these lunettes and getting a firm 
foothold upon this great vantage ground, was ample compensa- 
tion for every hardship and misfortune, and the labor and skill 
of Stein wehr in constructing them must ever remain subjects of 
admiration and gratitude. 

When Barlow, who commanded the division of the Eleventh 
corps which took the right of the line in front of the town, was 
going into position, he discovered a wooded eminence a little to 
the north of the point where the Harrisburg road crosses Rock 
Creek, and here he determined to make his right rest. It was 
the ground which the skirmish line of Devin had held. But as 
the cavalry retired the enemy had immediately thrown forward 
a body of skirmishers to occupy it. To dislodge these, Barlow 
sent forward Von Gilsa's brigade. At the Almshouse the line 
halted, and knapsacks were thrown aside. It was then ordered 
to advance at double-quick. The order was gallantly executed, 
and the wood quickly cleared. Dispositions were made to hold 
it, and Wilkinson's battery of the Fourth United States was ad- 
vanced to its aid. The watchful Von Gilsa, however, soon dis- 
covered that the enemy was massed upon his flank, the brigades 
of Gordon and Hayes of Early's division being formed under cover 

15 



226 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 

of the wooded ground on either side of Rock Creek, and ready to 
advance upon him. He was very much in the situation of the 
right of the Eleventh corps at Chancellorsville, the enemy massed 
and ready to come down, as did Jackson, upon front, flank, and 
rear. Barlow found it impossible to hold this advanced position, 
and was obliged to allow that wing to fall back to the neighbor- 
hood of the Almshouse. 

On the left, in the direction of the First corps right, the brigade 
of Colonel Von Amesburg was placed, with Dilgers and Wheeler's 
batteries. The extreme left was occupied by the Seventy-fourth 
Pennsylvania. This regiment was much reduced in numbers, 
and in attempting to cover a long space it could present little 
more than a skirmish line, which rested at a fence, by a cross- 
road connecting the Carlisle and the Mummasburg ways. The 
Eleventh corps line had hardly been established, before the 
enemy, whose dispositions had been mainly perfected previous 
to its arrival, came down upon it with overwhelming might. 

On the southern slope of Seminary Ridge, on a prolongation 
of the First corps line northward, was a commanding position 
which the enemy could not be prevented from occupying, and 
where he now planted his artillery so as to send an oblique and 
very destructive fire upon the left of the Eleventh corps. From 
this point also, having massed his infantry, he came on, sweeping 
past the right of the First corps, and breaking and crumpling the 
left of the Eleventh. The right of the First being thus turned 
was obliged to retire, and was carried back. At this juncture, 
Early, who was already massed on the extreme right flank of 
the Eleventh, also advanced. Near the Almshouse he met a 
stubborn resistance, and in the midst of the fight the gallant 
Barlow was wounded, and fell helpless into the enemy's hands. 
Shemmelfinnig, too, while attempting to stay his troops, and 
hold them up to the fight, was taken prisoner, but subsequently 
managed to escape, and rejoined his command. Stands were 
made at intervals, and the enemy held in check; but it was 
impossible to stay the onset. Until the town was reached the 
retirement was comparatively deliberate and orderly; but when 
arrived there, being huddled in the narrow streets, subjected to 
a rapid fire from batteries which raked them, and the enemy's 



FIRST BAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 227 

swarming infantry intent on their destruction or capture, the 
men fell into confusion. Their officers strove to save them by 
ordering them into the cross alleys. But this only added to 
the confusion, the men either not understanding the commands, 
or hoping to escape the fire of the foe, and over 1200 were made 
prisoners in less than twenty minutes. 

While this was passing upon the right, the enemy assaulted 
upon the left with no less vigor, but not with the same success. 
Though the First corps had now been five hours in the fight, some 
portions of it six, and without supports or reliefs, it still stood 
fast, determined to make good the cry which they at the first 
had raised, " We have come to stay." But when it was known 
that the right of the corps had been turned, and that the 
Eleventh corps was falling back, it became evident that the posi- 
tion which had been so long and so gallantly held, and withal 
with such substantial fruits, would have to be given up. Baxter's 
brigade, which had fought with stubborn bravery upon the right, 
was brought to the rear of the ridge at the railroad cut, where it 
defended a battery and still held the enemy advancing from the 
north in check. Paul's brigade having lost its commander, in 
retiring became entangled, and a considerable number fell into 
the enemy's hands. On the left, Meredith's and Biddle's brigades 
were ordered to fall back and cover the retirement of the balance 
of the line. Wister, who had succeeded to the command of 
Stone's brigade upon the fall of the latter, had likewise received a 
severe wound, and had turned over the brigade to Colonel Dana. 
At a barricade of rails which had been thrown up early in the day 
by Robinson's men, a final stand was made, and here the chief of 
artillery, Colonel Wainwright, had posted his batteries, those of 
Cooper, Breck, Stevens, and Wilbur, thus concentrating twelve 
guns in so small a space that they were scarcely five yards 
apart. Captain Stewart's battery was also in position on the 
summit, two pieces on either side of the railroad cut. 

Encouraged by this falling back, the enemy was brought up in 
masses, as to an easy victory, and forming in two lines, swept 
forward. As they approached, the artillery opened upon them, 
Stewart's guns being so far to right and front that he could 
enfilade their lines. Their front line was by this concentrated 



228 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

lire much broken and dispirited, but the second, which was also 
supported, pressed on. When arrived within musket range their 
advance was checked, and the firing for a short time was hot. 
The rebels, who greatly outnumbered the small Union line, now 
began to show themselves upon the left flank. Seeing that the 
position could not much longer be held, Doubleday ordered the 
artillery to retire, and it moved in good order from the field, wend- 
ing its way back to Cemetery Hill. But before the pieces were 
all away the enemy had gained so far upon the flank as to reach 
it with his musketry fire, shielding himself behind a garden 
fence which runs within fifty yards of the pike. Before the 
last piece had passed, the fire had become very warm, and the 
horses attached to this gun were shot. The piece, consequently, 
had to be abandoned, together with three caissons. 

The infantry held its position behind the barricade, successfully 
checking the enemy in front, the men showing the most unflinch- 
ing determination, Captain Richardson, of General Meredith's 
staff, riding up and down the line waving a regimental flag, and 
encouraging them to duty. But the enemy was now swarming 
upon the very summit of the ridge upon the left flank of Double- 
day. So near had they approached, that Lieutenant Colonel 
McFarland while reconnoitring to discover their exact position, 
received a volley which shattered both legs. " When all the 
troops at this point," says General Doubleday, " were over- 
powered, Captain Glenn, of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth 
Pennsylvania, in command of the Head-quarter Guard, defended 
the building [Seminary] for full twenty minutes against a whole 
brigade of the enemy, enabling the few remaining troops, the 
ambulances, and artillery, to retreat in comparative safety." 

And now was seen the great advantage in the position of 
Steinwehrs reserves. As the begrimed cannoniers, and the 
beasts foaming with the excitement of battle, and the sadly 
thinned ranks of infantry exhausted by six hours of continuous 
lighting, filed through the town and approached Cemetery Hill, 
they came as to the folds of an impregnable fortress. Here at 
Length was rest and security. Whenever the foeman attempted 
to follow, they came immediately into range of Steinwehrs well- 
posted guns, and at every stone wall and building was an abattis 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 229 

of bayonets. The heroic Buford, who had first felt the shock of 
battle, and during the long hours of this terrible day had held 
his troops upon the flanks of the infantry, joining in the fierce 
fighting as opportunity or necessity required, and who, from his 
watchtower had scanned and reported every phase of the battle, 
was now at the critical moment a pillar of strength. The insig- 
nificant division of Steinwehr would alone have presented but a 
narrow barrier to a powerful and triumphant foe, intent on 
pushing his advantage, and, to the left where the country is all 
open, and nature presents no impediment to an advance, it 
could have been flanked and easily turned out of its position. 
But here, like a wall of adamant, stood the veterans of Buford, 
with guns skilfully posted, ready to dispute the progress of the 
enemy. His front was tried, and the attempt was made to push 
past him along the low ground drained by Steven's Run, where 
some severe fighting occurred. But he maintained his ground 
intact, and that admirable position, where the army at length 
fought and won the battle, was again saved. General Warren, 
the Engineer-in-chief of the army, who first came upon the field 
at this crisis, says in his testimony: "General Buford's cavalry 
was all in line of battle between our position there and the 
enemy. Our cavalry presented a very handsome front, and I 
think probably checked the advance of the enemy." Indeed the 
spirit of Buford, like a good angel, seemed to be constantly hover- 
ing over the entire field of that first day. One of the best read 
of our military critics says of him : " He not only showed the 
rarest tenacity, but by his personal capacity made his cavalry 
accomplish marvels, and rival infantry in their steadfastness, not 
only in the battle itself, but afterwards, when deployed in the 
intervale drained by Steven's Run, west of Gettysburg." He died 
not long after from the effect of protracted toil and exposure in 
this campaign. " On the day of his death," says the " American 
Cyclopedia of 1863," "and but a little while before his departure, 
his commission as Major-General was placed in his hands. He 
received it with a smile of gratification that the Government he 
had defended appreciated his services, and gently laying it aside 
soon ceased to breathe." 

On the right of Steinwehr's position were the rugged heights 



930 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of Wolf's Hill, a natural buttress, unassailable in front from its 
abruptness, and though susceptible of being turned, as it was on 
the following evening, yet so curtained by an impenetrable wood 
as to convey the suspicion of danger lurking therein. Early, who 
was in front of this hill, made some attempts to carry it, but, find- 
ing it apparently well protected, did not push his reconnoissance. 

As the two broken corps of the Union army ascended Cemetery 
Hill, they were met by staff officers, who turned the Eleventh 
corps to the right and the First corps to the left, where they went 
into position along the summit of the ridge stretching out on 
either hand from the Baltimore pike. A ravine to the right of 
Cemetery Hill, and between that and Wolf's Hill, seemed to 
present to the enemy a favorable point of attack, and hither was 
at once sent Stevens' Maine battery and Wadsworth's division 
of the first corps. Here Wadsworth immediately commenced sub- 
stantial breast-works along the brow of the hill, an example 
which other troops followed, until the whole front extending 
to Spangler's Spring was surmounted by one of like strength. 
Through that ravine the enemy did assail, but the preparations 
to meet him were too thorough to admit of his entrance. 

Thus ended the fighting of the first day. It had proved a sad 
day for those two weak corps, battling as they had been obliged to 
against a foe nearly thrice their numbers. The First corps had 
gone into the battle with 8200 men, and had come out with only 
2450. The Eleventh corps went in with 7400, only two divisions 
of which, however, being actually engaged, and retired with a 
little more than half that number. But though the losses 
had been grievous and the survivors were worn out with the 
severity of the fight, yet was not honor lost. A most heroic 
and determined stand had been made. Prisoners to the num- 
ber of 2500 had been taken, and the enemy had sustained a 
still greater loss in killed and wounded than had the Union side. 
A position of great natural strength had been gained, and was 
now firmly held. 

Of the generalship displayed on the first day of fighting at 
Gettysburg there has been much speculation, and we can only 
judge by the official records, the dispositions upon the field, and 
by the results attained. The questions have been raised, was 



FIRST BAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 231 

the fighting at Gettysburg an accidental collision, unforeseen and 
unpremeditated ? Was General Reynolds justified in precipitating 
a battle there, and Doubleday and Howard in continuing it ? In 
one sense the collision was accidental. Not until the evening of 
the 30th, and after the order for the movement of each corps of 
the army on the 1st day of July had been issued, was Meade 
made aware of the purpose of the enemy to let go the Susque- 
hanna and concentrate. It was not until the morning of the 
1st of July that he learned that Lee was marching on Gettys- 
burg. It must be borne in mind, in considering the movements 
of the army, that the orders which were emanating from the 
brain of the leader had to be communicated to corps scattered 
over a belt of more than thirty miles. During the day these 
corps were in motion, and hence it was impossible to arrest and 
change their courses as the movements of a single person or even 
a compact body of men could have been. Time thus enters as 
an important element in the game. A circular had been sent out 
indicating a cautious policy, and prefiguring what would be the 
order of the following day, — a concentration on Pipe Creek. But 
the positive orders for the movement of July 1st carried the First 
corps to Gettysburg, the Eleventh to Gettysburg or supporting- 
distance, the Third to Emmittsburg, the Second to Taneytown, 
the Twelfth to Two Taverns, the Fifth to Hanover, and the Sixth 
to Manchester, and the cavalry to front and flank well out in all 
directions. The tone of the circular afterwards issued indicated 
that Meade would not have given the order for the march on 
the 1st had he known the purposes of the enemy sooner. Hence 
we must conclude, that though he did not anticipate meeting the 
enemy when he issued the order, yet he received information on 
the morning of the 1st, when the movement of the corps was 
about to commence, that it was likely to result in a collision. 

On the side of the enemy, it would appear that General Lee 
had not expected a battle on this day. He had become aware 
that the Union army was much scattered, and he did not suppose 
that a small fragment of that army would dare to bring on an 
engagement. Lee's own account of it was this : " The leading 
division of Hill met the enemy in advance of Gettysburg on the 
morning of the 1st of July. Driving back these troops to within 



232 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. . 

a short distance of the town, he there encountered a large force, 
with which two of his divisions became engaged. Ewell, coming 
up with two of his divisions by the way of the Heidlersburg road, 
joined in the engagement." Moreover, it would appear that 
if either Lee or Meade had anticipated a battle, he would have 
beeo at the front to direct it. 

But though Meade was aware before the collision did actually 
occur, that it was likely to, he seems to have hoped, and indeed 
have confidently expected that the effect of his cautionary cir- 
cular would be to induce Reynolds to interpose only such resis- 
tance as became necessary to enable him to withdraw his corps 
in safety. To understand why Reynolds disappointed this hope, 
and by a stubborn stand in an offensive position, brought on a 
general engagement, several circumstances must be taken into 
the account. There appear to have been at this time at the 
head of the several army corps two classes of men, in temper and 
policy quite opposite to each other. The one class was for pushing 
forward, and attacking and fighting the enemy wherever he 
could be found, and never ceasing to manoeuvre and fight until 
a victory was gained. This party was totally opposed to falling 
back, but the rather intent on falling forward, and eagerly coun- 
selled against Pipe Creek, and in favor of Gettysburg. On the 
other hand, Meade seemed inclined to a cautious policy, in which 
he received countenance, and was at this moment anxious to take 
up a defensive position in the hope of inducing the enemy to 
attack and allow him to fight a purely defensive battle. That 
Reynolds was of the former class there can be no doubt. " When 
we crossed the river," says General Doubleday, " at Edwards' 
Perry, I rode on to Poolesville, and while waiting for the troops 
to come up, had a conversation with Reynolds. He was clearly 
of opinion that it was necessary to bring the enemy to battle as 
soon as possible. He wished to put an immediate stop to the 
plundering by the enemy of Pennsylvania farms and cities. He 
said if we gave them time by dilatory measures, or by taking up 
defensive positions, they would strip the State of everything. 
Hence he was in favor of striking them as soon as possible. He 
was really eager to get at them." 

But Reynolds was too true a soldier to disobey orders, however 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 233 

much lie may have differed in judgment from his chief, and 
though he must have known the temper and inward wish of that 
chief, he still had ample authority for pursuing the course he did. 
In the first place, the circular was only admonitory. The order 
of march for the day was absolute. That order carried Buford's 
cavalry, and the First and Eleventh corps to Gettysburg. The 
cavalry, which reached there first, had positive orders from Plea- 
santon to hold the town to the last extremity. Reynolds found 
upon his arrival the cavalry heavily engaged. There was no 
alternative but to go to its relief; and doubtless believing the 
position a good one from which to fight, immediately ordered up 
the three corps of the army under his command, well knowing 
that there were three other corps within supporting distance. 
But, besides the order carrying Reynolds to Gettysburg, he had 
certain discretionary powers as to bringing on a battle, if not 
directly conferred, at least implied. Among the instructions 
contained in the very order for the march of the army on this 
day are these : " The telegraph corps to work east from Hanover, 
repairing the line, and all commanders to work repairing the line 
in their vicinity between Gettysburg and Hanover. Staff officers 
report daily from each corps, and with orderlies to leave for 
orders. Prompt information to be sent into head-quarters at all 
times. All ready to move to the attack at any moment." In the 
circular to which frequent reference has been made, Meade says : 
" Developments may cause the Commanding General to assume 
the offensive from his present positions." And in a communica- 
tion to General Reynolds, dated on the very morning that the 
battle opened, in which Meade freely unbosoms himself and dis- 
closes how much trust and confidence he reposes in Reynolds, he 
says : " The Commanding General cannot decide whether it is 
his best policy to move to attack, until he learns something more 
definite of the point at which the enemy is concentrating. This 
he hopes to do during the day. Meanwhile he would like to 
have your views upon the subject, at least so far as concerns 
your position. ... If the enemy is concentrating in front of 
Gettysburg, or to the left of it, the General is not sufficiently 
well informed of the nature of the country to judge of its char- 
acter, either for an offensive or defensive position. . . . The 



234 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

General having just assumed command in obedience to orders, 
with the position of affairs leaving no time to learn the condition 
of the tinny as to morale and proportionate strength compared 
with its last return, would gladly receive from you any sugges- 
tions as to the points laid down in this note. He feels that you 
know more of the condition of the troops in your vicinity and of 
the country than he does." Thus, in three successive communi- 
cations that came to Reynolds, the last before opening the battle, 
and one of these in the form of a positive order for his guidance, 
Meade urges his troops to be ready to move to the attack at any 
moment, states that developments may cause him to assume the 
offensive from the present positions, and finally discloses his inde- 
cision, and frankly declares that Reynolds is better able to judge 
of affairs on that part of the field than he is himself. 

Reynolds, accordingly, opened the battle in earnest and sum- 
moned his troops, doubtless with the expectation that he would be 
promptly supported by all the army as fast as it could be brought 
up. What the result would have been had Reynolds lived, is 
impossible to divine. He had scarcely marshalled his first bat- 
talions before he was slain. The chief command upon, the field 
then devolved upon General Doubleday, which, for upwards of 
two hours he continued to exercise. It was during this time, 
and under his immediate direction, that the chief successes of the 
day were achieved, a large number of prisoners and standards 
having been captured in successive periods of the fight, and at 
widely separated parts of the field. To any one who will traverse 
the ground held by the First corps from ten in the morning until 
after four in the afternoon, will note the insignificance in the 
number of its guns and of its muskets, as compared with those 
of the two divisions of Hill and one of Ewell which opposed it, 
and will consider the triumphs won, and how every daring 
attempt of the enemy to gain the field was foiled, it must be 
evident that the manoeuvring of Doubleday was admirable, and 
that it stamps him as a corps leader of consummate excellence. 
For, mark how little equality of position he enjoyed, the opposing 
ridge and Oak Hill affording great advantage for the enemy's 
artillery, and how his own infantry stood upon open ground with 
no natural or artificial protection exce])t in a short distance upon 



FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 235 

his extreme right, where was a low stone wall. Where, in the 
whole history of the late war, is this skill and coolness of the 
commander, or this stubborn bravery of the troops, matched ? 

The chief losses of the day in killed, wounded, and prisoners 
occurred in the act of retiring to Cemetery Hill. In conducting 
this, General Howard was responsible. It was a difficult move- 
ment to execute. The whole country where the fighting of the 
first day occured, is so open that no movement could take place 
on the Union line that was not plainly visible from almost every 
part of the rebel line, affording ample opportunity to instantly 
checkmate any advantage in manoeuvre. At twenty minutes 
past three in the afternoon, about the time that the onset of 
Rodes upon the point of junction of the First and Eleventh corps 
had penetrated the Union line and was carrying back the flanks 
of both, Buford, who had been watching everything from the 
signal-station in the cupola of the Seminary, wrote the following 
message to Meade through Pleasanton : " I am satisfied Long- 
street and Hill have made a junction. A tremendous battle has 
been raging since half past nine A. M., with varying success. At 
the present moment the battle is raging on the road to Cashtown, 
and in short cannon range of this town ; the enemy's line is a 
semicircle on the height from north to west. General Reynolds 
was killed early this morning. In my opinion there seems to be 
no directing person." And then after his signature, he adds 
what doubtless seemed to his practical mind the cure-all for 
this trouble, " We need help now." 

To his practised eye the outlook appeared gloomy. The whole 
rebel army was now rapidly concentrating, and already swarming 
upon his immediate front, and there seemed wanting a controlling 
spirit on the field. It was doubtless apparent to him, as it 
now is to every careful observer, that the time for the prompt 
action of the commander upon the field was fast passing, if not 
already gone. If, when Howard found that he was no longer 
able to hold his advanced position, he had ordered some demon- 
strations on different parts of the field, and planting some pieces 
to have commanded the main thoroughfares over which his 
troops should retire, had withdrawn the two corps before the 
enemy advanced in overwhelming numbers and compelled him 



236 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to go back, it is probable that he might have rescued the greater 
portion of his men who were eventually engulfed in the streets 
of the town, and were swept back as prisoners, and have saved 
many who were killed and wounded. 

Howard is without excuse for holding out so long, when the 
evidence was spread out on all sides before his eyes, that the 
enemy was coming down upon him with resistless power. Some 
time before his forces were driven back, Doubleday sent his 
Adjutant-general, Halsted, to Cemetery Hill, to implore him 
either to send reinforcements from Steinwehr's division, or else 
order the hard-pressed troops at the front to fall back. Halsted 
pointed out to him the advance of vastly superior forces on all 
sides, which he could plainly discern through his field glass. 
But Howard even then refused to order a retreat, and said to 
Halsted : " You may find Buford and use him," although Buford 
had been fighting from early morning, and was still engaged. 
It seems that Howard, at a council of corps commanders held 
at Chancellorsville just before the army retired across the river, 
voted to remain and fight, giving as a reason that the misconduct 
of his corps forced him always to vote for assaulting, whether 
it was the best thing to be done or not. That senseless policy 
appeared to influence him here, and the troops of both corps had 
to pay the penalty of his temerity. The commander of the 
First corps, according to his sworn statement, never received any 
orders to fall back, and it is a noticeable circumstance confirming 
this, that the First corps was the last to leave the ground, and it 
seems almost miraculous that it was brought off in tolerable 
order, and with insignificant loss in prisoners. 

The idea has been advanced that the fighting on this first day 
constitutes no part of the Battle of Gettj'sburg. General Sickles 
says, " We in the army do not regard the operations of the two 
corps under General Reynolds as properly the Battle of Gettys- 
burg. We regard the operations of Thursday and Friday, when 
the whole army was concentrated, as the Battle of Gettysburg." 
But wherefore ? Did not Reynolds fall in the Battle of Gettys- 
burg ? Are the dead who there perished to be despoiled of their 
part in that great victory ? Shall the works and watchings of 
Buford be turned into nothingness ? Is the matchless heroism of 



FIBST BAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 237 

that First coryjs on that blood-washed field to count for nought in 
the final winning? Shall Doubleday, and Howard, and Stein- 
wehr, have no credit for taking and holding that impregnable 
fortress on Cemetery Hill, where the battle was finished ? Is the 
taking up and fortifying that ground no part of that great 
struggle ? Ay ! rather was the fighting of that first day, and 
the planting immovable footsteps on the fastnesses of Ceme- 
tery Hill, The Battle of Gettysburg. As well might it be 
said that the fight made by the gallant Sickles himself, and 
the glorious Third corps, baptized in blood as it was, con- 
stitutes no part of the battle. As well might the struggles 
of McCook and Johnson, and Davis and Sheridan, and Rosseau 
and Negley be gainsayed in the Battle of Stone River ; or the 
opening of the contest by Hooker in the Battle of Antietam. 
No, no ! The glories of that battle cannot be divided, and 
apportioned, and parcelled. They are parts of one great whole. 
Who knows of the battle of Oak Ridge ! How does it become 
the mouth to say that Reynolds fell at the battle of Willoughby 
Run ! 

Is it asserted that the army was not all up on that first 
day ? Neither were they all up on the second or the third. That 
glorious company who had gone down in the fight, and who, 
could they have been more promptly and cordially supported, 
might have been saved to come, were not up. Is it said that 
the leader himself was not present? His orders had carried 
those troops upon that ground and involved them in the fight, 
and any honors which were there finally gained are due to the 
stubborn execution of those orders. Side by side on the now 
peaceful hillside, in order indiscriminate, lie the victims of that 
immortal field, reminding the pilgrim as he treads lightly by, 
that they are all the slain in the Battle of Gettysburg. 



CHAPTER X 



MARSHALLING FOR THE SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 




UT where, during all this long day of carnage, was 
the rest of the army ? Why were these two feeble 
corps left from early morn, until the evening 
shadows began to set, to be jostled and torn 
without succor? Were there no troops within 
call ? Was not the very air laden with the terri- 
ble sounds of the fray ? Was not the clangor of 
the enemy's guns more persuasive than the sum- 
mon of staff officer ? 

The order of General Meade for the march of 
the several corps of the army on the 1st would 
carry the Third corps to Emmittsburg. But Gen- 
eral Sickles says in his testimony, that he had 
reached Emmittsburg on the night of the 30th. This place is ten 
miles from Gettysburg. The Third corps had been placed under 
the command of Reynolds as the leader of the right wing of the 
army, and he had sent a staff officer on the morning of the 1st, 
to summon it forward. It had no farther to march than had 
Howard's corps, and following the course that Howard went — 
the by-way leading to the Taneytown road — not so great a dis- 
tance. But Sickles had that morning received the circular of 
Meade, indicating the purpose to concentrate on Pipe Creek, 
though containing no order. It was his plain duty, therefore, to 
have responded, had the message reached him, to the call of Rey- 
nolds. But to this he seems to have paid no attention. In his 
testimony, Sickles says : " I was giving my troops a little repose 
during that morning. . . . Between two and three o'clock in the 
afternoon, I got a dispatch from General Howard, at Gettysburg, 
informing me that the First and Eleventh corps had been engaged 
during the day with a superior force of the enemy, and that Gen- 

238 




ayo 




MAJ. i ':gock. 



MARSHALLING FOR SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 239 

eral Reynolds had fallen ; that he (Howard) was in command, 
and was very hard pressed, and urging me in the most earnest 
terms to come to his relief with what force I could. I, of course, 
considered the question very anxiously. My preliminary orders 
in going to Gettysburg were to go there and hold that position 
with my corps, as it was regarded as a very important flanking 
position, to cover our rear and line of communication." In this 
testimony, Sickles ignores the early summons of Reynolds, which 
a staff officer, Captain Rosengarten, asserts was sent by an aid 
with great dispatch and immediately after Reynolds had reached 
the front. But Sickles says, " My preliminary orders in going to 
Gettysburg." Is this a misprint in the testimony, and should it 
read Emmittsburg ? If Gettysburg, then to what order does he 
refer ? General Meade had given no such order. If Gettysburg, 
he must refer to an order which he had received from Reynolds, 
which he disobeyed, probably allowing the circular of Meade, 
which had no binding effect, and which bore that declaration 
in so many words on its face, to override it. But when, be- 
tween two and three o'clock he received the summons of How- 
ard, he concluded to respond to it. Moreover, it would seem that 
besides the order of Reynolds and the appeal of Howard, other 
messages had reached Sickles before he decided to go to Gettys- 
burg. An article, published in the " Rebellion Record," vol. viii., 
page 346, contains this statement : " Besides numerous reports, 
the following brief communication reached him [Sickles], which 
accidentally fell into my hands : 'July 1, Gettysburg. General 
Sickles : General Doubleday [First corps] says, For God's sake, 
come up with all speed, they are pressing us hard. H. T. Lee, 
Lieut, A. D. C.' " 

It is but justice to Sickles, however, to say, that when he had 
once decided to go, he moved rapidly, and that his character as a 
soldier, established on many a bloody field, was never to shun 
a fight. He was among the few officers in the army who evi- 
dently relished one. He says : " I therefore moved to Gettys- 
burg on my own responsibility. I made a forced march, and 
arrived there about the time that General Howard had taken 
position on Cemetery Hill. I found his troops well posted in a 
secure position on the ridge. The enemy, in the meanwhile, had 



240 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

not made any serious attack upon him during my march." The 
concluding statement is a mistake, as the time between two and 
five o'clock marked the most severe and disastrous struggle of 
the day. 

The Twelfth corps, according to Meade's programme, was to 
march from Littlestown, ten miles from Gettysburg, to Two 
Taverns, which would bring it within five miles of the battle- 
field, four and a quarter from Cemetery Hill. The inarch was 
commenced at six in the morning, and, after passing Two Tav- 
erns, a line of battle was formed. The following is from the 
diary of an officer who commanded a regiment in Kane's brigade : 
" July 1st, marched at six A. m., a short distance; passed Two 
Taverns ; formed line of battle ; heavy firing in front ; a report 
that the First and Eleventh corps are engaged with the enemy." 
The enemy's Whitworth gun could have sent a bolt nearly this 
distance. The smoke from the field must have been plainly 
visible. The roar of the battle was constantly resounding. But 
here the corps remained idle during the whole day. 

It is the first duty of a soldier to obey the orders of his supe- 
riors. " All inferiors are required to obey strictly and to execute 
with alacrity and good faith, the lawful orders of the superiors 
appointed over them." This is the fundamental principle of 
military discipline, the foundation stone on which the whole 
superstructure of an army rests. The order was to move from 
Littlestown to Two Taverns, and, moreover, there was the inti- 
mation from General Meade that he desired, in case any part of 
the army was attacked, that it should hold the enemy in check 
until it could fall back on the line of battle selected. 

But notwithstanding all this, there is enough in the orders and 
circulars of Meade to have warranted General Slocum in moving 
up to the support of these distressed corps. In his order for 
July 1st, Meade enjoins upon his officers to be at all times pre- 
pared, " all ready to move to the attack at any moment." In his 
circular proposing the concentration on Pipe Creek, he says : 
"Developments may cause the Commanding General to assume 
the offensive from his present positions." The order issued to 
the commander of the Fifth corps, at seven o'clock on the evening 
of the 1st, is in these words : " The Major-General commanding 



MARSHALLING FOB SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 241 

directs that you move up to Gettysburg at once upon receipt of 
this order, if not already ordered to do so by General Slocum. 
The present prospect is, that our general engagement must be 
there. Communicate with General Slocum, under Avhose direc- 
tions you are placed by the orders of this morning. The General 
had supposed that General Slocum would have ordered you up." 
From all this it would seem that General Meade anticipated, that 
if the forces in advance were attacked, any corps within support- 
ing distance would go to their assistance ; that it would act upon 
the Napoleonic principle, " March to the sound of the enemy's 
guns." Indeed, the order to the Fifth corps indicates clearly 
that Meade not only expected that Slocum himself would move 
up, but that he would have ordered the Fifth corps forward. It 
appears that Slocum did finally move on his own responsibility, 
but not until the fighting was over ; for Hancock, in his testi- 
mony, says : " General Slocum arrived about six or seven o'clock. 
His troops were in the neighborhood, for they apparently had 
been summoned up before I arrived, by General Howard possibly, 
as well as the Third corps." But why so tardy in his move- 
ments ? It is of little moment at what hour Howard summoned 
him, if he summoned him at all. The guns of the foe had been 
sounding the call all the day long. A fifteen minutes' ride would 
have carried him to Cemetery Hill, where he could have over- 
looked the whole field, or by his staff he could have held almost 
momentary communication with the front. 

The Fifth corps had marched on the 30th through Liberty, 
Union Bridge, and Uniontown, and had encamped for the night 
two miles beyond the latter place. It moved at five o'clock on 
the morning of the 1st, and at two in the afternoon halted near 
the Pennsylvania State line. At dark the march was resumed, 
and not until two of the following morning was the column 
halted, having passed through Hanover, to which place the order 
of Meade carried it, Mc Sherry stown, and Brushtown, between 
which and the field it bivouacked. This corps was therefore 
beyond call, unless it could have been put upon a more direct 
route than that by Hanover. 

The Second corps, General Hancock, rested at Uniontown 
during the 30th, and on the morning of the 1st moved up to 

16 



242 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Taney town, arriving there at eleven o'clock, where were General 
Meade's headquarters. This place was fourteen miles away, 
and this corps was therefore not available. 

The Sixth corps, General Sedgwick, the only remaining one, 
was at Manchester, thirty-four miles away. 

Intelligence did not reach Meade of the fighting at Gettysburg 
until after noon. In his testimony he says : " The moment I 
received this information, I directed Major-General Hancock, 
who was with me at the time, to proceed without delay to the 
scene of the contest; and having in view this preliminary order 
[circular] which I had issued to him, as well as to other corps 
commanders, I directed him to make an examination of the 
ground in the neighborhood of Gettysburg, and to report to me, 
without loss of time, the facilities, and advantages and disadvan- 
tages of that ground for receiving battle. I furthermore instructed 
him that in case, upon his arrival at Gettysburg — a place which 
I had never seen in my life, and had no more knowledge of than 
you have now — he should find the position unsuitable and the 
advantages on the side of the enemy, he should examine the 
ground critically as he went out there, and report to me the 
nearest position in the immediate neighborhood of Gettysburg 
where a concentration of the army would be more advantageous 
than at Gettysburg." This order was issued to General Hancock 
at ten minutes past one, p. m., of the 1st. It would seem from 
the reference to his preliminary circular that General Meade 
had been confidently anticipating a mere checking of the enemy's 
advance at Gettysburg, and a final concentration either upon 
Pipe Creek or upon some intermediate position, where his army 
could all be brought up and marshalled before the work of battle 
should begin. In that circular the details of the whole move- 
ment Avere sketched, and that evening would have brought to 
each corps an order for the march in accordance therewith, had 
not the battle been precipitated. For the execution of such a 
movement, his headquarters at Taneytown were in the right 
position. It is upon the supposition that he entertained a con- 
fident expectation that this movement would be finally executed, 
that we can explain his refusal to go earlier to the field himself, 
and that he delayed so long the sending anyone to represent him. 



MARSHALLING FOR SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 243 

To this cherished purpose of Meade, his Chief of staff, General 
Butterfield, was strongly opposed. Against the original issue of 
the circular he had exerted his influence both with Meade, and 
also with officers high in command, who had the latter's confi- 
dence. And now, as General Hancock was about to proceed to 
the front, clothed with ample powers to act, Butterfield urged tlie 
importance of a forward rather than a retrograde movement. In 
his testimony he says : " Before General Hancock left for Gettys- 
burg, I stated to him my views of the matter. I told him that I 
hoped as he was vested with this authority, he would not, if 
circumstances were such that it could be avoided, have the army 
fall back ; that I thought the effect upon the morale of the army 
would be bad." Leaping into an ambulance, that he might 
have an opportunity to consult his maps, Hancock went forward. 
Warren, Chief of engineers, upon information received from 
Buford that the enemy were moving down upon him from the 
direction of Fairfield, had been sent by Meade, some time earlier 
to Gettysburg to examine the ground. It appears, besides, that 
before he started, news had come that Keynolds had been killed. 
This would indicate that Meade was kept well informed through- 
out the day of what was passing at the front. As he was only 
fourteen miles away, an hour and a half would suffice to bring 
him intelligence, or have carried him upon the field. Warren 
mistook his road and went by the way of Emmittsburg. He 
arrived upon the field shortly after Hancock, and they were soon 
joined by Sickles of the Third corps, and Slocum of the Twelfth. 
The presence of so many corps commanders was hailed with satis- 
faction. It gave assurance that their troops were on the way, 
and that the brave men who had battled heroically through that 
terrible day were not to be wholly abandoned to their fate. 

General Hancock in his testimony says : " I found that, prac- 
tically, the fight was then over. The rear of our columns, with 
the enemy in pursuit, was then coining through the town of 
Gettysburg." If such was the fact, it must have been between 
four and five o'clock when he arrived. By virtue of his order 
from Meade he at once assumed command on the field, though he 
was outranked by both Howard and Sickles, and had they resisted 
his assumption he would have found himself powerless. Upon 



244 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

this point General Hancock says : " However, I did not feel much 
embarrassment about it, because I was an older soldier than 
either of them. But I knew that legally it was not proper, and 
that if they chose to resist it, it might become a troublesome 
matter to me for the time being." 

• He proceeded to post the troops as they came up, accepting the 
general disposition of Howard. General Geary of the Twelfth 
corps, who had come on in advance of General Slocum, was posted 
upon the high ground towards Round Top. " The enemy," says 
Hancock, "evidently believing that we were reinforced, or that 
our whole army was there, discontinued their great efforts. . . . 
There was firing of artillery and skirmishing all along the front, 
but that was the end of the day's battle." Soon after arriving, 
Hancock informed Meade that he could hold the ground until 
dark, and at twenty-five minutes past five he sent the following 
despatch : " When I arrived here an hour since, I found that our 
troops had given up the front of Gettysburg and the town. We 
have now taken up a position in the Cemetery, which cannot 
well be taken ; it is a position, however, easily turned. Slocum 
is now coming on the ground, and is taking position on the right. 
But we have as yet no troops on the left, the Third corps not 
having yet reported; but I suppose that it is marching up. If so, 
his flank march will in a degree protect our left flank. In the 
meantime, Gibbon [in whose command the Second corps had been 
left] had better march on so as to take position on our right or 
left to our rear as may be necessary, in some commanding posi- 
tion. . . . The battle is quiet now. I think we shall be all right 
until night. I have sent all the trains back. When night comes 
it can be told better what had best be done. I think we can 
retire; if not we can fight here, as the ground appears not 
unfavorable with good troops." 

Soon after sending this note, General Hancock turned over the 
command to General Slocum, who had now arrived, who out- 
ranked him, and to whom he had been instructed before leaving 
headquarters to deliver it, and returned to Taneytown. Before 
his arrival, Meade, acting upon the information he had received, 
had decided to fight at Gettysburg, and had sent out orders to 
all the corps to march for that place. To Sedgwick, who had the 



MARSHALLING FOR SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 245 

largest corps, and was farthest away, frequent messengers were 
dispatched at intervals through the night, urging him to hasten 
his march with all practicable speed. His trains he ordered 
back to Westminster, and here he established his base of supply, 
a railroad leading to this place being utilized for the purpose. 
Having thus set his whole army in motion, he broke up his head- 
quarters at Taney town at a little before midnight, and pushed 
forward to Gettysburg. It was one o'clock on the morning of the 
2d of July before he arrived upon the field. The centre of the 
line passed through the Cemetery, and the soldiers who had 
battled through the fearful day were sleeping amid the graves. 
As the numerous cavalcade entered the place of the dead, and 
now of the living also, the sleepers started up as if in resurrected 
forms, but quickly settled back to their slumbers, overcome by 
the weariness that was oppressing them. 

While these things were passing in the Union camps, what was 
transpiring in the rebel ? Lee, as well as Meade, had not been 
present during the fighting of the first day. He also arrived at 
the front during the night, and vigorously addressed himself to 
the task of preparing his army to continue the battle. As we 
have already seen, he had promised his Lieutenants, before leav- 
ing Virginia, that he would not fight an offensive battle. But 
the game had been precipitated in his absence, and it was noAV 
difficult to decline the wager. The result of that day's work 
had, on the whole, been encouraging to him. Though he had 
lost some prisoners he had captured more, and though he had 
suffered grievously in killed and wounded, he had likewise in- 
flicted severe losses upon the Union corps, which he had driven 
from their position. He had also gained possession of the field, 
and of the town with all its network of ways. He says in his 
report : " The attack was not pressed that afternoon, the enemy's 
force being unknown, and it being considered advisable to await 
the arrival of the rest of the troops. Orders were sent back to 
hasten their inarch, and in the mean time every effort was made 
to ascertain the number and positions of the enemy, and find 
the most favorable point of attack. It had not been intended to 
fight a battle at such a distance from our base, unless attacked 
by the enemy ; but finding ourselves unexpectedly confronted by 



046 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Federal army, it became a matter of difficulty to withdraw 
through the mountains with our large trains. At the same time 
the country was unfavorable for collecting supplies, while in the 
presence of the enemy's main body, as he was enabled to restrain 
our foraging parties by occupying the passes of the mountains 
with regular and local troops. A battle thus became, in a mea- 
sure, unavoidable. Encouraged by the successful issue of the 
engagement of the first day, and in view of the valuable results 
that would ensue from the defeat of the army of General Meade, 
it was thought advisable to renew the attack." 

He could not reasonably have expected to invade the North, 
and make a campaign in an enemy's country without fighting 
whenever occasion offered. He could hardly have been so credu- 
lous as to have indulged the hope of moving at his own sweet 
will to despoil and ravage, of flitting from city to city and mak- 
ing requisitions upon a defenseless people, unopposed. His army, 
moreover, was full of fight, and now more than ever believed 
itself invincible. It is true that it was forced to acknowledge 
that the Army of the Potomac had never been known to fight so 
stubbornly before as on this day ; but the assurance of all was 
unshaken. Prof. Jacobs, who was a citizen of Gettysburg, and 
was at his home throughout the mighty throes of the conflict, in 
his hand-book of the battle, says : " The portion of Rodes' division 
which lay down before our dwelling for the night, was greatly 
elated with the results of the first day's battle, and the same may 
be said of the whole rebel army. They were anxious to engage 
in conversation — to communicate their views and feelings, and to 
elicit ours. They were boastful of themselves, of their cause, and 
of the skill of their officers ; and were anxious to tell us of the 
unskilful manner in which some of our officers had conducted 
the fight which had just closed. When informed that General 
Archer and 1500 of his men had been captured, they said, ' To- 
morrow we will take all these back again ; and having already 
taken 5000 (!) prisoners of you to-day, we will take the balance 
of your men to-morrow.' Having been well fed, provisioned, and 
rested, and successful on this day, their confidence knew no 
bounds. They felt assured that they should be able, with perfect 
ease, to cut up our army in detail, — fatigued as it was by long 



MARSHALLING FOR SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 247 

marches and yet scattered, for only two corps had as yet arrived. 
Resting under this impression, they lay down joyfully on the 
night of the first day." 

With soldiers impelled by such feeling, Lee could not well 
withhold battle when thrust in his face. Besides, his pride as a 
soldier would not allow him now to show a timid front. Mr. 
S win ton very justly remarks upon this point : " What really 
compelled Lee, contrary to his intent and promise, to give battle, 
was the animus and inspiration of the invasion ; for, to the end, 
such were the ' exsufflicate and blown surmises ' of the army, and 
such was the contempt of its opponent engendered by Fredericks- 
burg and Chancellorsville, that there was not in his ranks a bare- 
foot soldier in tattered gray but believed Lee would lead the 
Confederate army into Baltimore and Washington, if not into 
Philadelphia and New York. To have withdrawn, therefore, 
without a battle, though materially easy, was morally impossible ; 
for to have recrossed the Potomac without a blow, and abandoned 
the invasion on which such towering hopes had been built, would 
have been a shock beyond endurance to his army and the South." 

The leaders of both armies being now on the field, and both 
having decided to fight there, we may well conclude that they 
were deeply solicitous and busy in maturing their plans. Gen- 
eral Lee established his headquarters at the little stone house of 
Mrs. Thompson, on the right of the Chambersburg road, where 
it crosses Seminary Ridge. The rebel army consisted of nine 
divisions, as already noticed. Of the three under Ewell, two, 
Rodes' and Early's, had been in the first day's conflict. The 
other, Johnson's, did not arrive until the fighting was over, and 
too late to assist in renewing it, which was contemplated. This 
corps was posted on the rebel left, Rodes' division occupying 
Middle street, the crest of the eminence on which the town is 
built, and extending to the Seminary Ridge, Early taking position 
next, stretching through the eastern part of the town, and upon 
his left was Johnson. Hill's corps was formed upon the right of 
E well's, the point of junction forming almost a right-angle, with 
Heth upon the left, Anderson upon the right, and Pender in the 
centre, Heth and Pender having sustained the brunt of the hard 
fighting of the first day. Upon the right of Hill, and joining 



248 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Anderson, were two divisions of Longstreet's corps, McLaw's first, 
and next him Hood's. These two divisions of Longstreet en- 
camped during the night of the 1st within three miles of Gettys- 
burg on the Chambersburg road, and hence did not get into posi- 
tion until late in the forenoon of the 2d. Longstreet's third 
division, Pickett's, did not come up until the 3d. Thus the 
entire rebel infantry, with the exception of this last division, was 
practically on the field ready for action early on the morning of 
the 2d, and had not been worn by long marches. 

The Union army, in this particular, was less fortunate. For 
two days the corps had been stretching away at their best move- 
ment to overtake the enemy before he should cross the Susque- 
hanna, and now they had imposed the added duty of a sudden 
and unlooked-for concentration upon the very extremity of a line 
over thirty miles in length. General Meade, soon after coming 
upon the field, took up his headquarters at a little frame house 
on the Taney town road, just in rear of, and to the south of 
Zeigler's Grove. It was sheltered from infantry fire by the swell 
in the ground, but much exposed to artillery, as the sequel 
proved. As soon as it was light, Meade was in the saddle, and 
proceeded to examine the ground and to post his forces. Gen- 
eral Howard, with what was left of his corps, was directed to 
remain upon the Cemetery Hill to the right and left of the Balti- 
more pike. His men were sheltered by the stone walls and 
houses about the foot of the hill, upon the summit of which 
Steinwehr had planted his guns. Upon Howard's right was 
Wadsworth's division of the First corps, which held the western 
section of the wooded, and towards the enemy, precipitous and 
rocky Culp's Hill. To the right of Wadsworth the Twelfth 
corps, General Slocum, was assigned, and a portion of it was in 
position that night. Geary's division had, however, been brought 
upon the field late in the afternoon, and two brigades of it posted 
in the neighborhood of Round Top, on the extreme left. Two 
divisions of the First corps, which had been led in the fight of 
the previous day with so much gallantry by Doubleday, Rowley's 
and Robinson's, were held in reserve in rear of Cemetery Hill. 
The Second corps, General Hancock, which had been in bivouac 
three miles from the field on the Taneytown road during the 



MARSHALLING FOB SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 249 

night, arrived early in the morning, and was placed to the left 
of Howard, its line stretching along the crest of Cemetery Ridge 
from Zeigler's Grove, where its right rested, in the direction of 
the Round Tops. 

The Third corps, General Sickles, as it arrived on the evening 
of the 1st, was massed for the night to the left of the Eleventh 
corps. Two brigades of this corps and two batteries were left at 
Emmittsburg to guard that line, but were relieved during the 
night and arrived at the front at about day-break. A singular 
adventure occurred to the division of General Humphreys, while 
upon this march. It was after four o'clock in the afternoon be- 
fore he started from Emmittsburg. He took the road running 
nearly two miles to the west of the main road, and moved up 
upon that flank. Having been cautioned by a note from Howard 
against running into the enemy as he approached the field, Gen- 
eral Humphreys, when about half way to Gettysburg, desired to 
move over to the east, and thus avoid that ground where the 
enemy was known to be ; but Colonel Hayden, who had been 
sent as guide, insisted that Sickles had directed him to conduct 
the column by the way leading to the Black Horse tavern, the 
very ground where the enemy lay. Humphreys unwillingly 
consented to move on, but ordered the column to close up, and 
directed the men to move silently as they approached the neigh- 
borhood of Gettysburg. At midnight he suddenly found himself 
confronting the enemy in his camps. " We found," says Hum- 
phreys, " that the enemy were posted there in force. They were 
not aware of my presence, and I might have attacked them at 
daylight with the certainty of at least temporary success ; but I 
was three miles distant from the remainder of the army, and 
I believed such a course would have been inconsistent with the 
general plan of operations of the Commanding General. As soon 
as I found what was the exact condition of things, I retraced my 
steps, and moved my command by the route I have already indi- 
cated, bivouacking near Gettysburg about one A. m. on the 2d of 
July. ... It shows what can be done by accident. If any one 
had been directed to take a division to the rear of the enemy's 
army and get up as close as I did unperceived, it would have been 
thought exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to do it." 



250 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In the morning General Geary's division, which had remained 
during the night near Hound Top, was ordered over to Culp's 
Hill, where the rest of the Twelfth corps was in position, the 
Third corps was moved out farther to the left to the ground 
which had been occupied by Geary, and the Second corps was 
interposed between the Third and the Eleventh. 

The Fifth corps as it arrived was held in reserve in rear of 
Cemetery Hill, but was eventually moved over to the extreme 
left occupying the Round Tops and supporting the Third corps. 
The Sixth corps, General Sedgwick, not getting upon the march 
until eight o'clock on the evening of the 1st, coming by the way 
of Westminster, and having thirty-four miles to move, did not 
arrive on the field until two in the afternoon of the 2d. It was 
held in reserve, for the most part, in rear of the left flank. 

The general form of the line thus established and which, 
though varied somewhat in the course of the fight, was finally 
settled down upon, has been compared by De Peyster to a Limer- 
ick fish-hook. The head, where the cord is attached, is exactly 
represented by the Round Tops. The point is at the easterly 
extremity of Culp's Hill, where is Spangler's Spring. The centre 
of the curve is represented by the Cemetery Hill, where the dead 
of the battle now repose, and directly opposite the town. The 
short curve from the point to the centre of the curve of the 
hook is one and three-fourths miles; the long curve or shank, two 
and three-fourths. Oak, or Seminary Ridge, along which the 
enemy's right lay, is opposite the shank and at a distance of 
from a mile to a mile and a half away. Opposite the Cemetery 
Hill the rebel line left Seminary Hill, passing through the town 
and resting upon Benner's Hill opposite Culp's Hill. If the 
position of the cavalry upon the two flanks be included, the 
length of the Union line was over five miles, and that of the 
enemy, forming the segment of a concentric circle, over seven. 

In rear of the Union line were the Taneytown and Baltimore 
pikes, connected by cross roads, which afforded admirable means 
for moving troops and guns quickly from one part of the line to 
another, thus offering all the advantages in this respect which 
could have been enjoyed by holding the town itself. On one of 
these cross roads was parked the reserve artillery. To complete 



MARSHALLING FOB SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 251 

the requirements of a fortified camp, in rear of Cemetery Hill, are 
Power's and McAllister's Hills, gentle eminences, on which were 
planted powerful batteries to protect the reserve artillery, and 
which were eventually used to admirable advantage, in driving- 
back the enemy upon the right flank. 

After examining the field, General Meade decided to assume 
the offensive, and to attack from his right. The enemy's position 
was here plainly visible, and his line at several points appeared 
to be vulnerable. Opposite the Union left, the enemy's move- 
ments were screened by a curtain of wood, and to attack directly 
on that side would have necessitated a movement over a long 
stretch of perfectly open ground, where the advancing troops 
would have been raked from front and flanks by interminable lines 
of the enemy's guns. Meade's intention was to use the Twelfth, 
Fifth, and Sixth corps for the attacking column. But the latter 
corps was still upon the inarch, and would not reach the field 
for several hours. He accordingly ordered General Slocum, who 
was to lead the assault, to prepare to move with his own and the 
Fifth corps. 

But to any one who has been on the ground, or who has 
regarded attentively an intelligible description of it, the difficulty 
of moving troops, and the impossibility of taking artillery forward 
from that flank will be apparent, and when once out upon the open 
ground it will be observed how every rood is commanded from emi- 
nences on all sides. Slocum, after making a careful study of the 
position, reported that he did not think that an attack would have 
promise of success, which opinion was concurred in by Warren, 
who had been sent by Meade for the purpose of examining it, 
and the design was abandoned. It is not apparent why Meade 
should ever have thought of attacking from that flank ; for had 
he driven the enemy he would have encountered a great obstacle 
at the town itself; and had he driven him to Seminary Ridge, 
he would have been attacking him in an exceedingly strong 
position, thus reversing the Battle of Gettysburg. Besides, had 
the enemy been driven from this stronghold, he would have 
been pushed over upon the left flank of the Union army, the most 
dangerous and menacing position into which he could have been 
forced, as he would have been nearing his base, and been getting 



252 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

upon direct lines to Washington, which would have inevitably 
forced the Union leader into a change of base. No more encour- 
aging outlook was presented from the left centre. Upon the 
extreme left was wooded, rugged ground, which also presented 
obstacles to an attack. 

It appears, from the testimony of several officers high in com- 
mand, that the mind of General Meade at this juncture was 
much exercised. He had concentrated his army within a very 
small compass. Should he remain inactive the enemy might, by 
keeping up a show of strength upon his front, flank him upon the 
left, and gain a great advantage over him. Indeed the very ex- 
cellence of his position for defence was in itself a weighty argu- 
ment for believing that the enemy would decline the offer of 
battle, and seek by adroit manoeuvring, to turn the Union army 
out of its stronghold. Military critics have descanted with much 
warmth upon Lee's lack of skill and judgment in making a direct 
attack upon Meade in this formidable position. "With the groans 
of the victims of Malvern Hill," says De Peyster, " repeating in 
thunder tones the condemnation of Magruder, Lee exposed him- 
self to a severer judgment for a greater act of reckless disregard 
of the commonest military — and common — sense. He had heard 
the whole world resound with the censure heaped upon Burnside 
for giving into his hand to work his will upon it, the army of the 
Potomac, wasted in attempting to storm the heights of Fred- 
ericks! >urg, and yet he imitated the action. The French military 
critic, Roussillon, remarks, 'Lee, like Burnside at Fredericksburg, 
committed the fault of attacking in front, a position at once very 
strong in itself and vigorously defended.' . . . Imagine the effect 
of a similar turning movement on the part of Lee. It would not 
only have placed him upon the roads constituting our lines of 
supplies, and have given him the major part of our trains, but 
have planted him between the Northern army of succor and 
Washington and Baltimore. In other words, it would have 
delivered up everything in the rear of the army of the Potomac 
into the hands of the rebels." 

What these critics censure Lee for not doing, Meade, during the 
ominous stillness of that long summer day, strongly suspected he 
was doing. Hence when he found by the report of Slocum and 



MARSHALLING FOR SECOND DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 253 

his own observations that he was in a bad position for assuming 
the offensive, he appears to have been casting about for a more 
favorable outlook, and, in case he found that the enemy was 
seeking to turn his position, that he might be in condition to 
defend himself, and prevent his trains and base from being cut 
off. Accordingly, as soon as his Chief of staff, General Butter- 
field, who had been left at Taney town during the night to hasten 
the march of the Sixth corps, arrived at headquarters, he was 
directed to prepare an order for the withdrawal of the army from 
this position, should circumstances render it necessary. Butter- 
field objected that he was unacquainted with the location of the 
different divisions and corps of the army with relation to the 
roads it would be proper for them to take, and would need to 
go over the field first. Meade replied that he could not wait 
for that ; and to remove the objection made a draft of the field, 
showing the position of all the troops, and the roads in their 
vicinity. With this, and by the aid of maps, Butterfield drew 
the order, which, on being shown to Meacle, received his 
approval. As it was of the greatest importance that in case 
it was issued, it should be accurate, permission was obtained 
from Meade to show it to corps commanders, to solicit any 
suggestions they might make for improving it. It was shown 
to General Gibbon, among others. On seeing it, he was struck 
with astonishment, exclaiming : " Great God ! General Meade 
does not intend to leave this position ? " inferring that the order 
had been drawn with the intention of issuing it. The prepara- 
tion of this ortler rests upon the testimony of Butterfield. 
General Meade testified that he had no recollection of directing 
it to be drawn, or of having seen it after it was drawn, but 
that he only ordered his Chief of staff to familiarize himself with 
the location of the troops, so that if in any contingency he 
should need to issue such an order, it could be readily prepared. 
That preparations were made for executing this order is sup- 
ported by the following instructions promulgated by Meade, at 
or before ten o'clock on the morning of the 2d : " The staff 
officers on duty at headquarters will inform themselves of the 
positions of the various corps — their artillery, infantry, and 
trains — sketch them with a view to roads, and report them 



254 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

immediately, as follows : Third corps, Colonel Sch river ; Second 
corps, Lieutenant Colonel Davis ; First corps, Lieutenant Perkins ; 
Twelfth corps, Lieutenant Oliver ; Fifth corps, Captain Cadwal- 
ader. It is desired to know the roads on or near which the 
troops are, and where the trains lie, in view of movements in any 
direction, and to be familiar with the headquarters of the com- 
manders." 

It is, therefore, of small moment whether the order was 
actually prepared or not. Nor is it any disparagement to 
General Meade, if the order was prepared and approved by him. 
As a precautionary measure it was eminently proper, and instead 
of being imputed to him as a reproach, should be, in view of the 
uncertainty as to the designs of the enemy, accredited as an act 
of wise generalship. That it was merely a precautionary mea- 
sure is clearly apparent from the following dispatch sent to 
General Halleck, at three o'clock in the afternoon : " I have to- 
day, up to this hour, awaited the attack of the enemy, I having a 
strong position for defence. I am not determined as yet in 
attacking him till his position is more developed. He has been 
moving on both my flanks apparently, but it is difficult to tell 
exactly his movements. I have delayed attacking to allow the 
Sixth corps and parts of other corps to reach this place, and to 
rest the men. Expecting a battle I ordered all my trains to the 
rear. If not attacked, and I can get any positive information of 
the position of the enemy which will justify me in so doing, I shall 
attack. If I find it hazardous to do so, or am satisfied the enemy 
is endeavoring to move to my rear, and interpose between me 
and Washington, I shall fall back to my supplies at Westminster. 
I will endeavor to advise you as often as possible. In the 
engagement yesterday the enemy concentrated more rapidly than 
we could, and towards evening, owing to the superiority of 
numbers, compelled the First and Eleventh corps to fall back 
from the town to the heights on this side, on which I am posted. 
I feel fully the responsibility resting on me, and will endeavor to 
act with caution." 



CHAPTER XI. 



SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 




HEN, upon the night of the 1st, General Sickles 
had brought his corps upon the field, he had 
thrown out the Sixty-third Pennsylvania regi- 
ment to picket along the Emmittsburg pike, its 
left covering the cross-road leading from the 
Peach Orchard to Little Round Top. Early on 
the morning of the 2d, this regiment was pushed 
forward upon the skirmish line to a fence running 
parallel with the pike, in rear of Joseph Sherfy's 
house. As early as nine o'clock in the morning, 
fire was opened upon this regiment, and a com- 
pany of sharp-shooters was sent out to feel the 
enemy in a piece of wood in front, which soon 
returned, reporting that it was swarming with the foe. Skir- 
mishing continued active, until finally the enemy's sharp- 
shooters crawled stealthily up to a low stone fence just in front 
of the line of the Sixty-third, when his fire became hot and 
very destructive. 

The order sent to Sickles on the morning of the 2d, was to 
bring his corps into position upon the left of Hancock, on ground 
vacated by Geary. As Geary had simply bivouacked in mass 
without deploying in line, Sickles reported to Meade that Geary 
had no position, and that there was no position there, meaning 
that it was low and commanded by ground in its front, rendering 
it untenable. Meade repeated his general instructions ; where- 
upon Sickles went to headquarters, and representing the great 
disadvantages of the position indicated, asked Meade to go with 
him over that part of the field. This Meade excused himself 
from doing, nor could he spare General Warren for that purpose ; 
but General Hunt, Chief of artillery, did go, to whom Sickles 

255 



256 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

pointed out the ground, more elevated and commanding, a half 
or three-quarters of a mile in front, which he proposed to occupy. 
It should here be observed that between Seminary and 
Cemetery ridges, which run nearly parallel with each other, is a 
diagonal ridge connecting them, which, touching Cemetery Hill at 
its northern extremity, and extending past the Peach Orchard, 
soon strikes Seminary Ridge, and along the crest of which runs 
the Emmittsburg pike. It nowhere attains to any great emi- 
nence, but affords excellent ground for artillery. From the 
Peach Orchard to Round Top is broken, rugged, and in part 
wooded surface, which it was exceedingly desirable to hold, inas- 
much as it would have afforded cover for the enemy to have 
worked his way up very near to the position which is now known 
as Cemetery Ridge, and from which he could have assaulted with 
great advantage. In fact, there is a space from a half to three- 
quarters of a mile to the right of the Little Round Top swell, 
where there is no ridge at all, but low, swampy ground instead, 
easily commanded from the Emmittsburg Ridge, with a curtain 
of woods to the left reaching out in front of the Round Tops. 
Sickles believed this ground ought to be occupied, and seems 
to have had the sanction of Hunt in that opinion ; but receiving 
no direct order from Meade to do so, he held his columns back, 
momentarily expecting the final mandate of his chief. At eleven 
o'clock the firing between the skirmishers on the Emmittsburg 
road being very sharp, General Birney, who commanded the 
division holding the extreme left of the line, by direction of Gen- 
eral Sickles, sent a regiment and a battalion of sharp-shooters 
to reconnoitre. This reconnoissance showed that the enemy was 
moving in three columns under cover of the woods to the left. 
At length General Sickles, finding his outposts gradually driven 
back, determined to await no longer for more explicit orders, and 
moved out his whole corps upon the advance ground, Birney 's 
division stretching from a point near the Devil's Den, in front of 
Round Top somewhat en echelon over the rough wooded heights, 
his right bending back and resting at the Peach Orchard, and 
Humphreys' division extending along the Emmittsburg pike from 
Peach Orchard to a point nearly opposite, but a little in advance 
of Hancock's left, thus leaving a slight break in the line at that 







4>.^ ' ^ 






FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 257 

point. Technically, this fulfilled the direction of Meade. His 
left rested at Round Top, and his right connected with Hancock ; 
but being so much advanced, it was necessarily very long and 
presented too much front for so small a corps to cover. Besides, 
it formed an angle at the Peach Orchard, where was open 
ground, which was consequently a source of weakness. 

He had scarcely got his corps out upon the line he had decided 
to take, when he was summoned to a council of officers at Meade's 
headquarters. Perceiving that the enemy was about to attack 
him, and feeling the necessity of his personal supervision, he 
excused himself from attending, in the meantime hastening 
forward his troops and posting his batteries ; but he soon after 
got a peremptory order to report, and turning over the command 
of the corps to General Birney, he hastened back with all speed. 
Before he had reached headquarters the battle opened ; but 
spurring on, he was met at the door by Meade, who excused him 
from dismounting, and said he would soon join him on the field, 
the council having broken up as the guns announced the opening 
of the fight. On reaching the ground and hastily examining the 
position which the corps had taken, General Meacle remarked 
that it was too much advanced, and expressed his doubt about 
being able to hold it. Sickles observed that it was not too late 
to withdraw ; but to this Meade objected and said he would 
send up the Fifth to put in upon the left, and to the right troops 
could be called from General Hancock, while a free use of the 
reserve artillery was tendered. General Meade's headquarters 
were not over a three minutes' walk from a position on Hancock's 
front, where the whole ground, both the advance and more con- 
tracted lines, was plainly visible. Why General Meade did not 
give explicit orders for the formation on the left early in the day 
and himself see that the proper dispositions were made, seems 
inexplicable, and can only be accounted for on the supposition that 
he did not anticipate that the enemy would attack from that direc- 
tion. In the document above quoted it is reported that in answer 
to Sickles' urgent need of preparation to meet the enemy, Meade 
remarked : " Oh ! Generals are all apt to look for the attack to be 
made where they are." No possible business of the Commander-in- 
chief could have been more important or more pressing than this. 
17 



258 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Unfortunately for General Sickles, Buford's cavalry, which had 
been posted on the left Hank of his corps, was ordered away at a 
time when the enemy was moving in that direction, and its place 
was left unsupplied until it was too late to be of any use on that 
day. General Pleasanton in his testimony says : " On the 2d of 
July, Buford's division having been so severely handled the day 
before, was sent by me back to Westminster, our depot, to protect 
it, and also to recruit." These were worthy objects, and Buford 
had well earned a claim to repose ; but at the moment when the 
enemy was swarming forth upon that flank which had been 
reported by Hancock as the one most vulnerable, it is almost 
beyond belief that General Pleasanton should have ordered the 
cavalry entirely away, before other and equally reliable troops 
were ready to relieve them. It left unchecked the whole power 
of the enemy's force to be employed in turning that flank. 

Lee had early seen the importance of the ground which 
General Sickles had been so intent to occupy, and had deter- 
mined to make his main attack to regain it. He says in his 
report : " In front of General Longstreet the enemy held a posi- 
tion, from which if he could be driven, it was thought that our 
army could be used to advantage in assailing the more elevated 
ground beyond, and thus enable us to reach the crest of the ridge. 
That officer was directed to carry the position, while General 
Ewell attacked directly the high ground on the enemy's right, 
which had already been partially fortified. General Hill was 
instructed to threaten the centre of the Federal line, in order to 
prevent reinforcements being sent to either wing, and to avail 
himself of any opportunity that might present itself to attack." 

This plan was studiously carried out, though the attack of 
Ewell was not coincident with that of Longstreet, being nearly 
two hours delayed, perhaps designedly, in the hope that troops 
would be taken from his front to strengthen other parts of the 
line, and would leave him an easier task in carrying it, an event 
which did actually transpire. As it was planned that the weight 
of the attack should be made by Longstreet, he was active all 
through the early part of the day in getting his troops and his 
-in is upon that part of the field where he could make it with the 
hope of success. It has been asserted that Longstreet vigorously 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 259 

opposed the making this attack until his division under Pickett, 
which was still at Chambersburg, should come up, significantly 
saying that he did not wish to be compelled to walk with one 
boot off. But, having been peremptorily ordered by Lee to fight, 
he did not hesitate. Having only two divisions, those of Hood 
and McLaws, he led them around upon the extreme Union left. 
Instead of being able, as perhaps he had hoped, to wedge his way 
in upon the rear of the Union column, which to him appeared to 
be holding the line of the Emmittsburg road, he found a line 
refused, and nearly at right angles to that road stretching away 
to Round Top. To face that refused line he formed his own line, 
with Hood upon the right and McLaws upon the left, leaving 
the front occupied by Graham and Humphreys to be faced by 
Anderson's division of Hill's corps, and along the commanding 
ground upon the left he planted thick his artiller}^. To face 
these two powerful divisions of Longstreet, Sickles could only 
oppose the two weak brigades of Ward and De Trobriand. Ward, 
who was upon Sickles' left, opposite Hood, had posted his brigade 
across the open ground covering the approach to Little Round 
Top, his left extending across the front of Round Top, and his 
right reaching up into the wooded ground beyond the wheat- 
field. De Trobriand had posted two of his regiments, the One 
Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania and the Fifth Michigan, upon 
the front in line with Ward ; but with his right refused and reach- 
ing back towards the Peach Orchard, making it conform to the ad- 
vantages of the ground. He held two of his regiments in reserve, 
the Fortieth New York and the Seventeenth Maine, while the 
Third Michigan was deployed as skirmishers to cover the open 
ground to his right and connect with the left of Graham. 

Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, General 
Birney, who was in temporary command of the Third corps, 
having for some time been watching the columns of the enemy, 
now plainly visible, ordered Clark's rifled battery in position to 
the left of the Peach Orchard, to open on them. It did so with 
good effect. The enemy's guns, which had been brought up in 
large numbers, were wheeled into position, and answered ; and 
soon after, along all that ridge, where he had advantageously 
posted battery upon battery, seemingly an interminable line, the 



2G0 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

fire was terrific, and the very air was filled with shots and burst- 
ing shells, like hail in the thick coming storm. The brigade of 
Graham, in rear of which the Union guns were posted, was fear- 
fully exposed, as it occupied both legs of the angle. 

For some time the fire of artillery was appalling. But this 
was only the prelude to more desperate work. Longstreet had 
formed his lines under cover, and was now moving down to strike 
the extreme Union left a stunning blow and if possible crush it. 
But he found the troops of Ward prepared. With screeches and 
yells the foe pressed on ; but before the deliberate aim of that 
veteran brigade they were forced to fall back. Ward realized 
from the strength of the attack that his weak line would be 
unable to withstand another, and called for supports. De Trobri- 
and sent the Seventeenth Maine, which took position behind 
a low stone wall, to the left of the wheatfield, where its fire 
would have a deadly effect if the line of Ward should be forced 
back. Soon afterwards the Fortieth New York, the last reserve, 
was hurried away to the support of Ward, and took position, 
on his extreme left and front, so as to block the way to Little 
Round Top, which was now in imminent danger of falling 
into the enemy's hands. But the foe did not stop to carry 
that part of the line at once, but bore down in succession upon 
one part after another along Birney's whole front, rapidly reach- 
ing forward towards the Peach Orchard. The front of Yv T ard had 
hardly been reinforced before De Trobriand was struck. "Allons-y 
ft rme, et tenons ban ! II riy a 'plus rien en reserve" was the word 
of that well schooled and skilled leader. Knowing full Avell that 
the storm would soon reach them, his men had brought together 
the rocks and trunks of trees which they found lying about, and 
when the men in grey came swarming on not twenty paces dis- 
tant, a crash of musketry, like the crack of a thunderbolt, arrested 
for a moment their progress; but recovering themselves they 
answered the fire, and the fusilade was rapid. "Des clen.v cut,'*. 
< Ixicun, visait son homme, et maJgre toutes les protections du ter- 
rain, morte et blesses tombaient avee mie effrayante rapiditS" It 
was an unequal struggle ; for the enemy were thrice their 
strength; but the accurac}^ of their fire was unsurpassed. "Never 
have I seen," says De Trobriand, " our men strike with equal 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 261 

obstinacy. It seemed as though each one of them believed that 
the destiny of the Republic depended upon the desperate vigor of 
their efforts." 

But if the assault proved deadly to De Trobriand's men, who 
had a good position and were shielded by some works, how fared 
the troops of Graham, who were on open ground, and had no 
protection except such as accidentally fell to their lot? The 
position at the Peach Orchard was a commanding one for 
artillery, and could the pieces have been protected by lunettes, 
as were those of Steinwehr, they could have defied the whole 
weight of opposing metal from right to left, that was brought to 
bear upon them. But they were naked, and were forced to endure 
the brunt of a concentric fire. As for the infantry, the cut where 
the roadbed makes up to the Emmittsburg way afforded some 
protection while the artillery fire was hottest ; but when that 
slackened, and a charge of the enemy's infantry came, there was 
no alternative but to boldly face it. Then it was that Greek met 
Greek, and bayonets were crossed in the deadly encounter. The 
One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania, of Graham's brigade, 
was posted in support of these guns, facing south, when this 
charge came. They were lying down, and apparently were not 
seen by the foe as they swept forward, looking only to the guns, 
which they confidently regarded as their certain spoil. But 
waiting until they had come near, the tried men of this regiment 
sprang to their feet, and pouring in a well-directed volley, dashed 
at them with the bayonet. Swept down by ranks, and bewil- 
dered by the suddenness of the apparition, the enemy halted and 
for a moment attempted to beat back their assailants. But the 
tide was too strong to stem, and they fled with precipitation. 
The horses of the Union artillery had all been killed, and many 
of the officers and men had fallen. The ammunition was well 
nigh spent. The guns were accordingly seized and drawn back 
by the infantry to the rear of the road-bed. 

Fortunately for the rest of Graham's line, and for that of Hum- 
phreys, the order of General Lee to Hill was only to threaten 
the force in his front and watch for a favorable opportunity to 
attack, and consequently that officer for some time contented him- 
self with simple demonstrations, and a vigorous fire of artillery. 



2(52 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

While this wave of battle, commencing at Round Top, rolled 
on towards the Peach Orchard and dashed with such fearful 
violence against the faces of that devoted Third corps, the calls 
[\)v reinforcements were long and loud. Every man of the Third 
corps was almost from the first put in, making altogether barely 
one single thin line, and not a musket in reserve. It is no wonder 
that the time seemed long, and the troops summoned appeared 
tardy in coming. General Birney says : " I sent a staff officer to 
General Sykes, asking him to send me up at once the division that 
had been ordered from his corps to support me; that an attack by 
the enemy was imminent, and that I thought it would be' made 
at once. The staff officer saw him, and he returned for answer 
that he would come up in time ; that his men were making 
coffee and were tired, but that he would be up in time. He came 
up with one of his divisions in about an hour." General Sykes 
may have made the answer attributed to him ; but he was a 
regular army officer, and he was not the man to disregard an 
order upon the field of battle, or execute it tardily. He had a 
long distance to march, and what, in his extremity seemed a full 
hour to Birney, may have actually been less. 

General Warren, after proceeding with Meade to inspect the 
position of Sickles, just after the battle opened, had, by the 
direction of the latter, proceeded to Little Round Top. " From 
that point," Warren says, "I could see the enemy's lines of 
battle. I sent word to General Meade that we would at once 
have to occupy that place very strongly. He sent, as quickly as 
possible, a division of General Sykes' corps; but before they 
arrived the enemy's line of battle, I should think a mile and a 
half long, began to advance, and the battle became very heavy 
at once." The first onset, as we have seen, was stayed by 
Birney's division. But the fiery and impetuous Hood, he who 
attacked Sherman with such daring before Atlanta, had dis- 
covered that Little Round Top w r as not occupied, and that only a 
thin curtain, composed of the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, hung 
in its front. This rocky fortress was the great prize of the day. 
Could he break through the feeble force which held its front and 
plant himself amid the rocks and fastnesses of that precipitous 
height^ the whole army of Meade might beat itself against it in 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 263 

vain attempts to dislodge him. Taking only his most trusted 
men he formed them for the death grapple and led them forth. 
He pointed to the dark ground whereon he desired them to plant 
their footprints. It was enough. Where had their bold leader 
ever led them, that was not to victory ? But before they had 
reached the thin line which they thought easily to brush away, 
supports had come. The Fortieth New York was there, the 
Sixth New Jersey and the Fourth Massachusetts had been 
gathered in, and now the path across Plum Run, which they had 
hoped to stealthily pass, they found closed. But they were des- 
perate men, formed with ample supports, and as the repeated 
blows of the battering ram will finally loosen the strongest wall, 
and topple it down, so did the head of this column by the mere 
weight of numbers force its way through, and press rapidly for- 
ward to climb the heights unopposed. But as they dash heedlessly 
on, suddenly a sheet of flame leaps out from the very roots of the 
mountain, that sweeps down the boldest and the bravest, and 
throws back that fiery column in disorder and confusion. Whence 
so suddenly have come these bold defenders ? Ten minutes 
before and not one was there ; but the hill all peaceful and 
unguarded was inviting approach. 

When General Warren arrived upon this hill, as the battle 
opened, he found there only some officers who had been using it 
for a signal station. When these signal officers saw the long lines 
of the enemy sweeping on, inferring that Sickles would be totally 
unable to check them, they commenced folding their flags to 
make way for the men in grey. But Warren, knowing instinc- 
tively that all was lost if that hill was lost, bade them unfurl 
their flags and signal on the supports that were approaching. 
Eagerly he had watched that first assault, and when he saw the 
eneury's line broken and driven back, he secretly rejoiced ; for 
now he knew that hope still remained. He saw at a glance, 
what a terrible effect the plunging fire of artillery would have, 
delivered from this eminence, if guns could once be got upon its 
summit. Hazlett's battery in the neighborhood was immediately 
ordered up, and by almost superhuman exertions was brought 
upon the glad crest. And now seeing the head of Barnes' division 
of the Fifth corps approaching on the double quick to reinforce 



264 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Third, he assumed the responsibility of detaching Vincent's 
brigade, and ordering it upon Little Round Top. Passing rapidly 
to the rear of the mountain, Vincent hastened his men into posi- 
tion at its very base; the Sixteenth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel 
Welch, upon the right, facing the wheat field; next it the Forty- 
fourth New York, Colonel Rice, facing the Devil's Den ; by its 
side its twin regiment, the Eighty-third Pennsylvania, Captain 
Woodward, facing the little valley between the two mounts, and 
not inaptly called the Valley of the Shadow of Death ; and upon 
the extreme left, looking towards the rear of Round Top, was 
the Twentieth Maine, Colonel Chamberlain. So hastily had tlrey 
been brought upon the field that they had not stopped to load. 
The work of formation was momentary, and before the men had 
been five minutes settled behind the huge boulders which lie 
scattered over all its broad breast, away to the left was heard, 
says Captain Judson of the Eighty-third, "a loud, fierce, distant 
yell, as if all pandemonium had broken loose, and joined in the 
chorus of one grand, universal war-whoop." Three lines deep, at 
double-quick, with bayonets fixed, on came that mass of Hood's 
impetuous men. It was the supreme moment, and the stoutest 
held his breath, grasping with firmer grip his trusty piece. Not 
upon the Old Guard in its most desperate hour ever rested a 
graver trust. The weight of the shock fell upon the Forty-fourth 
New York, and the Eighty-third Pennsylvania. The first im- 
pulse was scarcely broken, ere the line was new formed, and from 
behind rocks and trees, at close quarters, a most deadly fire was 
poured in. Again and again with fresh troops and ever increas- 
ing numbers did the enemy assault; but each time to be thrown 
back broken and bleeding. " Hundreds of them," says Judson, 
" approached even within fifteen yards of our line, but they 
approached only to be shot down or hurled back covered with 
gaping wounds. It was a death grapple in which assailant and 
assailed seemed resolved to win or fall in the struggle." 

As soon as Colonel Vincent had discovered that this assault 
was coining, he dismounted, and sent an aid to General Barnes 
requesting immediate reinforcements. '"Tell him," said he, "the 
enemy are coming in overwhelming force." When the enemy 
found himself spending his strength in futile attempts to carry 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 265 

the centre of Vincent's line, he moved over to the left and 
attacked with renewed vigor the Sixteenth Michigan. That regi- 
ment had a weaker position and was less protected than the rest 
of the line, and when the pressure upon it became heavy, it 
yielded somewhat to the current and was fast giving way, 
exposing that flank to sudden turning. At that instant, the One 
Hundred and Fortieth New York, of Weed's brigade, which had 
been sent to support and reinforce Vincent, came upon the field, 
and moved down to the wavering line. In doing so it Avas much 
exposed, receiving a volley by which the gallant O'Eourke, who 
commanded the regiment, was killed, and large numbers of the 
rank and file were laid low. Confusion followed, and it seemed 
for the moment that it, too, would give way. But Vincent, seeing 
the peril of the hour, rushed from point to point, threatening and 
encouraging by turns, and by the aid of his officers, finally suc- 
ceeded in bringing order out of confusion, and the enemy was 
again foiled. When once the line had become settled, and felt in 
a measure protected, it was invincible. The personal courage 
and activity of Vincent saved the brigade from what promised 
inevitable destruction. But his tireless intrepidity made him a 
mark for the enemy's sharp-shooters, and he paid the forfeit with 
his life. He was standing upon a rock part way down the decliv- 
ity, watching the movements of the enemy, when he was struck 
in the groin by a minie ball, and was borne helpless and bleed- 
ing with a mortal hurt from the field. He was succeeded by 
Colonel Eice, of the Forty-fourth, who on assuming command 
immediately passed along the line, encouraging the men to strike 
for their fallen leader a deadlier blow, and insisting that they 
must hold the position to the very last extremity. 

In making his assaults thus far, the foe had done so with a 
strong hand, his ranks having been well filled. But now they 
were visibly weakened, many having fallen, and many others 
having chosen secure positions behind rocks, were loth to leave 
them ; some even climbed into the tree tops, and hid themselves 
in the thick foliage of the branches, keeping up from their con- 
cealments a most galling fire. But the enemy had not yet 
reached the left of the brigade line, and, finding the valley open, 
he determined to a°-ain marshal his forces and make one more 



26G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

resolute struggle for the mastery. Forming under cover of 
the wood, they advanced, and now with a fury apparently 
inspired by desperation. The Twentieth Maine met them, as 
had the other regiments, with a volley which had a staggering 
effect; but though fearful destruction followed the deadly mis- 
siles, the survivors rushed on unchecked, and were soon upon 
Chamberlain's men. In the haste of coming into position, they 
had neglected to fix bayonets ; but clubbing their muskets and 
with the might of mad men, braining their assailants, these 
hardy sons of the forest beat back the foe, and finally succeeded 
in shaking them off. But now a new peril threatened. The 
enemy had been repulsed, though not destroyed. He was still 
defiant, and the left flank of the Twentieth was entirely unpro- 
tected and unsupported. Early in the fight, Colonel Chamberlain, 
seeing the clanger to which he was exposed from this cause, had 
swung the left battalion around until it faced in the opposite 
direction to the other extremity of the brigade line. The enemy 
saw his advantage, and, immediately pushing through, vigorously 
attacked this battalion. Chamberlain called upon Captain Wood- 
ward for a company to support him in this dire extremity. This 
the Captain was unable, from paucity of his own numbers, to do, 
but sent word that he could stretch out his line, which relieved a 
part of Chamberlain's regiment, and enabled him to maintain his 
ground and to protect the flank. The enemy's bullets were now 
falling in the rear of the right of the brigade line, coming from 
exactly the opposite direction from what they had in the earlier 
part of the contest. But the force of the enemy's daring was by 
this time in a measure spent, and in fifteen minutes his fire began 
to slacken. Chamberlain now saw that his time had come, and 
ordering his left battalion to fix bayonets, he led it with the 
greatest gallantry, and with inspiriting cheers — in which the 
voices of the whole brigade joined — in a counter-charge which 
swept the dispirited foe back in utter rout. At this juncture, a 
brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves, also of the Fifth corps, 
which had been sent to the support of Vincent, charged up the 
hill and helped to swell the shout of victory. The enemy, 
believing that heavy reinforcements had arrived, gave up the 
contest, and Colonel Chamberlain, swinging his whole regiment 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 267 

around upon the front, cleared the valley between the Round 
Tops, his left sweeping the declivity of Round Top. Over five 
hundred prisoners were taken by this brigade alone, including 
two Colonels and fifteen other commissioned officers, and over 
a thousand stands of arms. That narrow valley was strewn 
with the dead and the wounded, mangled in every conceivable 
way in which relentless battle leaves its victims. Behind one 
single rock were found, after the battle, twenty-five dead bodies, 
many wounded, doubtless, having crawled behind it for shelter 
and there yielded their lives. 

The severely wounded, who were taken prisoners, were in the 
main boastful and defiant. The attacking column was principally 
composed of Alabama and Texan troops. They spoke in a man- 
ner dissatisfied with the result, which they had in no way antici- 
pated. They acknowledged that they had been badly cut up ; 
but said that only one brigade had yet been engaged, while there 
were two others behind them ready to follow up the assault. One 
experience, however, of that dark valley was enough, and no 
further advances were made to enter it. 

No prouder victory was achieved on any part of that bloody 
field, nor one which more largely contributed to the accomplish- 
ment of the final triumph, than that of this small brigade of Vin- 
cent, composed of less than twelve hundred muskets, supported 
and aided by Weed's brigade and Hazlett's battery; but principally 
fought by this handful of men. No valor could have exceeded 
theirs. Their spirit is illustrated by an incident which occurred 
at a moment when the fight was at its climax. An overgrown, 
uncouth but resolute young man, belonging to company F, of the 
Eighty-third regiment, who had a sheltered position behind a 
rock, was noticed to rise up when he fired in such a manner as to 
expose nearly his whole body. He was repeatedly cautioned, and 
called to, to "get down." Finally, irritated by the reprimand, he 
drew himself up to his full proportions, and swaying his brawny 
arm in an impressive gesture, at the same time calling upon God 
to witness, he exclaimed : " I am on the soil of old Pennsylvany 
now, and if they get me down they'll have to shoot me down." 
The feeling prevailed throughout the army that it was now on 
northern soil, and to the last man they would fight before they 
would yield an inch. 



2G8 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The losses upon the Union side in this struggle, on account of 
the shelter, was in numbers small in proportion to that inflicted 
on the enemy. But upon the officers the blow fell with cruel 
force. General Weed, who commanded the brigade which had 
come to the support of Vincent, received a mortal wound, and 
while Captain Hazlett, whose battery had been brought upon the 
summit with so much difficulty, was bending over his prostrate 
form, endeavoring to catch his last broken accents, he also was 
struck by the fatal bullet, and fell lifeless upon the gasping form 
of his dying chief. Thus fell Vincent, Weed, and Hazlett, the 
three chief commanders on the hill, and O'Rourke, the leader of 
a regiment, besides numbers of others of a less degree. 

When we consider the small chance by which this hill was 
saved to the Union arms, and its vital importance to the integrity 
of the whole army, the inquiry strongly presses itself, Why was 
it left so late unoccupied, and why was the opportunity of grasp- 
ing it allowed to remain open all the day long, and until its sum- 
mit was casting fitful shadows? Is it answered, that General 
Meade had given Sickles orders to occupy it, and that he sup- 
posed it was firmly held? This can hardly be accepted as a 
satisfactory answer. For, from the window of General Meade's 
headquarters, Little Round Top is plainly seen, and by using his 
glass he could have verified the belief at any moment, or by means 
of an aid he could have examined each nook and cranny of the 
hill every half hour in the wdiole day. But General Sickles says, 
when he was ordered to relieve General Geary, he proceeded to 
do so, and notified General Meacle that Geary had been simply 
massed and not in position, that he had executed the first order, 
and was awaiting further directions. Finally, says Sickles, " Not 
having received any orders in reference to my position, and ob- 
serving, from the enemy's movements on our left what I thought 
to be conclusive indications of a design on their part to attack 
there, and that seeming to me to be our most assailable point, I 
went in person to headquarters and reported the facts and circum- 
stances which led me to believe that an attack would be made 
there, and asked for orders. I did not receive any orders, and I 
found that my impression as to the intention of the enemy to 
attack in that direction was not concurred in at headquarters; 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 269 

and I was satisfied, from information which I received, that it 
was intended to retreat from Gettysburg." 

The testimony of General Meade conflicts somewhat with this 
statement. He says : " I had sent instructions in the morning to 
General Sickles, commanding the Third corps, directing him to 
form his corps in line of battle on the left of the Second corps, com- 
manded by General Hancock, and I had indicated to him in gen- 
eral terms, that his right was to rest upon General Hancock's left; 
and his left was to extend to the Round Top mountain, plainly 
visible, if it was practicable to occupy it. During the morning 
I sent a staff officer to inquire of General Sickles whether he was 
in position. The reply was returned to me that General Sickles 
said there was no position there. I then sent back to him my 
general instructions which had been previously given. A short 
time afterwards General Sickles came to my headquarters, and 
I told him what my general views were, and intimated that 
he was to occupy the position that I understood General Han- 
cock had put General Geary in, the night previous. General 
Sickles replied that General Geary had no position, as far as he 
could understand. He then said to me that there was in the 
neighborhood of where his corps was, some very good ground for 
artillery, and that he should like to have some staff officer of 
mine go out there and see as to the posting of artillery. He also 
asked me whether he was not authorized to post his corps in 
such manner as, in his judgment, he should deem the most suita- 
ble. I answered, ' General Sickles, certainly, within the limits 
of the general instructions I have given to you;- any ground 
within those limits you choose to occupy I leave to you.' And 
I directed Brigadier-General Hunt, my Chief of artillery, to ac- 
company General Sickles, and examine and inspect such positions 
as General Sickles thought good for artillery, and to give Gen- 
eral Sickles the benefit of his judgment." General Sickles held 
his corps back until the last moment, and at length, when his 
outposts had been driven in, and the enemy was about to attack, 
took what has been called the advanced position, which General 
Meade expressed his disapprobation of, when he came upon the 
ground. " I am of the opinion," sa} r s General Meade, " that 
General Sickles did what he thought was for the best ; but I 



270 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

differed from him in judgment. And I maintain that subsequent 
events proved that my judgment was correct, and his judgment 
was wrong." 

General Sickles, in his testimony, says upon this point : "I took 
up that position which is described in the report of General Hal- 
le civ as a line from half to three-quarters of a mile in advance, 
as he says, and which, in his report, he very pointedly disap- 
proves of, and which he further says I took up through a mis- 
interpretation of orders. It was not through any misinterpreta- 
tion of orders. It was either a good line or a bad one, and, which- 
ever it was, I took it on my own responsibility, except so far 
as I have already stated, that it was approved of in general terms 
by General Hunt, of General Meade's staff, who accompanied me 
in the examination of it. I took up the line because it enabled 
me to hold commanding ground, which, if the enemy had been 
allowed to take — as they would have taken it if I had not occu- 
pied it in force — would have rendered our position on the left 
untenable ; and, in my judgment, would have turned the fortunes 
of the day hopelessly against us. I think that any General who 
would look at the topography of the country there would natu- 
rally come to the same conclusion." 

Thus we perceive that in respect to the two positions in general, 
the opinions of Meade and Sickles are diametrically opposed to 
each other. But we should recollect that all this is testimony 
given after the event, when the questions at issue were under 
sharp discussion, when much feeling on the one side and on the 
other existed, and when the opinions were naturally colored by 
prejudice. Enough is however brought to light by the reports 
made at the time, and by this testimony, to enable us to form 
an intelligent conclusion concerning the occupation of Little 
Round Top. 

In his testimony, General Meade says "his left [Sickles'] was 
to extend to Round Top mountain, plainly visible, if it was prac- 
ticable, to occupy it," Two facts are deducible from this state- 
ment ; first, that this commanding position was visible from his 
headquarters, and he was able for himself to have any moment 
determined whether it was occupied or not; and second, that he 
was in ignorance whether it was practicable to occupy it, 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 271 

There are no principles of military strategy more fundamental, 
more apparent to even the casual observer, or more vital to the 
safety of an army when deployed in line of defensive battle, than 
these : first, that the flanks of the infantry should be firmly posted, 
with some natural or artificial protection ; and second, that the 
flanks should be well guarded by cavalry, ready at all times to make 
a stand and to give notice of the movements of the enemy. Both 
these principles were violated in this instance. The whole left 
wing was unstable until the last moment, and the line was actu- 
ally formed and the position finally taken, after the battle had 
begun, and Little Round Top, a fortress in itself, formed and 
fashioned by the fiat of the Almighty, ready for its armament 
and its defenders, was left entirely unoccupied until after the 
battle had begun to rage with great fury, and was finally saved 
from the clutches of the foe by the most determined and bloody 
fighting of troops which gained their position but five minutes 
in advance of their assailants. The cavalry, too, was removed 
just before the battle opened, and was left unsuppliecl at a time 
when it was most needed. It would seem as though the gates 
were swung wide open deliberately and purposely to allow the 
enemy to walk in. 

Is it offered, in defence of the Commander-in-chief, that he 
had ordered Sickles to occupy this ground? This is not 
enough. It was his duty to know that it was occupied and made 
firm. Hour after hour passed, and he knew that it was not occu- 
pied ; for he had the direct testimony of his senses, and Sickles 
was repeatedly informing him that he was not in position, both 
by messenger and in person, and begging that the chief, or some 
member of his staff, would examine the ground and give definite 
orders. To the last moment no such orders were given, and 
Sickles was finally compelled to take position upon his own re- 
sponsibility, and by the testimony of General Meade himself, 
under a discretion which was accorded him. Sickles' forces were 
insufficient to cover his line and occupy Little Round Top ; but 
he covered the front of that position and the approaches to it 
by causing his line to abut upon Round Top, which was imprac- 
ticable for offensive or defensive purposes. Troops were at the 
disposal of Meade, with which Little Round Top might have been 



272 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

covered early in the day ; for the Fifth corps had arrived at two 
o'clock in the morning within easy call. The responsibility of 
the non-occupation of this stronghold, so vital to the integrity 
of his position and the safety of his whole army, must rest with 
the Commander-in-chief, and it must ever remain an inexplicable 
mystery how he could have permitted the hours to pass, — after 
the bloody experience of the preceding day, knowing that the 
whole rebel army was close in upon his front, — with his left wing 
in the disorganized condition in which the opening of the battle 
found it. 

Respecting the ordering away of the cavalry, no question has 
ever been made in the inquiries into the conduct of the battle. 
But it was no less a grave violation of principle, and should have 
received the severest censure. The fault cannot be imputed to 
General Pleasanton who commanded the cavalry, for having 
given the order without the knowledge of his chief; for had such 
been the case, why was not Pleasanton at once cashiered, as he 
would have richly merited ? As the latter received no censure, 
we must conclude that it was either the direct order of Meade, 
or that it received his sanction. 

The enemy, in guarding his flank, exercised a commendable 
care, in marked contrast with the negligence of his opponent. 
The extreme right of his line was, from the nature of the country, 
exposed and weak. Accordingly, at the point where the Emmitts- 
burg pike crosses the Seminary Ridge, which it does about three- 
quarters of a mile beyond the Peach Orchard, he built, as soon as 
he felt himself menaced, a strong and quite elaborate fortification 
with re-entrant angles so as to sweep the ground in all directions, 
and here he planted his heavy guns. 

Leaving the citadel that guards the left of the Union line 
in the firm grip of the gallant men who so heroically defended it, 
turn now to the further conduct of the fight on Sickles' front. 
As soon as it was apparent that the enemy was intent on making 
a determined fight upon the Union left, realizing the danger 
which was threatening Sickles' thin line, General Meade exerted 
himself to the utmost to succor these hard-pressed men. General 
Hancock, who had been called on for help, promptly sent an 
entire division composed of four brigades under General Caldwell. 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 273 

General Humphreys, though expecting every moment to be him- 
self attacked, and having a difficult position to hold, detached 
one of his regiments, having previously parted with one of his 
brigades, and hurried it away, in response to the urgent appeals 
of the aids of both Sickles and Birney. The divisions of Barnes 
and Ayers of the Fifth corps were also brought up. 

While Hood was making his desperate onslaught upon the 
defenders of Little Round Top, McLaws, with the aid of Ander- 
son's division of Hill's corps, was making a no less determined, 
and far more successful assault upon Birney's right. It fell with 
the greatest weight upon that part of the line about the Peach 
Orchard ; and here it was first broken. But the brigade of De 
Trobriand had originally been formed principally facing westward, 
and as the enemy advanced to follow up the retiring forces on his 
front at the Peach Orchard, De Trobriand was still able to main- 
tain his position, and to do good execution. Bat the pressure soon 
became too great for him to withstand, and he was obliged to give 
ground. The enemy having forced his way in upon the wheat- 
field, was pressing upon his flank and rear. It was a critical 
moment. Instantly rallying the remnants of the Fifth Michi- 
gan, and the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania, and by the 
aid of General Birney, who brought the Seventeenth Maine and a 
New Jersey regiment under Colonel Burling into line, he made a 
determined charge, and regained the lost ground and the stone 
wall which had afforded him protection. This was the last effort 
of this brigade, for it was shortly after relieved by Zook's brigade 
of Caldwell's division. 

In the meantime, Barnes, with the divisions of Tilton and 
Sweitzer, had moved forward and taken position in a wood on 
the right of the wheatfield, Sweitzer upon the left and Tilton 
upon the right. The ground occupied by the latter was rocky 
and wooded, while the left extended into an open ravine. Barnes' 
division had scarcely gained its position, when the enemy was 
seen advancing up this ravine. In danger of being outflanked, 
Sweitzer wheeled the several regiments of his brigade to the left 
and rear, giving the advantage of three lines supporting each 
other. Sweitzer was thus able easily to hold his position. But 
Tilton, having been less fortunately posted, was unable to main- 

18 



274 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tain his ground. This left Sweitzer in a perilous situation, and 
he likewise fell back. The rugged country to the west and south 
of the Peach Orchard was now the dark and bloody ground, and 
over it the tide of battle swayed with destructive force. The 
enemy had gained possession, and was doubtless settling down 
upon it to console himself for his grievous losses, when the divi- 
sion of Caldwell came to the rescue. With the brigades of Cross 
and Kelley in advance, supported by Brooke and Zook, Caldwell 
swept forward. No troops ever evinced greater valor, and the 
enemy was driven before them; but their losses were fearful, as 
the irregularities of the field enabled the enemy, who was con- 
cealed in advantageous positions, to rise up from unexpected 
quarters and pour in a most destructive fire. Indeed, the contest 
had been so long and stubbornly maintained, that the foe was 
becoming desperate and impatient of further resistance. The 
First brigade was commanded by the gallant Colonel Cross of the 
Fifth New Hampshire, who, while leading his troops in the most 
intrepid manner, was slain. The situation was every moment 
becoming more and more complicated, as the enemy, having 
broken the line, was able to dispose his troops under cover so as 
to sweep the ground from several directions. The wheatfield 
and the broken surface to its west had become a slaughter-pen. 
As the second line, composed of the brigades of Brooke and 
Zook, came up, it was discovered that a battery had been so 
posted by the enemy as to greatly annoy the Union troops. 
Determined to capture or silence it, Colonel Brooke led a charge 
of his brigade. But though it was vigorously made, and with 
the most unwavering intrepidity, Brooke soon found his flanks 
exposed to a withering fire, which, if continued, would annihilate 
his line, and he was forced to withdraw, himself receiving a 
severe wound. 

The original position of Sickles, facing south, which had been 
held by Birney with such stubborn valor, had finally to be yielded, 
the supports which had been sent forward from the Second, 
Fifth, and Humphreys' division of the Third corps, being unable 
with .all their strength to preserve it. As Caldwell's division was 
gradually retiring, having been engaged in the most deadly en- 
counters, and having sustained severe losses, Ayrcs' division of the 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. £75 

Fifth corps moved in, and though assailed with a fury that was 
appalling, it steadily fought its way forward, routing the enemy 
and succeeded in holding the important wooded ground in front 
and to the right of Little Round Top, which Sickles had re- 
garded as so important to the retention of the field. In the 
midst of the desperate fighting, which, like fiery billows swept 
over that devoted ground, General Sickles, who had exercised 
ceaseless vigilance and a tireless energy in maintaining the posi- 
tion and beating back the foe, fell, severely wounded, and was 
carried from the field, the command devolving upon General 
Birney. 

While these struggles were continued in the wooded and 
broken ground which enveloped in its dark folds the little wheat- 
field, now tangled and torn, and blood-washed, as masses of living 
valor were borne over it, the line facing west, composed of Hum- 
phreys' division and a part of Graham's brigade, did not escape 
unscathed. Humphreys had sent out, early in the day, working 
parties who had levelled all the fences in his front, giving the 
opportunity for perfect freedom in manoeuvring his troops, and, 
at a little after four o'clock, had taken position along the diagonal 
ridge on which runs the Emmittsburg pike. Little beyond occa- 
sional demonstrations had thus far occurred upon his front. But 
the time was rapidly approaching when the favorable moment 
for attack, directed by the order of Lee, would come. At a little 
after six, Humphreys received notice from Birney that Sickles 
had fallen, and that he was in command of the corps, that he 
was about to fall back from his position facing south, which was 
nearly at right-angles to Humphreys' line, and requesting the 
latter also to fall back, so as to connect with his right. In other 
words, Humphreys and Graham were expected to swing back with 
Birney so as to keep the line intact. This was accomplished in 
tolerable order, Birney's men maintaining a resolute front, and 
gallantly checking any undue forwardness of the enemy in fol- 
lowing up. But this movement left the right of Humphreys' 
division, where he clung to the Emmittsburg pike, in an exceed- 
ingly perilous position. The enemy were not slow in discovering 
it, and now pressed upon him with terrible earnestness. The 
interval between Humphreys' right and Hancock's left had been 



276 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

filled by the Fifteenth Massachusetts and the Eighty-second 
New York, and subsequently two other regiments, all from the 
Second corps, were hurried forward to the support of Hum- 
phreys' hard-pressed line. Humphreys says : " I was attacked 
on my flanks as well as on my front. I never have been under 
a hotter artillery and musketry fire combined. I may have 
been under a hotter musketry fire. For a moment, I thought 
the day was lost. I did not order my troops to fall back rapidly, 
because, so far as I could see, the crest in my rear was vacant, 
and I knew that when troops got to moving back rapidly, 
it was exceedingly difficult to stop them just where you wanted 
to stop them. At that moment I received an order to fall back 
to the Round Top ridge, which I did, slowly, suffering a very 
heavy loss." 

As will be seen by an examination of the position in which 
Humphreys found himself at this juncture, he could have scarcely 
been in a worse condition to receive a determined attack. His 
division was almost in the shape of the side and the two ends 
of a parallelogram, and upon front and both flanks the enemy 
were rushing with the impetuosity of some demon guide. They 
were some of the best troops of Anderson's fresh division, which 
had escaped the fight of the preceding day, and had been held in 
hand through the long hours of that terrible struggle upon the ex- 
treme left, ready to spring forward with the agility of a tiger leap- 
ing upon his prey. These were the brigades of Wilcox, Perry, and 
Wright. Posey and Mahone stood next, and then the division 
of Pender. It is asserted on the authority of a correspondent of 
the Richmond Enquirer, that these also had been ordered to 
advance. But as the movement of each brigade upon the rebel 
right was to be the signal for the next upon the left to move, the 
failure of Posey caused all the others to be withheld. The power- 
fid brigade of Wright did come down with overwhelming force. 
Humphreys was a soldier by profession, and skilled in hard fight- 
ing, and to his cool courage and determination is due the pre- 
servation of his line as it retired to the Cemetery Ridge. So 
sudden was the onset, and so strong the pressure, that he was 
obliged to abandon three of his guns, the horses of which had 
all been killed. 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 277 

But as the enemy came within range of the Second corps, 
crouched behind the low stone wall on the Cemetery Ridge, in 
their pursuit of Humphreys' retiring troops, an oblique and very 
destructive fire was poured in upon them, producing terrible 
slaughter. At a clump of trees, a little in advance of the Union 
line where a battery had been posted, the enemy had swarmed 
in considerable numbers, as they here found some protection from 
the rapid fire of the infantry. Here they had seized a brass 
piece from which the cannoniers had all been killed or driven 
away. Finding ammunition, they had loaded it and were turning 
it upon Owen's brigade, temporarily under command of General 
Webb. The regiments upon the front line were instantly 
ordered by Webb to charge and recapture the piece. With a 
gallantry habitual to that brigade, the order was executed, and 
after a sharp and sanguinary struggle, the enemy was routed and 
the piece retaken. It was instantly turned upon the retiring 
foe with deadly effect, helping them to make good time back to 
their lines. 

The enemy felt keenly this last repulse ; for when they saw 
Humphreys' line falling back, they believed the day was won, 
confidently anticipating that he would be unable to stay its 
backward course, and reform it so as to present any considerable 
opposition to their own victorious and impetuous assault. How 
great was their disappointment, the Avails of their wounded, and 
the bitter reproaches of the survivors against their comrades who 
failed to support them, but too plainly tells. The correspondent 
of the Richmond Enquirer, who was present upon this part of the 
field and witnesssed the struggle, says : " We now had the key 
to the enemy's stronghold, and, apparently, the victory was won. 
McLaws and Hood had pushed their line well up the slope on 
the right ; Wilcox had kept well up on his portion of the line ; 
Wright had pierced the enemy's main line on the summit of 
McPherson's [Zeigler's] heights, capturing his heavy batteries, 
thus breaking the connection between their right and left wings. 
I said that, apparently, we had won the victory. It remains to 
be stated why our successes were not crowned with the important 
results which should have followed such heroic daring and in- 
domitable bravery. Although the order was peremptory that 



278 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

all of Anderson's division should move into action simultaneously, 
Brigadier-General Posey, commanding a Mississippi brigade, and 
Brigadier-General Mahone, commanding a Virginia brigade, failed 
to advance. This failure of these two brigades to advance is 
assigned, as I learn upon inquiry, as the reason why Pender's 
division of Hill's corps did not advance — the order being, that the 
advance was to commence from the right and be taken up along 
our whole line. Pender's failure to advance caused the division 
on his left — Heth's — to remain inactive. Here we have two whole 
divisions, and two brigades of another, standing idle spectators of 
one of the most desperate and important assaults that has ever 
been made on this continent — fifteen or twenty thousand men rest- 
ing on their arms, in plain view of a terrible battle, witnessing the 
mighty efforts of two little brigades (Wright's and Wilcox's, for 
Perry had fallen back overpowered), contending with the heavy 
masses of Yankee infantry, and subjected to a most deadly fire 
from the enemy's heavy artillery, without a single effort to aid 
them in the assault, or to assist them when the heights were car- 
ried. ... It was now apparent that the day was lost — lost after 
it was won — lost, not because our army fought badly, but because 
a large portion did not fight at all." 

Had all the enemy's troops advanced, as is here shown that 
they were ordered to do, it is doubtful whether the Union line, dis- 
organized and broken as it was, and before the new and more con- 
tracted one had been fairly taken, would have been able to with- 
stand the shock, and the impression of Humphreys, "For a moment 
I thought the day was lost," would have been realized. In addi- 
tion to the reason here given by the rebel correspondent for the 
failure of Pender and Heth to move, there is another far more 
weighty which probably infiuenced them r After the rough 
handling they received from the First corps on the day before, it 
is probable they had little stomach for another fight. 

There is no doubt that the successes which the enemy supposed 
lie had gained here, by the unaided strength of one brigade, that 
of Wright, emboldened and encouraged him to make a second 
attempt at this very point on the following day. 

Upon the fall of Sickles, General Hancock was ordered to turn 
over the command of his own corps to General Gibbon, and 



FIGHTING ON THE LEFT AT GETTYSBURG. 279 

himself to assume the general supervision of the Second and 
Third corps. This he did, establishing his headquarters midway 
between the Cemetery and Little Round Top, and proceeded to 
patch up the new line with such troops as were at hand. The divi- 
sions of Doubleday and Robinson, of the First corps, were brought 
up and posted to the left of the Second corps. Doubleday's divi- 
sion had been strengthened by ordering to it Stannard's brigade 
of Vermont troops some days before, but only joined on this day. 
The enemy had been repulsed before Doubleday reached the 
front ; but he sent forward part of the Thirteenth Vermont under 
Colonel Randall, and the One Hundred and Forty-ninth and 
One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiments, which together 
rescued six pieces of artillery, that in retiring had been aban- 
doned. The First Minnesota regiment also came up opportunely, 
which General Hancock led in person against a detachment of 
the enemy that was pushing through a part of the line under 
cover of a wood, and drove it back. General Williams, who 
had succeeded to the command of the Twelfth corps, ordered 
Ruger's division forward, to which Lockwood's Maryland brigade 
was attached, and put it in upon the left of the First corps 
troops. Williams also ordered Geary's division, with the excep- 
tion of Green's brigade, over to the left; but, through some 
strange oversight in the direction of march, it never reached the 
point indicated. 

The fighting upon the left continued with terrible earnestness 
until evening. Avers' division of regulars was the last to advance 
into the mazes of this masquerade of death. Sickles, Barnes, Cald- 
well, and Ayers had gone out upon this ground in their pride of 
strength ; but they had all been forced back finally by reason of 
the break at the Peach Orchard, where the enemy had penetrated, 
and had thus been able to flank every fresh reserve that had been 
sent against him ; and for this cause Humphreys, upon the right, 
had finally been compelled to retire. All these disasters were the 
result of the loss of the key point, the little eminence at the Peach 
Orchard. An angle in the line of battle formed as was this, is 
intrinsically weak, inasmuch as the direct impact can be brought 
to bear upon it from two directions. But the same objection may 
be urged against the position of Steinwehr at the Cemetery. Could 



280 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Sickles have taken this ground early in the day, and had lunettes 
and rifle-pits thrown up, he would have been invincible. 

But though the advance position on the Emmittsburg pike 
had to be given up, the wooded ground in front of Round Top, 
from the occupation of which by the enemy Sickles feared so 
much, was held. It was just at dusk, and when Ayers, after 
having sustained severe losses and fought with the most deter- 
mined valor, was retiring before a resolute and hopeful foe, that 
a brigade from Crawford's division of the Pennsylvania Reserves, 
which he had formed upon the fringe of Little Round Top, came 
dashing through the low ground drained by Plum Run, and with 
a chorus peculiar to this noted body of men, went to his relief. 
Crawford had seized the brigade colors at the moment of moving, 
and, riding up and down the line, had called upon the men to 
make Pennsylvania their watchword, and to quail not upon its 
soil. McCandless, of the Second Reserve, commanded, and led 
them on. They had scarcely emerged from the hill, and begun 
to cross the low, swampy ground, when they were hailed by a 
shower of bullets. But to such a welcome had they been inured 
on many a gory field, and it only had the effect to quicken their 
onward pace. The rebels were ensconced behind a low stone 
wall at the edge of the wood. But the bayonets and bullets 
of the Reserves were directed by hands too steady and resolute 
for successful resistance, and they were swept back. Under this 
stone wall McCandless formed his line, and threw out his skir- 
mishers to the edge of the Wheatfield. 

This ended substantially the fighting for the day on this part 
of the field. The other brigade of the Reserve corps, under Fisher, 
as we have seen, went to the support of Vincent's and Weed's 
brigades, and during the night, with the Twentieth Maine in 
the lead, climbed to the summit of Round Top, and with the aid 
of the Eighty-third Pennsylvania, established a line and erected 
a substantial stone breastwork from the loose boulders and 
broken fragments that cover the breast of the mountain. The 
enemy were at the westerly base of the hill, and were also forti- 
fying, holding as far north as the Devil's Den, in the rocky 
cavern of which they took shelter. 



CHAPTER XII. 



FIGHTING ON THE UNION RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 




'HILE these momentous events of the battle Avere 
transpiring upon the left, the enemy made no 
less desperate and well directed efforts to carry 
the right of the Union line. General Lee's order, 
as already noted, required that Ewell should 
"attack the high ground on the enemy's right, 
which had already been partially fortified." This 
was to be done simultaneously with the attack 
of Longstreet on the left. But Ewell did not 
move until the fierce fighting by Longstreet had 
been more than two hours in progress. This 
delay was evidently by design, as his corps had 
been in position and in entire readiness since the 
night before. The heat of the engagement on the left had 
thoroughly aroused the Union Commander, and he had hurried 
on corps after corps, and detachment after detachment, to the 
support of that wing. On the extreme right, a strong position 
had been taken, and well fortified by the Twelfth corps. The 
position and fortification of that flank was such as to fulfil the 
principle in strategy to which reference has already been made, 
that the flanks of the infantry line should so rest as to be either 
by nature or by art made firm. But in his zeal to feed the left, 
the right flank was completely stripped, the whole of the Twelfth 
corps, with the exception of Greene's brigade of Geary's division, 
having been hurried away. Free course was thus given to the 
enemy to enter. This action seems the more inexplicable, inas- 
much as the Sixth corps, the strongest in the whole army, had 
arrived on the ground at two P. M., two full hours before the 
fighting for the day had commenced, and it was neither used to 
reinforce the left until the fighting had nearly ceased, nor was it 

281 



282 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

put into the breastworks upon the right to supply the place 
made vacant by the withdrawal of the Twelfth. A worse 
blunder could not have been committed, for Greene's brigade was 
left hanging in the air, and would have been utterly routed, 
had a man of less nerve than Greene commanded, or troops less 
resolute and daring occupied that ground. 

Ewell was not long in discovering the advantage offered him, 
and at a little before sunset, he put his troops in motion. It was 
composed of soldiers who had so often followed the indomitable 
and tireless Stonewall Jackson to victory. 

The Union line, commencing at the Baltimore pike, extended 
around the breast of the Cemetery Hill, the artillery, Weiderick's 
and Ricketts' batteries, upon the summit, and the infantry, a part 
of the Eleventh corps, under cover of the stone walls. To the 
right of the Cemetery Hill is a little ravine or depression, mark- 
ing the end of Cemetery and the beginning of Culp's Hill. Upon 
the little table-land, at this extremity of the latter, was posted 
Stevens' Maine battery, which had played so important a part in 
the action of the first day. His pieces looked across this ravine 
and the approaches from the town to Cemetery Hill. Just at his 
right commenced the heavy breastworks, built by Wadsworth, 
upon the very brow of Culp's Hill, overhanging the steep, rugged 
acclivity which reaches down almost to the bank of Rock Creek 
that runs at its base. This breastw r ork was carried around the 
hill, and was taken up by Greene, whose right rested at a ravine 
that descends to a considerable wooded plateau. Greene had 
refused his right, and carried his breastwork back so as to pro- 
tect his flank, and from wdiich he could command the passage 
up this ravine — the ravine itself being left open. On the opposite 
side the breastworks were again taken up and carried around 
nearly to Spangler's spring. But beyond this little ravine at 
Greene's right, no troops were in position. 

Upon Bonner's Hill, opposite to Cemetery Hill, Ewell had 
planted his artillery, which opened with great vigor when the 
battle commenced. But the guns on Cemetery Hill had no 
sooner got the range, than they speedily silenced it. A gentle- 
man "residing near Gettysburg," as related by De Peyster, "on 
the road past Benner's, said to have been an eye-witness, stated 



FIGHTING ON THE BIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 283 

that the Union batteries on Cemetery Ridge knocked the rebel 
batteries, on Benner's Hill, into p i in twenty minutes after the 
former got the range." The superiority of the Union guns here 
was no doubt largely due to the fact that they were protected by 
lunettes, while the rebel guns stood all uncovered. As soon as 
he discovered his artillery fire slackening, Ewell prepared his 
infantry to advance. The sun was already near his setting, and 
the evening shades were gathering. Lines of rebel troops were 
discernible from Cemetery Hill, away to the right of Culp's Hill, 
apparently moving to attack. Soon a small column was seen 
proceeding from the town, across the Union front, away towards 
Benner's Hill, as if to join the troops already there. Colonel Von 
Gilsa, whose brigade was posted at the foot of Cemetery Hill, 
detached a regiment and sent it forward to observe the move- 
ments of this force, and what was passing farther to the right 
beyond his view. This regiment had not proceeded far, before 
there suddenly emerged from behind a hill to the left of the 
town, a long line of infantry formed for an assault, which moved 
onward in magnificent array. This isolated regiment could do 
nothing but hasten back to its position ; but this grand column, 
reaching from near the town to Rock Creek, moved with the 
steadiness and precision of parade. They were the brigades of 
Hayes and Hoke, led by the famous Louisiana Tigers. The 
instant they emerged to view, Stevens to the right opened with 
all his guns, and Weiderick and Ricketts joined in the chorus. 
The slaughter was terrible. Ricketts charged his guns with 
canister, and with four shots per minute, was, at every discharge, 
hurling death and confusion upon their ranks. Stevens' fire was 
even more effective, as it enfiladed the enemy's line. As the rebels 
came within musket range, Howard's infantry, who had lain com- 
pletely protected by the stone wall, poured in volley after volley, 
sweeping down the charging host. But that resolute body of men 
believed themselves invincible, and now, with the eyes of both 
armies upon them, they would not break so long as any were 
left to go forward. The stone walls were passed at a bound, 
and when once among the Union men, Stevens was obliged to 
cease firing for fear of killing friend and foe alike, and Weiderick 
was unable to withstand the shock, his supports and his own 



284 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

men being swept back with the whirlwind's force. But Ricketts 
quailed not, upon whom the force of the blow now fell. " With 
an iron hand," says the chronicler of this battery, "he kept every 
man to his post and every gun in full play. The giving way of 
our line upon the left brought the Tigers upon his flank. Pour- 
ing in a volley from behind a stone wall that ran close to his left 
piece, they leaped the fence, bayonetted the men, spiked the gun, 
and killed or wounded the entire detachment, save three, who 
were taken prisoners. But the remaining guns still belched forth 
their double rounds of canister, the officers and drivers taking 
the places of the fallen cannoniers. The battery's guidon was 
planted in one of the earthworks, and a rebel Lieutenant was 
pressing forward to gain it. Just as he was in the act of grasp- 
ing it, young Riggin, its bearer, rode up and shot him through 
the body, and seizing the colors, he levelled his revolver again, 
but ere he could fire, he fell, pierced with bullets, and soon after 
expired. The rebels were now in the very midst of the battery, 
and in the darkness it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe. 
A struggle ensued for the guidon. It had fallen into the hands 
of the rebel. Seeing this, Lieutenant Brockway seized a stone 
and felled him to the ground, and the next instant the rebel was 
shot with his own musket. A scene of the wildest confusion 
ensued. The men at the batteries were outnumbered, and were 
being overpowered by a maddened and reckless foe. But still 
they clung to their guns, and with handspikes, rammers, and 
stones, defended them with desperate valor, cheering each other 
on, and shouting, ' Death on our own State soil, rather than give 
the enemy our guns.' At this critical moment, Carroll's brigade 
came gallantly to the rescue, and the enemy retreated in con- 
fusion. The men again flew to their guns, and with loud cheers 
gave him some parting salutes, in the form of double-shotted can- 
ister. Thus ended the grand charge of Early's division, headed 
by the famous Louisiana Tigers, who boasted that they had never 
before been repulsed in a charge. They came forward, 1700 
strong, maddened with liquor, and confident of crushing in our 
line, and holding this commanding position. They went back 
barely GOO, and the Tigers were never afterwards known as an 
organization." 



FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 285 

But while this daring and desperate struggle was being fought 
out for the possession of Cemetery Hill, a no less persistent and 
far more formidable force was breaking in upon the extreme right 
flank. This was Johnson's division of Ewell's corps, led by the 
old Stonewall brigade which had given Jackson his sobriquet, 
full of the spirit of its old leader, and now that he was fallen 
nerved to strike for his sake. Johnson was supported by the 
division of Rodes. Crossing Rock Creek, which at this season is 
easily fordable at all points, the rebel line advanced through the 
forest which covers the whole plateau that spreads out at the 
base of the hill. The Union skirmishers who had been thrown 
out to the front were quickly driven in, and, following them up 
rapidly, the enemy soon came under fire from the breastworks 
where the brigade of Greene, and farther to the left the division 
of Wadsworth, were posted. Before this fire the rebels recoiled ; 
but they were not long in discovering that the strong breast- 
works to Greene's right, built with much engineering skill and 
with great labor, were vacant, and with alacrity they sprang for- 
ward and occupied them unresisted. As has been already noted, 
when, on the evening of this day the pressure was at its height 
upon Sickles' front, Ruger's and Geary's divisions, with the excep- 
tion of Greene's brigade of the latter, had been withdrawn from 
this flank, and sent to reinforce the left. They had not long been 
gone when this advance of the enemy was made, and these works 
fell into their hands. The principal resistance they encountered 
was from Greene ; but they were confident of tbeir ability to 
sweep him away, and take the whole Union line in reverse. 
Fortunately, Greene had caused his flank to be fortified by a very 
heavy work, which the make of the ground favored, extending 
some distance at ri^lit-ansjles to his main line. Against this the 
rebel commander sent his cohorts. The men behind it swept 
the assailants with swift destruction. Again and again did 
the rebels attack in front and flank ; but as often as they ap- 
proached they were stricken down and disappeared. To a terri- 
ble ordeal was this little brigade of the intrepid Greene subjected ; 
but he Avas a veteran soldier, and he made a most gallant fight, 
which saved the left flank of the army from disaster. Passing 
over the abandoned breastworks further to the right, the enemy 



286 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

found nothing to oppose him, and pushed out through the woods 
in their rear, over the stone fences that skirt the fields farther to 
the south, and had nearly gained the Baltimore pike. Indeed, 
the reserve artillery and ammunition, and the headquarters of 
General Slocum, the commander of the right wing of the army, 
were within musket range of his farthest advance. 

But darkness had now come on, and Ewell was disposed to be 
cautious, lest he might fall into a trap. Had he known the ad- 
vantage which was open to him, and all that we now know, he 
might, with the troops he had, have played havoc with the trains, 
and have set the whole army in retreat. But he was ignorant 
of the prize that was within his grasp. To break and drive the 
right flank of the Union line, occupied by Greene, was legitimate 
and proper work, and here he spent his strength, but in futile 
and vain efforts. 

Why Slocum, who was particularly charged with the command 
of this part of the field, ever allowed these works to be entirely 
stripped of defenders, or why Meade, whose headquarters were 
in sight of this natural stronghold, and the importance of which 
he must have become perfectly familiar with during the morn- 
ing hours, when he was meditating an attack upon the enemy 
from that very ground, should have called them away, are 
questions which, if answered at all, must be by some new school 
of strategy. 

It was fortunate for the Union army, that fast-coming darkness 
drew its curtain around the vulnerable parts everywhere spread 
out, and that under its cover opportunity was given to mend that 
which was broken and disjointed. Geary's division was ordered 
back to occupy its abandoned works, and having marched to a 
point opposite, on the Baltimore pike, was making for them 
directly across the fields, all unsuspicious of danger, when it was 
suddenly arrested by a volley from behind a stone wall, by which 
one officer and three men of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania were 
killed, and ten wounded. Believing that he was being fired into 
by men of the First brigade, General Kane, who was in advance, 
withdrew to the pike, and marching up nearer the Cemetery 
Kill, again proceeded towards the breastworks, and after connect- 
ing with the right of Greene, sent forward skirmishers, who soon 



FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 287 

met the enemy, and then for the first time he realized that the 
foe, in strong force, was in full possession of all of the eastern 
part of Culp's Hill. 

Geary immediately formed on the right of Greene, stretching 
out nearly at right-angles to the main line of battle, taking ad- 
vantage of the ground which was here quite broken, covered with 
loose rocks and ledges, and a medium growth of forest trees. The 
men slept upon their arms, only disturbed by occasional firing 
of skirmishers. During the night, Ruger's division was brought 
back and posted upon the flank and rear of the enemy, and Gen- 
eral Williams assumed chief command. At three o'clock on the 
morning of the 3d, objects could be seen moving cautiously about 
on the rebel line, and it soon became evident that the foe was 
preparing for a charge. General Kane was upon the alert, and 
quickly divined the purpose. His men were aroused, and the 
whole line was prepared for action. General Geary discerned 
the advantage which would be gained by opening the battle him- 
self, instead of allowing the enemy to charge with the impression 
that he was surprising the Union line. Hence, at twenty minutes 
before four, he discharged his pistol, which was the signal for 
opening along his whole front. " The Confederate General John- 
son's division led," says General Kane, in his official report, " fol- 
lowed by Rodes. The statement of our prisoners is, that they 
advanced in three lines, but they appeared to us only as closed in 
mass. Every advantage was taken of rock and tree and depression, 
on both sides, the lines being within close range, and the fight, for 
the most part, partook of the nature of sharp-shooting on a grand 
scale. Occasionally the enemy formed in heavy lines and charged ; 
but before they could reach the Union front, so terrible was the 
slaughter, that the survivors would not respond to the frantic 
appeals of their officers to advance." 

As the day wore on, the heat from the fire and smoke of battle, 
and the scorching of the July sun, became so intense as to be 
almost past endurance. Men were completely exhausted in 
the progress of the struggle, and had to be often relieved ; but, 
revived by fresh air and a little period of rest, again returned to 
the front. " We ceased firing, occasionally," says Kane, " for a 
minute or two, to induce the enemy to come out of advantageous 



288 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

positions, when they paid for their temerity ; but with this ex- 
ception, kept up a fire of unintermitting strength for seven hours." 
As soon as it was light, and the position of the Union forces 
was sufficiently determined to fire with safety, the artillery, 
posted on little eminences to the rear, opened upon the points 
where the rebels were supposed to be, for friend and foe were 
hidden from view by the dark foliage of the wood. Whitelaw 
Reid, now Editor of the New York Tribune, who was upon the 
field throughout the last two days, as chronicler of the battle, 
says : " I had gone down the Baltimore pike at night, to find a 
resting place. Coming up between four and five, I heard clearly 
on the right the old charging cheer. Once, twice, three times I 
counted it, as my horse pushed his way for less than a mile 
through the curious or coward throng that ebbed and flowed 
along the pike. Each time a charge was made, each time the 
musketry fire leaped out from our line more terrific than before, 
and still the ground was held. To the left and centre, firing 
gradually ceased. All interest was concentred on this fierce 
contest on the right; the rest of the line on either side was 
bracing itself for still more desperate work. From four to five, 
there was heavy cannonading also, from our batteries nearest the 
contested points, but the artillery fire diminished and presently 
ceased. The rebels made no reply ; we were firing at random, 
and it was a useless waste of ammunition. A cloud of smoke 
curled up from the dark woods on the right ; the musketry crash 
continued with unparalleled tenacity and vehemence, wounded 
men came back over the fields, a few stragglers were hurried out 
to the front, ammunition was kept conveniently near the line. 
In the fields to the left of the Baltimore pike stood the reserve 
artillery, with horses harnessed to the pieces and ready to move 
on the instant. Cavalry, too, was drawn up in detachments here 
and there. Moved over already within supporting distance of 
Slocum's line, stood a part of Sedgwick's corps, the reserve of 
to-day, ready for the emergency that seemed likely soon to de- 
mand it. . . . The Rodman guns on the hill [Powers', Slocum's 
headquarters], were all manned, and the gunners were eager to 
try their range, but it still seemed useless. ... As I rode down 
the slope and up through the wheatfields to Cemetery Hill, the 



FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 039 

batteries began to open again on points along our cuter line. 
They were evidently playing on what had been Slocum's line of 
yesterday. The rebels, then, were still in our rifle-pits. Presently 
the battery on Slocum's hill gained the long-sought permission, 
ahd opened, too, aiming apparently in the same direction. Other 
batteries along the inner line, just to the left of the Baltimore 
pike [McAllister's Hill], followed the signal, and as one after 
another opened up, till every little crest between Slocum's head- 
quarters and Cemetery Hill began belching its thunder, I had to 
change my course through the wheatfields to avoid our own 
shells. Still no artillery response from the rebels. Could they 
be short of ammunition ? Could they have failed to bring up all 
their guns ? " 

To one conversant with the ground, it is now apparent why 
the enemy did not reply. The creek, the forest, and the steep 
acclivities, made it utterly impossible for him to move up his 
guns, and this circumstance constituted the weakness of his posi- 
tion, and the futility of his occupation of this part of the line. 
Could he have supported his advance with powerful artillery, he 
might have made a more serious break, and defied all attempts 
to rout him from this ground. But though he fought with a 
determined bravery well worthy the name of the old-time leader, 
yet he gained no ground, and had sustained terrible losses. Un- 
willing to accept the hopelessness of their situation, or the possi- 
bility of ultimate failure, the rebel leaders gathered in their 
scattered strength and prepared to deliver a final charge, with 
such determined might as they confidently anticipated would 
utterly break down and scatter any force which could oppose 
them. The men were encouraged with the hope of victory, and 
were appealed to, by the memories of other fields. Every incen- 
tive was employed to stimulate their zeal. The charge was made 
full upon the line held by Kane's brigade. With little inter- 
mission, his men had been engaged since early dawn ; but, though 
exhausted by fatigue and oppressive heat, they were as resolute 
aud full of fight as at the first, There had been a lull in the 
battle, a brief respite, and the dense cloud of sulphurous smoke 
had lifted, giving place to a gust of sweet air. It was the calm 
that precedes the storm. Suddenly the quiet was broken by a 

19 



290 MARTIAL 1>KKDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

yell bursting from thousands of lungs, and the next instant 
their grey lines emerged in sight, dashing madly on. Singularly 
enough, they were preceded a few yards by a rabid dog, with 
vengeful eyes and teeth, yelping and sounding defiance. They 
had scarcely come into easy musket range, when the men in blue 
along the line sprang to their feet and poured in a deliberate 
volley. The shock was terrible. The on-coming force was stag- 
gered, and for a moment sought shelter behind trees and rocks ; 
but obedient to the voices of their officers they struggled on, some 
of the more desperate coming within twenty paces of the Union 
front. " It cannot be denied," says Kane, " that they behaved 
courageously." They did what the most resolute could do ; but 
it was all in vain, for never were men more firmly rooted to the 
ground, and less in the mood to be torn from it than were Kane's 
forces. Broken and well nigh annihilated, the survivors of the 
charge staggered back, leaving the ground strewn with their dead 
and desperately wounded. " Then did the shouts of victory," 
says a soldier, who bore a musket and shared in the triumph, 
'• resound and echo from all parts of the line on the right flank, 
telling our comrades miles away of the result, and Lee's discom- 
fiture. Men cheered themselves hoarse, laughed, rolled them- 
selves upon the ground, and threw their caps high in air, while 
others shook hands with comrades, and thanked God that the 
Star Corps had again triumphed." 

Though this was the last of the enemy's determined assaults, 
a vigorous fusilade was kept up along his whole front. But now 
a cordon was being drawn about him, which was beginning to 
threaten his way of retreat. A brigade was thrown in upon his 
flank on Rock Creek, which sent a few well directed volleys into 
his rear, and when, soon after, Geary charged from the front, the 
foe easily yielded to the pressure, and the breastworks were again 
joyfully occupied, after a struggle rarely paralleled for prolonged 
severity. This flank was now secure ; but the enemy still held 
a barricade in the immediate front of the breastworks, and kept 
a skirmish line well advanced, from which a deadly fire was 
directed upon any object which showed itself above the defences. 
Beyond this, no further offensive movements were made. 

But, what a field was this! For three hours of the pre- 



FIGHTING ON THE EIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 9QI 

vious evening, and seven of the morning, had the most terrible 
elements of destruction known to modern warfare been wielded 
with a might and a dexterity rarely if ever paralleled. The 
wood in which the battle had been fought was torn and rent 
with shells and solid shot, and pierced with innumerable minie 
balls. Trees were broken off and splintered, and that entire 
forest, where the battle raged most furiously, was, on the follow- 
ing year, leafless, the stately but mute occupants having yielded 
up their lives with those whom they overshadowed. The 
ground, as it presented itself when the battle was over, bore a 
mournful spectacle. " We awoke early on the 5th," says the 
soldier above quoted, " as we had done on the three preceding 
mornings, and discovered that the foe had disappeared from our 
front. A number of us immediately sprang over the breastworks, 
and descended the hill towards the creek. Before advancing many 
paces, we came upon numberless forms clad in grey, either stark 
and stiff or else still weltering in their blood. It was the most sick- 
ening and horrible sight I had yet witnessed. Many of the dead 
bodies had lain here for twenty-four hours, and had turned to a 
purplish black, being greatly distended and emitting a horrible 
stench. Turning whichever way we chose, the eye rested upon 
human forms, lying in all imaginable positions, some upon their 
backs, others upon their faces, and others still upon their knees, 
the body supported against a rock. Not a few were killed while 
in readiness to discharge their pieces, the bodies still in position. 
Some of them had erected a slight protection of stone against 
the front and right flank fire, yet the fatal bullet reached them 
even there. We were surprised at the accuracy, as well as the 
bloody results of our fire. It was indeed dreadful to witness. 
Further down the hill, we found Major Light, Assistant Ad- 
jutant-Geiieral on Ewell's staff, dead, as well as his horse, 
which lay partly upon him. One of the rebel wounded, in- 
formed us that he had been killed while superintending one 
of the advances made against us during the night. We turned 
from the sickening spectacle of the dead to the wounded, of 
whom there were many, all helpless ; those who could be, 
having already been removed. To these we gave the contents 
of our canteens. Their haversacks were better filled than our 



292 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

own, for they had good bacon and pork, which they had 
foraged from the farmers of the Cumberland Valley." General 
Geary relates that while passing over the field after the battle. 
his attention was called to one of the enemies killed who must 
have been an anomaly among men. The dead, after lying in the 
hot sun for a day, always appear distorted. But this man was 
nearly seven feet in stature, of giant proportions, and his body 
was completely covered with hair like an animal. He had ap- 
parently belonged to a Virginia organization, and had fallen in 
one of those desperate charges which the old Stonewall brigade 
had delivered. Of such commanding figure, his body w r as a target 
for the unerring rifles of Geary's men. 

Thus ended the fighting upon the right, which, though inter- 
rupted by a few hours of darkness, and made to reach into two 
days, was really one battle; but in considering the influences 
which swayed the two commanders, the aspects of the field at 
the close of the second day should alone be regarded. 

The results of that day on the part of the enemy were, in a 
measure, successful, but not to that extent which had been 
hoped. Longstreet had made his assault with great pow r er. He 
had driven the Union line back from the Peach Orchard, and 
the rugged position to the south and east of it, and from the 
whole length of the Emmittsburg road, gaining ground nearly 
three-quarters of a mile in width at the centre, and running out 
to a point at either end. But he had failed to gain Little Round 
Top, which was the great advantage craved ; and he had like- 
wise been unable to grasp the wooded eminence to the right 
and front of Little Round Top, and the heavy wooded ground 
northeast of the wdieatfield, which served as outposts to the 
citadel. At Cemetery Hill he had been signally repulsed, suffer- 
ing severe losses and gaining no advantage whatever. On the 
extreme Union right, he had effected a lodgment, and had pushed 
forward in dangerous proximity to the very vitals of the army; 
but darkness fell before the fruits of the manoeuvre could be 
gathered, and the night was sure to give opportunity for disposi- 
tions which would oust him from his already dear-bought advan- 
tage. The outlook was not, therefore, particularly encouraging. 
A good share of the potential force of his army had been spent, 



FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 293 

and on no part of the field had any real, substantial gain been 
made. In his official report Lee, says : " After a severe struggle, 
Longstreet succeeded in getting possession of and holding the 
desired ground. Ewell also carried some of the strong positions 
which he assailed, and the result was such as to lead to the 
belief that he would ultimately be able to dislodge the enemy. 
The battle ceased at dark. These partial successes determined 
me to continue the assault next day." It will be seen that he 
does not speak in very strong terms of the results of the day's 
work, terming them " partial successes." 

Curiosity is excited to know the feelings of the citizens of 
Gettysburg during these days of terror and destruction, as they 
were now entirely within the enemy's lines. Professor Jacobs, 
who gives many interesting experiences, says : " To us, however, 
who were at the time within the rebel lines, the result seemed 
doubtful ; and gloomy forebodings filled our minds as we laid our- 
selves down, to catch, if possible, a little sleep. The unearthly 
yells of the exultant and defiant enemy had, during the afternoon, 
been frequently heard even amidst the almost deafening sounds 
of exploding cannon, of screaming and bursting shells, and of 
the continuous roar of musketry ; and it seemed to us, judging 
from the character and direction of these mingled noises, that the 
enemy had been gaining essentially on our flanks. At about six 
p. m., it is true, we heard 'cheering' different from that which 
had so often fallen dolefully upon our ears ; and some of the 
rebels said to each other, ' Listen ! the Yankees are cheering.' 
But whilst this — which we afterwards found to have been the 
cheering of General Crawford's men, as they charged down the 
face of Little Round Top — afforded us temporary encouragement, 
the movement of Rocles' division, which we saw hurried forward 
on a double-quick for the purpose of uniting in a combined attack 
upon our right centre and flank, the incessant and prolonged 
musketry fire, and the gradual cessation of the reports of our 
artillery on Cemetery Hill, caused us to fear that our men had 
been badly beaten, and that our guns had either been captured 
or driven back from the advantageous position they had occu- 
pied. . . . The rebels returned again to our street at ten p. m., 
and prepared their supper, and soon we began to hope that all 



294 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was not lost. Some of them expressed their most earnest indig- 
nation at the foreigners — the Dutchmen — for having shot down 
bo many of their men. . . . We afterwards found the explana- 
tion of this indignation when we learned what had taken place 
that evening on the eastern flank of Cemetery Hill. Then again, 
Boon after this, some were heard to say : ' The Yankees have a 
good position, and we must drive them out of it to-morrow.' This 
assured us that our men had been able to hold their position, 
and that our lines were unbroken. There seemed now to be an 
entire absence of that elation and boastfulness which they mani- 
fested when they entered the town on the evening of the 1st 
of July. Still later at night, one said to another in tones of 
great earnestness, ' I am very much discouraged,' from which we 
learned that the results of the day were not in accordance with 
their high expectations, although they said, during the evening, 
they had been driving us on our right and our left." 

If such was the aspect at the rebel headquarters and in the 
town, what was it within the Union lines ? On the left severe 
lighting had occurred. Terrible losses had been sustained, and 
though driven back from the advanced line, a new one had been 
taken that was strong in itself throughout many of its parts, and 
had now been made doubly strong by art. It had the advantage 
of being much shorter than the first, and hence required a less 
number of men to hold it. At the centre, where Howard was, 
the killed and wounded were numerous, but not an inch had 
been lost, and there w r as very good assurance from the result of 
the mad attempt upon it, that such temerity would not be 
repeated. On the extreme right, works which had been left 
without a defender had been occupied, the foe walking coolly in 
and taking undisputed possession. But the troops who were in 
position, and who had been struck by the enemy, held their own 
with a stubbornness and a heroism that will shed a halo over 
this part of the field, as long as the struggles of Gettysburg 
shall be recounted. Hence no ground, that was defended even 
here had been lost. Could this ground, which had unopposed 
hen occupied, be repossessed, and this slight break be repaired, 
the Union situation for delivering a defensive battle would be 
admirable. There had, indeed, been severe losses during the two 



FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 295 

days of fighting. The First corps, the Eleventh, the Third, parts 
of the Second and the Fifth, and one brigade of the Twelfth, had 
been subjected to the most terrible shocks, and at least a third 
of their numbers had been blotted out ; but what remained were 
more defiant and full of stubborn valor than ever, and would 
everywhere make a gallant stand, while the whole of the Sixth 
corps, most of the Twelfth, and parts of the Second and Fifth 
were comparatively fresh. 

But though this hopeful view in reality existed, there appears 
to have been entertained a despondent one at headquarters. 
Just previous to the opening of the battle on the afternoon of the 
2d, a council of corps commanders had been summoned, which, 
before proceeding to business, or even before all the officers had 
arrived, had been broken up by the roar of the artillery which 
heralded the fight. What the object of that meeting was, and 
what business would have been transacted, has never trans- 
pired. But later in the evening, and before the fighting had 
entirely subsided on the right, another council was held at 
which General Butterfield, General Meade's Chief of staff, reports 
that the only question put was, " Whether our army should 
remain on that field and continue the battle, or whether we 
should change to some other position." The minutes of that 
council appear to have been lost ; but the majority voted to stay 
and fight it out there, though General Newton is reported to 
"have said that " he was not prepared to vote to leave it, but 
he wanted the council to understand that he had objections to 
it." "After the council had finished," says Butterfield, "General 
Meade arose from the table, and remarked that in his opinion, 
Gettysburg was no place to fight a battle." General Meade in 
his supplementary testimony declares that the object of this 
council was not to consider the question of withdrawal, but, 
" first, whether it was necessary for us to assume any different 
position from what we then held; and secondly, whether, if we 
continued to maintain the position we then held, our operations 
the next day should be offensive or defensive." 

With the exception of General Butterfield, General Hancock 
is the only officer who gives a clear and connected account of 
this council, though all agree, that such a question was pro- 



296 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

pounded. General Hancock testifies: '"There was a council held 
that evening at General Meade's headquarters. All the corps 
commanders were sent for, I was present. Some of this fight- 
ing was going on at twilight, and after we had assembled. . . . 
Alter each corps commander had reported the actual condition 
of things along his front, the question was submitted to the 
council, General Meade being present, and General Buttcrfield 
questioning the members, whether we should remain there or 
the army fall back to a better position — I understood with a 
view of protecting our supplies. One corps commander, I think 
it was General Newton, said he did not think the position of 
Gettysburg a very good one. General Gibbon, Avho was the 
junior officer, I believe, and voted first, said that he had not 
seen the entire ground, but he had great confidence in General 
Newton's military eye for these matters, and he voted in accord- 
ance with that view of the ease, except that he objected to any- 
thing that looked like a retreat. I understood afterwards that 
General Newton really had the same view, and did not propose 
to make a retreat. But all the other-commanders, I understood. 
said they wished to fight the battle there, and General Meade 
announced that to be the decision. The council then adjourned, 
and that was the last operation of the second day of the fight.'' 
This testimony of General Hancock may be taken as a correct 
statement of the business transacted. For offensive operations 
the field was not favorable, and if the enemy had succeeded in 
making a permanent lodgment in rear of the right wing, the 
position of the Union army would have been an anomalous one, 
calling for wise consideration. It was this uncertainty in the 
mind of General Meade, and the desire to have the explanations 
of his corps commanders who knew the ground each on his own 
part of the field much better than he himself could, that induced 
him to call the council. The question of staying or retiring, 
involved in its discussion the information which he sought. 

In the first grey of the morning of the 3d, opened the struggle 
for the mastery of the right, as has been already related, which 
ended in the complete rout of the enemy, and the reestahlish- 
ment of that Hank. From a little after ten, when the battle on 
this part of the line gradually died away, until after one P. M., 



FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 997 

there Avas a complete lull in the fighting. But it was apparent 
by the movement of troops and guns on the part of the enemy, 
which could be plainly detected from various points in the Union 
line, that preparations were in progress for another attack. Dis- 
positions were accordingly made to meet the onset from what- 
ever quarter it might come. Batteries were repaired and 
replaced, ammunition was brought up in convenient distance, 
and the infantry line was revised and strengthened. Nor was 
the cavalry idle. Kilpatrick, who had encountered Stuart at 
Hanover, was on the lookout for the latter as he returned from 
Carlisle. At Hunterstown, on the evening of the 2d, they had 
met, and there ensued a warm artillery engagement in which the 
enemy was driven ; Kilpatrick then moved over to the Baltimore 
pike, and was thence ordered on the morning of the 3d to the 
extreme left, where he was joined by Merritt, who had come up 
from Emmittsburg. It was here posted to guard against any 
flank movement in that direction. Gregg was sent out upon the 
right between the York and Bonaughtown roads, where he en- 
countered the enemy and drove him back. 




CHAPTER XIII. 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 




INCE the Union army had come into its present 
position, on the evening of the 1st of July, the 
rebel leader had exerted his utmost efforts to put it 
to rout. He had, with much skill and daring, at- 
tempted, first to break the left flank and gain that 
commanding ground. With equal pertinacity, he 
had striven to break and hold the left centre. On 
the right centre he had made a bold, yea, reckless 
attack, with some of the most daring troops in his 
army. Finally, he had sent the major part of a 
corps to fall upon the extreme right, where he 
made an entrance, and for more than twelve hours 
held it. But in all these operations he had been 
foiled, and for all the extravagant waste of the strength of 
his army, he had no substantial advantage to show. Unless 
he could strike his antagonist at some vital point, and send home 
the shaft, the battle to him was hopelessly lost, and he would 
no longer be able to remain on Northern soil. To stand on 
the defensive, or attempt to manoeuvre in presence of a victo- 
rious foe, would be fatal; for he had no supplies except what 
he foraged for. 

He accordingly determined to hazard all on one desperate 
throw. He had one division, that of Pickett of Longstreet's 
corps, which had not yet been in the fight, having just come up 
to the front from Chambersburg. This, with other of the freshest 
and best of his troops, he determined to mass on his right centre, 
opposite the point where Wright's brigade had, the night before, 
made so gallant a charge on Humphreys' division, and, after 
having disposed all the artillery he could use to advantage on 
the two miles of line from which he would concentrate its fire, 

298 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 299 

and had subjected the fatal spot on the Union line to a terrific 
cannonade, to hurl this mass of living valor upon that scourged, 
and as he hoped, shattered front, with the expectation of break- 
ing through by the weight and power of the shock. To this end, 
artillery was brought up from the reserve and from his extreme 
left. The infantry was likewise gathered in, Pickett's division 
having a place between Anderson's and Heth's of Hill's corps, 
Hill being charged with supporting Pickett when the time of 
action should come, and Longstreet over all. 

On the Union side, the space from which artillery could be 
used was much shorter than that which the enemy held, and 
hence a proportionately less number of pieces was brought into 
play. On the right, commencing with Cemetery Hill, was Major 
Osborne with the batteries of Ricketts, Weiderick, Dilger, Bancroft, 
Eakin, Wheeler, Hill, and Taft. But few of these, however, from 
their location, could be used to advantage. Next him, directly 
in front of Meade's headquarters, commencing at Zeigler's Grove, 
and extending south along Hancock's front, was Major Hazzard 
with the batteries of Woodruff, Arnold, Cushing, Brown, and 
Rosty. Still further to the left, reaching down to the low ground 
where, by training the guns obliquely to the right, a raking fire 
could be delivered on the assaulting lines, were the batteries of 
Thomas, Thompson, Phillips, Hart, Sterling, Rock, Cooper, Dow, 
and Ames, under Major McGilvray. Away to the left, on the 
summit of Little Round Top, were those of Gibbs and Ritten- 
house. " We had thus," says General Hunt, Chief of artillery, 
"on the western crest line, seventy-five guns, which could be 
aided by a few of those on Cemetery Hill." From eighty to 
ninety guns were hence in position for effective service. Later, 
when the enemy's infantry charged, Fitzhugh's, Parson's, Weir's, 
Cowan's, and Daniel's batteries were brought up to reinforce the 
line and take the place of disabled and unserviceable guns. Of 
infantry, there was the division of Robinson of the First corps at 
Zeigler's Grove, and to his left were the divisions of Hays and 
Gibbon of the Second corps, and that of Doubleday of the First 
corps. Still farther to the left, were Caldwell of the Second corps, 
and parts of the Third, Fifth and Sixth corps. 

At about one o'clock p. m., the enemy, having perfected all his 



300 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

plans, made the attack. Silence, for more than two hours, had 
reigned, when, of a sudden, 150 guns were run to the front. No 
sooner were they planted and sighted, than from their mouths 
tongues of flame leaped forth throughout the whole lurid circum- 
ference, and the ground rocked as in the throes of an earthquake. 
For an instant, the air was filled with a hissing, bursting, fiery 
cloud, and a torrent, as if suddenly let loose in mid-sky, hitherto 
all glorious and serene, descended, in its death-dealing mission, 
upon the long lines of the living crouched below. Nor was it 
the casual dash of a fitful April da}'; but in steady torrents it 
descended. The Union guns were not unprepared, and from 
eighty brazen throats the response was made, in tones 

" That mocked the deep-mouthed thunder." 

The Union infantry officers had cautioned their men to hug 
closely the earth and to take shelter behind every object which 
could afford them protection, well knowing that this cannonade 
was only the prelude to an infantry attack. The enemy's 
infantry was out of harm's reach. But notwithstanding every 
precaution was taken to shelter the Union troops, the destruction 
was terrible. Men were torn limb from limb, and blown to 
atoms by the villainous shells. Horses were disembowelled, 
and thrown prostrate to Writhe in death agonies. Caissons, filled 
with ammunition, were exploded, cannon rent, and steel-banded 
gun-carriages knocked into shapeless masses. Solid shot, Whit- 
worth, chain shot, shrapnell, shells, and every conceivable mis- 
sile known to the dread catalogue of wars art, were ceaselessly 
hurled upon that devoted ground. Major Harry T. Lee relates 
an incident that occurred while lying prostrate near General 
Doubleday, whose aid he was, which illustrates the indifference 
with which one long schooled in military duty may come to 
look upon the most appalling clangers. The General, having 
been busy manoeuvring his troops, had had no dinner. He 
had already had two horses killed, and having thrown him- 
self upon the ground, had pulled from his pocket a sandwich, 
which he was about to eat, when a huge missile from one of the 
enemy's guns struck the ground within a few feet of his head, 
deluging his sandwich with sand. Coolly turning to the Major, 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 301 

he remarked, " That sandwich will need no pepper," and imme- 
diately proceeded with his lunch. 

Scarcely had the battle opened, ere the powerful missiles began 
to fall in the very midst of the little farmhouse, where General 
Meade had made his headquarters. As the shots began to strike 
about him, the General came to the door and told the staff who 
were in waiting, that the enemy manifestly had the range of his 
quarters, and that they had better go up the slope fifteen or 
twenty yards to the stable. " Every size and form of shell," says 
Mr. Wilkinson, in his correspondence from the field to the New 
York Times, " known to British and American gunnery, shrieked, 
moaned, and whistled, and wrathfully fluttered over our ground. 
As many as six in a second, constantly two in a second, bursting 
and screaming over and around the headquarters, made a very 
hell of fire that amazed the oldest officers. They burst in the 
yard — burst next to the fence, on both sides garnished as usual 
with the hitched horses of aids and orderlies. The fastened 
animals reared and plunged with terror. Then one fell, then 
another. Sixteen lay dead and mangled before the fire ceased, 
still fastened by their halters, which gave the impression of being 
wickedly tied up to die painfully. These brute victims of cruel 
war touched all hearts. Through the midst of the storm of 
screaming and exploding shells, an ambulance, driven by its 
frenzied conductor at full speed, presented to all of us the mar- 
vellous spectacle of a horse going rapidly on three legs. A hinder 
one had been shot off at the hock. A shell tore up the little step 
at the headquarters cottage, and ripped bags of oats as with a 
knife. Another soon carried off one of its two pillars. Soon a 
spherical case burst opposite the open door. Another ripped 
through the low garret. The remaining pillar went almost im- 
mediately to the howl of a fixed shot that Whitworth must have 
made. During this fire, the horses at twenty and thirty feet 
distant were receiving their death, and soldiers in Federal blue 
were torn to pieces in the road, and died with the peculiar yells 
that blend the extorted cry of pain with horror and despair." 

For an hour and three-quarters this angry storm continued. 
During this space, which seemed an age to the unhappy victims 
upon whom it beat, the enemy had delivered a ceaseless fire. 



302 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

General Howe, an accomplished soldier, testifies : " I have never 
heard a more furious cannonade, nor one where there was greater 
expenditure of ammunition on both sides." The Union guns 
did not, however, continue to answer the whole time ; but, that 
the guns might have time to cool, and ammunition be saved for 
the emergency which was sure to follow, the order was given to 
cease firing. " I ordered them," says General Hunt, Chief of 
artillery, "commencing at the Cemetery, to slacken their fire 
and cease it, in order to see what the enemy were going to do, 
and also to be sure that we retained a sufficient supply of ammu- 
nition to meet, what I then expected, an attack. At the same 
time, batteries were ordered up to replace those guns which had 
been damaged, or which had expended too much ammunition." 

The enemy, perhaps interpreting this silence in part to the 
accuracy and telling effect of his fire, soon after ordered his own 
to cease. And now was discovered the indications of the part 
which his infantry was to play. Just in front of the rebel forti- 
fied line, which was concealed from view by a curtain of wood, 
a mass of infantry suddenly appeared, and were cpiickly mar- 
shalled in battle array. Pickett's fresh division was formed in 
two lines, Kemper and Garnett leading, supported by Armistead, 
with Wilcox and Perry of Hill's corps upon his right, so disposed 
as to protect his flank, and Pettigrew commanding Hcth's divi- 
sion, and Trimble with two brigades of Pender, also of Hill's 
corps, for a like purpose upon his left. Thus compactly formed, 
presenting as it were three fronts, this powerful body, estimated 
at 18,000 men, moved forward to the assault. 

"Firm paced and plow a horrid front they form, 
Still as the breeze but dreadful as the storm." 

No obstacle intervened to prevent the sight of the enemy's 
formation and advance by nearly the entire Union line, so that 
the dullest private, alike with the General, saw plainly from the 
start the cloud that was gathering over him. Each as he grasped 
his weapon, felt that the impact of that well-wrought and high- 
tempered mass would be terrible. Was there strength enough 
in that thin line against which it was hurrying, to withstand 
the dreadful shock, and send it back in fatal rebound ? 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 303 

The position of that portion of Hays' troops, commencing near 
Bryan's well, just south of Zeigler's Grove, was favorable for 
resistance. For a shelving rock crops out along the ridge, three 
or four feet in height, looking towards the Emmittsburg pike 
upon the crest of which, extending a quarter of a mile, is a low 
stone fence composed of loose boulders, and behind this, affording 
very good shelter, they were lying. To the left of Hays the 
fence makes a sharp angle jutting out towards the pike, for a few 
rods, when the same low stone fence, surmounted by a single 
rail, continues on towards the left along the ridge which gradu- 
ally falls away, and at the plain it is met by a post-and-rail fence, 
in front of which a slight rifle-pit had been thrown up. Com- 
mencing at the angle and extending south was General Owen's 
brigade, now temporarily commanded by General Webb, com- 
prising the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania, Owen's own, — composed 
mostly of Irishmen, whose fighting qualities had been proved in 
many desperate conflicts, and who had received the commenda- 
tions of Kearney, and Sumner, and Hooker, upon the Peninsula 
for their gallantry, — the Seventy-first, originally recruited and 
led by the gallant Edward D. Baker, untimely cut off at Ball's 
Bluff, since commanded by Wistar the friend and associate of 
Baker, and now by Colonel R. Penn Smith ; and the Seventy- 
second, Colonel Baxter. The two former were upon the front ; 
the latter held in reserve, in a second line just under the hill 
to the rear. To the left of this brigade were Hall and Harrow, 
and General Doubleday, who that day, in addition to Stone's 
(now Dana's), and Rowley's, had Stannard's brigade of Vermont 
troops, of which the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Sixteenth were 
present for duty. Doubleday had put the One Hundred and 
Fifty-first Pennsylvania and the Twentieth New York State 
militia upon the front, with the remainder in two lines in rear, 
except Stannard's men, whom he had thrown out to a little 
grove several rods in advance of the whole line, where they 
were disposed to resist a front attack. 

As the rebel infantry began to move forward, its direction was 
such that Pickett's centre would strike Stannard ; but when half 
the distance had been passed over, the column suddenly changed 
direction, and, moving by the left flank till it had come opposite 



304 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Owen's brigade, again changed front and moved forward. Whether 
this manoeuvre was premeditated, or whether the discovery of 
Stannard's position, and strong front, or the fire of the batteries 
away to the Union left, caused this veering of the rebel line, is 

uncertain. Unfortunately for the enemy, when he made this turn, 
Wilcox, who commanded the right Hanking column or wing, 
instead of moving to the left with Pickett, kept straight on 
leaving Pickett's right uncovered, and open to a flank attack. 
Fortunately for the Union side, Stannard was thrown out a con- 
siderable distance in front, so that when Pickett came forward, 
Stannard was precisely in the right place to deliver a telling fire 
full upon Pickett's exposed flank. Unfortunately again for the 
enemy, Pettigrew's men, who formed Pickett's left flanking 
column, were raw troops who were ill fitted to stand before the 
storm which was to descend upon them, and had been frightfully 
broken and dispirited in the first days fight. But Pickett's 
own men were of the best, and they moved with the mien of 
combatants worthy of the steel they confronted, obedient to 
their leader's signal, and ready to go as far as who goes farthest 

This infantry column had no sooner come within cannon range, 
than the batteries to the right and left opened with solid shot, 
but, as it came nearer, shells, shrapnell, and canister were poured 
upon it in unstinted measure. Never was a grander sight beheld 
upon a battle-field than that of this devoted body of men, un- 
flinching in their onward march, though torn by the terrible fire 
of artillery, and executing with the utmost precision the evolu- 
tions of the field. As they came within musket range the Union 
infantry, who had reserved their fire, poured it in with deadly 
effect. So decimated was the front line, that for an instant it 
staggered, but, recovering itself, and being closely supported by 
the second, moved on. When it came near, the fire was re- 
turned: but to what effect? The Union men were crouching 
behind the stone wall on the shelving rock, and few bullets could 
reach them. Nothing daunted, the enemy kept boldly on. crossed 
the Emmittsburg pike, and rushed madly upon that part of the 
line where the Sixty-ninth' and Seven ty-first regiments were. 
Two or three rods to the rear of this was a little clump of small 
forest trees on the very summit of the ridge. Towards this they 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 305 

rushed as though it had been the mark set for them to reach. 
Cushin's guns, which stood just in rear of the Sixty-ninth, had 
been for the most part disabled, the gunners having all been 
killed or wounded ; but two of these were still serviceable, and 
the men of the Sixty-ninth and Seventy-first had wheeled them 
down to the stone wall within the front line, and here they were 
worked with terrible effect. Unchecked by the fire, the enemy 
pushed resolutely forward. Just before this, Colonel Smith, with 
the right wing of the Seventy-first, had retired a few rods and 
taken position behind the wall coming in from the right, where 
his men would be less exposed to the fierce fire of canister of the 
Union artillery in its immediate rear, and where it could act 
with greater effect. The left wing, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Kochersperger, in conjunction with the Sixty-ninth, hugged 
closely the stone wall, and continued to pour in death-dealing 
rounds with frightful rapidity. But the enemy, discovering that 
a portion of the wall was vacant, rushed over. This caused the 
flank to be exposed, and Kochersperger, with two companies of 
the Sixty-ninth, swung back, in order to protect it. The struggle 
was now desperate and hand to hand. A stalwart and deter- 
mined rebel soldier, having reached the Avail behind which the 
left of the Sixty-ninth still clung, called out to James Donnelly 
of company D to surrender, levelling his musket in readiness to 
fire. " I surrender," cried Donnelly, and suiting the action to 
the word, felled him to the earth with the barrel of his gun. 
Donnelly was at the time but a youth of eighteen. Corporal 
Bradley, of the same company,, while attempting to beat back an 
infuriated rebel, had his skull crushed in by a single blow. 
Rebel flags waved upon the wall within the Union line. Gen- 
eral Armistead, who led one of Pickett's front brigades, reached 
the farthest point of the enemy's advance, and with his hand 
upon a Union gun near the little grove, while under the shadow 
of the flags of his brigade, fell mortally wounded. But still only 
a small breach had been made, and that had been left in part by 
design. The vigor and power of the blow had been robbed of its 
blighting effect, long before it had reached the vital point of the 
Union line. As the column moved past the grove where Stan- 

nard's brigade had been thrust out in front by Doubleday, 
20 



306 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Stannard suddenly formed the Thirteenth and Sixteenth regi- 
ments at right-angles to the main Union line, facing northward, 
and poured in a withering enfilading fire. This, Pickett's troops 
were able to withstand but a few minutes, and over 2000 of 
them laid down their arms and were conducted to the rear. On 
Pickett's left, a like disaster befell. For Pettigrew, with his 
green and already decimated levies, quailed before the terrific fire 
of Hays' men, and a number fully as large was swept in from 
that wing. The front centre of Pickett's own men continued 
the struggle through mere desperation. But no equal body of 
troops could have effected a lodgment there, or done more than 
had these. For the Union line, though slightly broken upon its 
front, was in a situation, unaided, to have beaten back the assail- 
ants, the Seventy-second regiment being but a few paces in rear 
of the little cluster of trees which marked the farthest rebel ad- 
vance, and was in condition to have made a stubborn resistance. 
But beyond the original lines, the moment it was seen that the 
enemy was about to strike at this point, supports were hurried 
forward. The brigades of Hall, and Harrow, the Nineteenth 
Massachusetts, the One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, 
the Twentieth New York State militia, and the Forty-second of 
the line, being in close proximity, had reached the threatened 
ground, and stood four lines deep, ready to receive the foe, had 
he pushed his advantage. 

The struggle was soon over, the greater portion of the living 
either surrendering or staggering back over the prostrate forms 
of the dead and the dying which strewed thickly all that plain. 
In the few moments during which the contest lasted, by far the 
greater part of that gallant division, that marched forth " in all 
the pride and circumstance of glorious war," had disappeared. 
Four thousand five hundred of them were prisoners, many more 
were wounded and weltering in their blood, and a vast number 
were stiff and stark in death. 

The brigades of Wilcox and Perry, as already noticed, thrown 
off to the right, failing to move with Pickett's division, having 
sheltered themselves for the moment, no sooner saw that Pickett 
had gone forward and penetrated the Union line than they 
moved up to assault farther to the south. The Union guns 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 307 

opened upon them; yet they kept on until they had reached a 
point within a few hundred yards of the front. But now Stan- 
nard was again in position to do great damage upon the flank of 
the passing column. Ordering the Sixteenth and a part of the 
Fourteenth into line again at right angles to the main line, but 
now facing south, he attacked upon the exposed flank. The 
enemy made but feeble resistance, a large number being taken 
prisoners, and the rest saving themselves by flight. 

Thus ended the grand charge, perhaps as determined, deliber- 
ate, and impetuous as was ever made on this continent. It was 
undertaken in the confident anticipation of success and hope of 
victory. It resulted in the almost utter annihilation of this fine 
body of men, with no advantage whatever to the assailants. As 
an example of the futility, and at the same time the accuracy of 
their fire, it may be stated as an observation of the writer, made 
soon after the battle, that the splashes of the leaden bullets upon 
the shelving rock and the low stone wall along its very edge, 
and behind which were Hancock's men, for a distance of half a 
mile, were so thick, that one could scarcely lay his hand upon 
any part of either the wall or the rock without touching them. 
All this ammunition was of course thrown away, not one bullet 
in a thousand reaching its intended victim. 

The field where this charge was made was of such a character, 
and so situated, that the greater part of both armies, as well as 
the population of the town, could behold it. When the terrible 
preliminary cannonade was in progress, the gravest apprehensions 
must have been excited in every Union breast ; for, while the 
rebel infantry were all out of harm's way, the Union infantry 
were in the very mouth of it. But if apprehensions were aroused 
by the cannonade, what must have been the dismay inspired by 
the sight of the terribly compacted force which followed it? How 
with bated breath did each await the issue? The view from many 
parts of the town was perfect, and the progress of the charge was 
followed with eager gaze. Dr. Humphrey, surgeon of the Buck- 
tail (Stone's) brigade, remained with the wounded on the field of 
the first day's conflict, and was a prisoner during the second and 
third days of the battle. He was assigned to duty in a hospital 
established at the Catholic church, situated on the very summit 



308 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the hill on which the town of Gettysburg is built. A rebel 
Major, who was in charge of the hospital, had been jubilant over 
what he believed were triumphs of his army in the first and 
second days of the battle. Everything was represented to be 
moving on most gloriously for his side. Sickles' corps, and all 
that had been sent to his help, had been completely demolished 
and driven out of sight, according to his representations. The 
Doctor had no means of knowing anything to the contrary, other 
than that the fire of the Union guns indicated them to be now 
substantially where they were at the first. It is probable that 
the rebel file actually believed that they were gaining ground, 
and that they would ultimately carry the day. They admitted, 
however, that the Yankees had a good position, and were making 
a fair fight. 

When the great cannonade and grand charge came to be 
delivered on the afternoon of the third day by Pickett's division, 
so elated was this rebel Major, that he invited Dr. Humphrey up 
into the belfry of the church to witness it. The prospect here 
was unsurpassed. Round Top and the Peach Orchard were in 
full view, and all the intermediate space, disclosing the Union 
and rebel lines throughout nearly their whole extent. When 
the awful cannonade had ceased, and the infantry in three lines 
with skirmishers and wings deployed, stretching away for a mile 
and a half, and moving with the precision of a grand parade, came 
on, the spectacle was transcendently magnificent. At sight of 
that noble body of men the joy and exultation of the rebel Major 
knew no bounds. " Now you will see the Yanks run." " What 
can stand before such an assault?" "I pity your poor fellows, but 
they will have to get out of the way now." "We shall be in Bal- 
timore before to-morrow night," and exclamations of similar im- 
port were constantly uttered as he rubbed his hands in glee, and 
danced about the narrow inclosure. With measured tread the 
lines went forward. They came under fire of the artillery. They 
staggered, but quailed not. They met the storm of the infantry, 
but still they swept on. As the work became desperate, the 
Major grew silent; but manifested the deepest agitation. Great 
drops of perspiration gathered on his brow, and when, finally, 
that grand body of men went down in the fight, and were next 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 309 

to annihilated, with a storm of black rage depicted on his counte- 
nance, he left the belfry without uttering a word. So desperate 
had he become that the Doctor says he dared not speak to him, 
though his inclination to cheer was almost beyond control. 

" As our eye," says Professor Jacobs, who also watched the 
charge from the town, "runs over these grounds, we can yet call 
vividly to mind the appearance of this fan-shaped mass, as we saw 
it on the day of battle, moving over towards our line, with the 
intention of penetrating it, like a wedge, and reaching our rear. 
... In a few moments a tremendous roar, proceeding from 
the simultaneous discharge of thousands of muskets and rifles, 
shook the earth ; then, in the portion of the line nearest us, a 
few, then more, and then still more rebels, in all to the number 
of about two hundred, were seen moving backwards towards the 
point from which they had so defiantly proceeded ; and at last 
two or three men carrying a single battle-flag, which they had 
saved from capture, and several officers, on horseback, followed 
the fugitives. The wounded and dead were seen strewn amongst 
the grass and grain ; men with stretchers stealthily picking up 
and carrying the former to the rear; and officers for a moment 
contemplating the scene with evident amazement, and riding 
rapidly towards the Seminary Ridge. ... So sudden and com- 
plete was the slaughter and capture of nearly all of Pickett's 
men, that one of his officers who fell wounded amongst the first 
on the Emmittsburg road, and who characterized the charge as 
foolish and mad, said that when, in a few moments afterwards, 
he was enabled to rise and look about him, the whole division 
had disappeared as if blown away by the wind." 

The victory here was signal and complete ; and it was gained 
at a much less cost in killed and wounded than were many of the 
operations on other parts of the field. Generals Hancock and 
Gibbon were wounded, but not seriously. Of Pickett's three 
brigade commanders, Armistead was mortally wounded, and left 
in the Union lines ; Kemper was severely wounded ; and Garnett 
was killed. Fourteen of his field officers, including Williams, 
Mayo, Callcott, Patton, Otey, Terry, Hun ton, Allen, Ellis, 
Hodges, Edmunds, Aylett, and Magruder, were either killed or 
wounded, only one of that rank escaping unhurt. 






010 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

General Lee had confidently counted on success in this final 
conflict, and so sure was he that the Union army would be put 
to rout that he sent out his caValry well supported by infantry, 
upon both flanks, to fall upon its rear and intensify the confusion. 
But the Union cavalry were on the alert, and ready to receive 
them. General David McM. Gregg upon the right, at the 
moment the artillery fire slackened on the front and Pickett 
began his charge, discovered the enemy's cavalry, under Hamp- 
ton, advancing on the Bonaughtown road, with the evident 
intent of forcing its way through and. gaining the Union flank 
and rear. The Third Pennsylvania cavalry was upon the skir- 
mish line, and first felt the shock. Gregg's main line was well 
in hand ; and when the skirmishers, after a brave resistance, were 
driven in, he met Hampton, avIio charged in close column of 
squadrons, with Custar's Michigan brigade — his Wolverines, as 
Custar termed them — while the skirmishers rallied and charged 
upon his flanks. The enemy started with drawn sabres; but 
according to their individual habits, many dropped them and 
took their pistols, while the Union men used the sabre alone. 
After a hard fight, in part hand to hand, the rebels were driven 
back with severe loss. A more skilful or triumphant sabre 
charge is rarely witnessed. 

While this was passing on the right, a no less stubborn, but 
far more daring and desperate engagement was in progress on the 
Union left. Kilpatrick had been sent early to operate upon that 
wing of the army, and had been busily engaged during most of 
the day, the enemy manifesting considerable activity in that 
direction. Finally, towards evening, when the clangor of battle 
upon the centre was at its height, Kilpatrick, aroused by the 
noise of the fray, ordered in the brigades of Farnsworth and 
Merritt. Eobinson's brigade of Hood's division was upon the 
rebel front, well posted behind fences and rugged ground, and 
supported by the cavalry of Stuart; but Farnsworth, who led, 
charged with the sabre, driving the foe from his shelter, and 
pressed forward up to the very mouths of the rebel guns. Here 
Farnsworth was killed, and many of his officers and men were 
killed or wounded, and the line was compelled to fall back, 
sustaining severe losses. Merrit pressed from the Union left and 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE AT GETTYSBURG. 2>l\ 

made a gallant fight ; but the rebel guns were too numerous and 
too well posted to be overcome, and Kilpatrick was obliged to 
call in his shattered ranks, and brace himself for any attempt of 
the enemy to follow and in turn become the assailants. The 
rebel column, however, by this time had little stomach for fur- 
ther offensive demonstrations. 

A little later, and soon after the repulse of Pickett, McCandless' 
brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves was ordered by Meade to 
advance from the stone wall behind which it had taken shelter 
on the evening previous, across the Wheatfield on its front, and 
drive out the enemy, who were annoying it. A gun upon the 
crest of an elevation a thousand yards distant had proved quite 
destructive, and to capture it McCandless manoeuvred his com- 
mand. With little loss he seized the gun and two caissons by 
its side. The flag of the Fifteenth Georgia, and three hundred 
prisoners were also taken, and six thousand muskets were 
collected. 

But the enemy was now becoming thoroughly aroused to the 
peril of his situation, and having gathered in his forces, he retired 
to the line of Seminary Ridge, and fell to fortifying. He feared a 
countercharge by a heavy Union force, and made every prepara- 
tion to meet it. 

General Meade, finding in the course of the artillery fire, that 
the enemy apparently had the range of his headquarters, moved 
over to Power's Hill, where he occupied the headquarters of 
General Slocum ; but, soon after his arrival there, finding that 
the signal officer whom he had left at his old headquarters had 
abandoned it, and fearing that his staff would fail to find him, he 
returned. On the way back he could plainly distinguish by the 
sound, that the enemy's infantry charge was in progress. By the 
time he had reached his headquarters the battle was virtually 
decided, and the enemy repulsed. He accordingly rode up on to 
the crest of the ridge, and as he went, met the prisoners going to 
the rear, who had been captured in the fight. 

There was some firing after he reached the summit, by which 
his own horse and that of his son were shot. It appears that as 
soon as the survivors of the assaulting column began to retire, 
the rebel artillery opened and delivered a hot fire, to cover the 



312 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

retirement of the troops, which was kept up for some moments, 
and it was from this that the General and his son lost their 
horses. Meade rode over to Little Round Top, where he ordered 
the advance of Crawford's troops for the purpose of preparing the 
way for an immediate assault. But in his testimony he says : 
" The great length of the line, and the time required to carry 
these orders out to the front, and the movement subsequently 
made before the report given to me of the condition of the forces 
in the front and left, caused it to be so late in the evening, as to 
induce me to abandon the assault which I had contemplated." 

The enemy along his whole line showed signs of trepidation, 
and was undoubtedly apprehensive of an attack. In the town 
itself the rebel wounded were gathered up and sent to the rear as 
rapidly as possible. At midnight his troops were aroused and 
drawn up in two lines along the streets, where they stood under 
arms as if awaiting a charge. The position here, and indeed 
throughout the whole of Ewell's line, was weak and exposed. 
Lee, accordingly withdrew it, and by three o'clock on the morning 
of the 4th Ewell's entire corps had disappeared from Gettysburg, 
and had taken position on the Seminary heights. Here the men 
were put to work, and during the day heavy breastworks were 
erected. Indeed, the best and strongest fortifications constructed 
by either army on the Gettysburg field were those built by the 
enemy on this day between the Chambersburg and Mummasburg 
pikes, and those at the other extremity of the rebel line, where 
that line strikes the Emmittsburg road. The position along all 
this ridge, naturally defensible, was made secure. 




CHAPTER XIV. 



THE RETREAT OF LEE FROM GETTYSBURG. 




'ENERAL LEE was now satisfied that a further 
attempt to maintain the contest would be fruitless, 
and consequently determined to yield to the inevi- 
table, and make good his retreat. And now was 
seen the great strategic advantage to him of the 
possession of Gettysburg ; for he was able to con- 
trol the shortest routes to the Potomac. Had the 
Fairfield road been under the control of the Union 
fa army, Lee's retreat could have been cut off. But 
his army lying across the two shortest roads lead- 
ing to Williamsport, he was able to retire without 
the danger of serious interruption. In his report, 
Lee says : " Owing to the strength of the enemy's 
position, and the reduction of our ammunition, a renewal of the 
engagement could not be hazarded, and the difficulty of procuring 
supplies rendered it impossible to continue longer where we were. 
Such of the wounded as were in condition to be removed, and 
part of the arms collected on the field, were ordered to Williams- 
port. The army remained at Gettysburg during the 4th, and at 
night began to retire by the road to Fairfield." This was the 
most direct road. But the wounded who could bear transporta- 
tion were started back during the night of the 3d ; and all day 
long of the 4th the two roads — the one by Fairfield and the other 
by Chambersburg, until the mountain Avas passed, and thence 
by Greenwood and Waynesborough — were incessantly filled with 
the trains. 

As already noticed, Colonel Stone, of the Bucktail brigade, was 
wounded severely in the action of the first day, and fell into the 
enemy's hands. His Adjutant-General, Captain John E. Parsons, 

313 



314 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

afterwards Colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh 
Pennsylvania regiment, unwilling to desert his bleeding chief, 
remained to care for him, and was also a prisoner. During the 
rest of the battle, he was kept under guard at a rebel hospital. 
In the following letter, he records the varying hopes and fears 
by which his bosom was swayed as the dreadful hours wore on, 
and points out the first intimations which he interpreted as 
evidence that victory had at last crowned the Union arms : " On 
the morning of the 2d of July," he says, " I obtained permission 
from the rebel General Hood, to move Colonel Stone, and to re- 
main with him. With the assistance of two soldiers, we carried 
him on a stretcher to a stone farmhouse, a half mile to the rear, 
and some 200 yards to the north of the Baltimore pike. We 
found the house deserted by the family, and in a sad condition ; 
portions of the floor torn up for plunder, the beds ripped open 
and feathers scattered over the house, and the hand of the spoiler 
visible on every side. We found a soldier of the Iron brigade 
in the house, mortally w r ounded. He died by our side that night. 
" During the afternoon of the 2d, the house was taken posses- 
sion of by the Surgical corps of Hayes' brigade, ' Louisiana Tigers,' 
as their Brigade Hospital. The desperate charges made by this 
brigade, on the evening of the 2d, brought ambulance after am- 
bulance of their wounded to the hospital. I could gather nothing 
satisfactory from their surgeons or their wounded, as to the result 
of the day; but they were in good spirits, and appeared sanguine 
of success in the end. Some of the officers who were slightly 
wounded, said to me that they were certain of success, and had 
marked out on their pocket-maps the line of march to Baltimore, 
Washington, Philadelphia, and New York. On the evening of 
the 3d, however, they seemed depressed in spirits, which first 
gave me the intimation of our victory. On the morning of the 
4th, they commenced to haul to the rear all of their wounded 
that were able to be removed. Then I was satisfied that our 
army was victorious, and that the enemy was getting ready to 
retreat. When I asked some of the officers who were so sanguine 
only the day before, why they were hauling their wounded back, 
they said it was only to a place where water was more abundant. 
But their defeat was obvious on all sides. Depressed in spirits, 





J^> 






THE RETREAT OF LEE FROM GETTYSBURG. 315 

and demoralized in manner, they hurriedly took their departure, 
and next morning at daylight, I found that the whole rebel 
army, except a light line of cavalry, had fled, leaving our hospital 
and the houses and barns about us filled with the worst of their 
wounded. By nine o'clock the cavalry line withdrew, concen- 
trated on the Chambersburg pike in front of our hospital, and took 
their departure, followed in a short time by our cavalry. Colonel 
Stone was taken in an ambulance to Gettysburg, and our surgeons 
took charge of the rebel wounded. Both the Colonel and myself 
were treated kindly by the surgeons and officers at the hospital. 
A portion of the rebel army passed our hospital in their retreat." 

The condition of the rebel army was now such that its Com- 
mander's best efforts were required to save it. The great thor- 
oughfares on the direct line to Williamsport, it is true, were his, 
and by judicious dispositions and prompt action, he had a good 
prospect of bringing it off; but the longer he delayed, the more 
precarious his situation became ; for, while his own force was 
constantly dwindling, the Union army was in a fair way to re- 
ceive important accessions, the militia in the Cumberland Valley 
and at Harrisburg, and troops from the James being already on 
the way. General Imboden, who had been sent by Lee with his 
independent mixed command of cavalry and mounted infantry, 
for the destruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and had 
come up into Pennsylvania by the way of McConnellsburg, had 
arrived on the field at Gettysburg a little after noon of the 3d, 
at the moment when the last grand charge was in full tide. His 
men were fresh, and to him Lee called, and entrusted the re- 
moval of the wounded. Imboden has published an account of 
the doings of that night of horrors, in which he labored to carry 
back to Virginia such as could, and, though in a dying state, 
would be removed : 

" When night closed upon the grand scene," he says, " our 
army was repulsed. Silence and gloom pervaded our camps. 
We knew that the day had gone against us, but the extent of 
the disaster was not known except in high quarters. The car- 
nage of the day was reported to have been frightful, but our 
army was not in retreat, and we all surmised that with to- 
morrow's dawn would come a renewal of the struggle ; and we 



316 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

knew that if such was the case, those who had not been in the 
fight would have their full share in its honors and its dangers. 
All felt and appreciated the momentous consequences of final 
defeat or victory on that great field. These considerations made 
that, to us, one of those solemn and awful nights that every one 
who fought through our long war sometimes experienced before 
a great battle. Few camp fires enlivened the scene. It was a 
warm summers night, and the weary soldiers were lying in 
groups on the luxuriant grass of the meadows we occupied, dis- 
cussing the events of the day, or watching that their horses did 
not straggle off in browsing around. 

" About eleven o'clock a horseman approached and delivered a 
message from General Lee, that he wished to see me immediately. 
I mounted at once, and accompanied by Lieutenant McPhail of 
my staff, and, guided by the courier, rode about two miles toward 
Gettysburg, where half a dozen small tents on the roadside were 
pointed out as General Lee's headquarters for the night. He 
was not there, but I Avas informed that I would find him with 
General A. P. Hill, half a mile further on. On reaching the 
place indicated, a flickering, solitary candle, visible through the 
open front of a common tent, showed where Generals Lee and 
Hill were seated on camp stools, with a county map spread upon 
their knees, and engaged in a low and earnest conversation. 
They ceased speaking as I approached, and after the ordinary 
salutations, General Lee directed me to go to his headquarters 
and wait for him. He did not return until about one o'clock, 
when he came riding along at a slow walk and evidently 
wrapped in profound thought. There was not even a sentinel 
on duty, and no one of his staff was about. The moon was high 
in the heavens, shedding a flood of soft silvery light, almost as 
bright as day, upon the scene. When he approached and saw us, 
he spoke, reined up his horse, and essayed to dismount. The 
effort to do so betrayed so much physical exhaustion that I 
stepped forward to assist him, but before I reached him he had 
alighted. He threw his arm across his saddle to rest himself, 
and fixing his eyes upon the ground, leaned in silence upon his 
equally weary horse, the two forming a striking group, as 
motionless as a statue. The moon shone full upon his massive 



THE RETREAT OF LEE FROM GETTYSBURG. 317 

features, and revealed an expression of sadness I had never seen 
upon that fine countenance before, in any of the vicissitudes of 
the war through which he had passed. I waited for him to 
speak until the silence became painful and embarrassing, when 
to break it, and change the current of his thoughts, I remarked 
in a sympathetic tone, and in allusion to his great fatigue : 

" ' General, this has been a hard day on you.' 

" This attracted his attention. He looked up and replied 
mournfully : 

" * Yes, it has been a sad, sad day to us,' and immediately 
relapsed into his thoughtful mood and attitude. Being unwilling 
again to intrude upon his reflections, I said no more. After a 
minute or two he suddenly straightened up to his full height, 
and turning to me with more animation, energy, and excitement 
of manner than I had ever seen in him before, he addressed me 
in a voice tremulous with emotion, and said : 

" ' General, I never saw troops behave more magnificently than 
Pickett's division of Virginians did to-day in their grand charge 
upon the enemy. And if they had been supported, as they. were 
to have been — but for some reason, not yet fully explained to me, 
they were not — we would have held the position they so glori- 
ously won at such a fearful loss of noble lives, and the day would 
have been ours.' 

" After a moment he added in a tone almost of agony : 

" ' Too bad ! Too bad ! ! Oh ! too bad ! ! ! ' 

" I never shall forget, as long as I live, his language, and his 
manner and his appearance and expression of mental suffering. 
Altogether, it was a scene that a historical painter might well 
immortalize had one been fortunately present to witness it. In a 
little while he called up a servant from his sleep to take his 
horse ; spoke mournfully, by name, of several of his friends who 
had fallen during the day; and when a candle had been lighted, 
invited me alone into his tent, where, as soon as we were seated, 
he remarked : ' We must return to Virginia. As many of our 
poor wounded as possible must be taken home. I have sent for 
you, because your men are fresh, to guard the trains back to Vir- 
ginia. The duty will be arduous, responsible, and dangerous, for 
I am afraid you will be harassed by the enemy's cavalry. I can 



318 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

spare you as much artillery as you require, but no other troops, 
as I shall need all I have to return to the Potomac by a different 
route from yours. All the transportation and care of the 
wounded will be entrusted to you. You will recross the moun- 
tain by the Chambersburg road, and then proceed to Williams- 
port, by any route you deem best, without halting. There rest 
and feed your animals, then ford the river, and make no halt till 
you reach Winchester, where I will again communicate with you.' 
As I was about leaving to return to my camp, he came out of his 
tent and said to me in a low tone : 

" ' I will place in your hands, to-morrow, a sealed package for 
President Davis, which you will retain in your own possession 
till you are across the Potomac, when you will detail a trusty 
commissioned officer to take it to Richmond with all possible 
dispatch, and deliver it immediately to the President. I impress 
it upon you, that, whatever happens, this package must not fall 
into the hands of the enemy. If you should unfortunately be 
captured, destroy it.' . . . Shortly after noon, the very windows 
of heaven seemed to have been opened. . . . The storm increased 
in fury every moment. Canvas was no protection against it, and 
the poor wounded, lying upon the hard, naked boards of the 
wagon-bodies, were drenched by the cold rain. Horses and 
mules were blinded and maddened by the storm, and became 
almost unmanageable. The roar of the winds and waters made 
it almost impossible to communicate orders. Night was rapidly 
approaching, and there was danger that in the darkness the 
confusion would become worse confounded. About four p. m. the 
head of the column was put in motion and began the ascent of 
the mountain. After dark I set out to gain the advance. The 
train was seventeen miles long when drawn out on the road. It 
was moving rapidly, and from every wagon issued wails of agony. 
For four hours I galloped along, passing to the front, and heard 
more — it was too dark to see — of the horrors of war than I had 
witnessed from the battle of Bull Run up to that day. In the 
wagons were men wounded and mutilated in every conceivable 
way. Some had their legs shattered by a shell or minie ball ; 
some were shot through their bodies ; others had arms torn to 
ghreds ; some had received a ball in the face, or a jagged piece of 



THE RETREAT OF LEE FROM GETTYSBURG. 319 

shell had lacerated their heads. Scarcely one in a hundred had 
received adequate surgical aid. Many had been without food 
for thirty-six hours. Their ragged, bloody, and dirty clothes, 
all clotted and hardened with blood, were rasping the tender, 
inflamed lips of their gaping wounds. Very few of the wagons 
had even straw in them, and all were without springs. The road 
was rough and rocky. The jolting was enough to have killed 
sound strong men. From nearly every wagon, as the horses 
trotted on, such cries and shrieks as these greeted the ear: 

" ' God ! why can't I die ? ' 

" ' My God ! will no one have mercy and kill me, and end my 
misery ? ' 

" ' ! stop one minute, and take me out and leave me to die on 
the roadside.' 

" ' I am dying ! I am dying ! My poor wife, my dear children ! 
what will become of you ? ' 

" Some were praying; others were uttering the most fearful 
oaths and execrations that despair could wring from them in 
their agony. Occasionally a wagon would be passed from which 
only low, deep moans and sobs could be heard. No help could 
be rendered to any of the sufferers. On, on ; we must move on. 
The storm continued and the darkness was fearful. There was 
no time even to fill a canteen with water for a dying man ; for, 
except the drivers and the guards, disposed in compact bodies 
every half mile, all were wounded and helpless in that vast train 
of misery. The night was awful, and yet in it was our safety, 
for no enemy would dare attack us when he could not distinguish 
friend from foe. ... It was my sad lot to pass the whole dis- 
tance from the rear to the head of the column, and no language 
can convey an idea of the horrors of that most horrible of all 
nights of our long and bloody war. . . . After a good deal of ha- 
rassing and desultory fighting along the road, nearly the whole 
immense train reached Williamsport a little after the middle of 
the day. . . . The dead were selected from the train — for many 
had perished on the way — and were decently buried. Straw 
was obtained on the neighboring farms ; the wounded were 
removed from the wagons and housed ; the citizens were all put 
to cooking, and the army surgeons to dressing wounds." 



320 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Imboden was unable to obey the instructions of Lee, to pause 
only to feed his beasts at Williamsport, and then ford the rive; 
and push on to Winchester ; for the sudden rains of the previous 
day had converted the Potomac into a raging torrent, giving it a 
tide of ten or twelve feet above the fording stage ; and during the 
absence of the enemy, General French, who was stationed at 
Frederick, had sent up an expedition which had partially 
destroyed the pontoon bridge. Imboden, accordingly, parked his 
train, consisting of ten thousand animals and all the wagons, and 
disposed of the wounded about the town. Until some portion of 
the rebel army should come, he knew that his situation was pre- 
carious. He had twenty-two field guns and one Whitworth siege 
piece. These he planted most advantageously upon the hills just 
above the town, and held his troops, about three thousand in 
number, in readiness to repel an attack. On the morning of the 
6th, Buford and Kilpatrick approached, and made vigorous 
demonstrations, dismounting their men and assaulting with great 
determination. But Imboden's artillery, which was skilfully 
distributed and effectively served, proved formidable, and by con- 
centrating his forces upon the point attacked, made himself more 
than a match for the assaulting column. Towards evening Fitz- 
Hugh Lee with a powerful body came to the relief of Imboden, 
followed closely by Stuart, and the Union forces were obliged to 
withdraw. The rebel infantry soon after began to arrive, and 
all further demonstrations were futile. 

As has been noticed, General Meade, the moment the result 
of the grand charge of Longstreet on the afternoon of the 3d 
was decided, had ridden to the left of the line, and ordered a 
demonstration there, with the intent to put in a heavy force and 
assault the rebel position ; but the troops were slow in moving, 
and before they could be got ready, it was too late to make the 
attempt. Several officers have since testified, that they favored 
such an attack, and strongly advised General Meade to make 
one. General Hancock says : " I think that our lines should have 
advanced immediately, and I believe we should have won a great 
victory. I was very confident that the advance would be made. 
General Meade told me before the fight, that if the enemy at- 
tacked me he intended to put the Fifth and Sixth corps on the 



THE RETREAT OF LEE FROM GETTYSBURG. 321 

enemy's flank ; I, therefore, when I was wounded and lying down 
in my ambulance, and about leaving the field, dictated a note to 
General Meade, and told him if he would put in the Fifth and 
Sixth corps, I believed he would win a great victory. I asked 
him afterwards when I returned to the army, what he had done. 
He said he had ordered the movement, but the troops were 
slow in collecting, and moved so slowly that nothing was done 
before night." 

It is possible that an instant advance by a strong column, had 
one been in readiness, might have broken the rebel line. But 
the probabilities were against it. There were, at most, but 
about 18,000 men in the enemy's assaulting column in the grand 
charge. Where was the rest of the rebel army? Principally 
concentrated upon Seminary Ridge, a good defensible position, 
running over with artillery at every point. The very best 
dispositions had doubtless been made of all but Longstreet's at- 
tacking force, that it was possible to make to meet any such 
counter assault as would naturally be anticipated. Hence there 
is little doubt that a direct assault upon that line would have 
proved to the Union side as disastrous as had that of Longstreet 
to the rebel. 

During the evening and night of the 3d, the enemy's line on 

Seminary Ridge was greatly strengthened. Ewell's entire corps 

was drawn in and placed behind it, and ample security taken for 

defending every point. It was a position nearly as strong by 

nature as that where the Union army was planted. It is true, 

that the rebel army had suffered severely. But so had the Union. 

Feeling himself strong in his position, Meade courted attack. 

May we not believe that Lee, with a similar sense of security. 

would have welcomed a Union advance ? This view, reasoning 

upon the knowledge which the Union Commander then had, 

had a strong warrant, and is doubtless that which influenced 

General Meade in withholding an attack. By information since 

obtained, we learn that such was the fact. Swinton, in his "Army 

of the Potomac," gives the testimony of General Longstreet, who 

said to him : " I had Hood and McLaws, who had not been 

engaged ; I had a heavy force of artillery ; I should have liked 

nothing better than to have been attacked, and have no doubt 
21 



022 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

I should have given those who tried as bad a reception as 
Pickett received." 

But while Lee was invincible for the moment, he had no 
preparation for holding out any length of time. Accordingly, as 
soon as darkness had closed in on the evening of the 4th, the main 
body of his army was put in motion towards Williamsport, leav- 
ing only a strong rear guard, to hold the Union forces in check 
should they attempt to follow, and before morning was beyond 
the reach of its pursuers, taking the two shortest roads which he 
completely controlled. Lee himself, with his staff, had started 
at a little after midnight of the 3d, breakfasting on the morning 
of the 4th near C. Mussleman's house on the Fairfield road. 

In the Union camp, on the evening of the 4th, a council of 
war was called, at which the four following questions Avere pro- 
pounded : " Shall this army remain here ?" " If we remain here, 
shall we assume the offensive?" " Do you deem it expedient to 
move towards Williamsport through Emmittsburg ? " " Shall we 
pursue the enemy, if he is retreating, on his direct line of re- 
treat?" Birney, Sedgwick, Sykes, Hays, and Warren voted 
in favor of remaining until there' was unmistakable evidence that 
the enemy was really on the retreat. Newton, Pleasanton, and 
Slocum were for moving at once ; and Howard was doubtful. 
The council was unanimous in favor of moving by the left flank, 
instead of following the direct route taken by the enemy, only 
sending cavalry supported by a small infantry force to operate 
upon his rear. Two reasons impelled to this last decision : first, 
the condition always imposed upon the Army of the Potomac, 
to cover Washington and Baltimore in addition to fighting the 
enemy ; and second, to follow on the track of the foe would have 
no advantage, as the enemy, having the direct, short route to 
the Potomac, and having a night's march the start, was sure to 
reach there before either his flanks or his rear could be attacked 
to much effect, a strong rear guard being at all times ready to 
make a stubborn resistance. His trains being already there, or 
at least well out of the way, and the roads all clear for his 
infantry, one night's march was ample to preclude all possibility 
of overtaking it, or of bringing it to bay. 

As soon as it became apparent, on the morning of the 5th, that 



THE RETREAT OF LEE FROM GETTYSBURG. 323 

the enemy was retreating, the Sixth corps, which had been held 
in reserve, and, so far as fighting was concerned, was fresh, though 
worn down with rapid marching, was put upon the pursuit on 
the Fairfield route. At the Fairfield pass the column was halted, 
as Sedgwick did not deem it advisable to attack here, the enemy 
holding a strong position where he could easily repel many times 
his number. Accordingly, Neill's brigade of infantry was de- 
tached, and, with the cavalry, followed the direct line of retreat 
by the Fairfield road, as did also another cavalry force by the 
Cashtown route, while the rest of the Sixth corps moved on 
through Boonsboro, and after crossing a little stream near the 
latter place, took up a position near Funkstown. 

The main body of the army remained at Gettysburg during 
the 5th, and large details were made to gather up the wounded 
and bury the dead. On the 6th the army moved, halting a day 
at Middletown for needed supplies; and, after crossing South 
Mountain, and passing Boonsboro, came up with the enemy on 
the 12th, who had formed upon a line extending from Hagers- 
town to Downiesville, which he had fortified. Lee had been 
unable to cross the Potomac, on account of its swollen condition. 
Finding that his trains and wounded could not be got over, nor 
moved higher up without great danger, he determined to defend 
himself there ; and though to fight a battle, with a raging and 
impassable river at one's back, is not an alternative to be chosen, 
it was one into which he was forced. The ground favored his 
designs, and immense labor was bestowed to make it defensible 
and safe. On the evening of the 12th, the Union army having 
by this time come up, a council of officers was held, at which all 
voted against an attack except two. Accordingly, the blow was 
withheld, and the 13th was given to reconnoitring. The result 
of that examination was such as to induce Meade to order the 
whole army to move up on the following morning at daylight 
with a view of assaulting. But, during the night of the loth, 
Lee commenced to withdraw, Ewell's corps fording the stream, 
and Longstreet and Hill crossing upon the pontoon bridge which 
had been reconstructed from parts of the old one recovered, and 
others improvised. The stream was still at high tide, and Ewell's 
men found much difficulty in stemming it ; but they " linked 



;24 



MARTIAL LEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



arms, and thus interlaced and steadied, forded the river in mass, 
nearly shoulder deep, with the loss of but three men." 

Lee says, in his report, that the crossing was not completed 
until one p. 1L, when the bridge was removed. If any considera- 
ble force did remain so late as this, he manoeuvred to preserve 
a strong front, and foiled every attempt of the Union troops to 
injure him. 

The management of the Battle of Gettysburg, on the part of 
the opposing armies, has been the subject of sharp criticism. It 
is right, yea, it is the duty of a people who maintain military 
schools, and pretend to defend their flag by force of arms, to 
question closely the conduct of every battle, by the light of the 
established principles of military science, and endeavor to detect 
the errors committed, as well as the exemplification of meri- 
torious conduct. It is only by such a critical search, that the 
useful lessons of the past may be garnered. 




CHAPTER XV. 



THE CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 




HE battle of Gettysburg, as an agency in deter- 
mining the result of the contest between the Gov- 
ernment and its assailants was the most important 
of the war. It was the beginning of the end. 
That little crown of saplings which Pickett made 
the mark towards which his troops were to aim, 
and which a part of them did actually reach, has 
been styled the " high-water mark of the rebellion." 
The star which, to that moment, had appeared in 
the ascendant, began to pale and move to its set- 
ting. Though in a military view many of its 
features are open to question, its lessons are not 
the less important. 

Lee has been blamed for being dilatory on the 
first day. He had undoubtedly sent Hill forward on that morn- 
ing to seize and hold Gettysburg, and seems not to have been 
aware that Union troops were there in much force, though he 
could not have been ignorant of the fact that a corps of the 
Union infantry was, on the night of the 30th, near at hand. 
He no doubt anticipated that the arrival of Ewell upon the flank 
of the Union line would be ample for effecting the complete over- 
throw of the small Union force assembled. Anderson's division 
of Hill's corps rested all day at Cashtown, in hearing of, and in 
plain view of the battle. But Hill no doubt considered that he 
had as many troops on the field as he could use to advantage, 
and expected at every fresh onset that the First corps would 
yield. But the obstinacy of that intrepid body of men disap- 
pointed his most sanguine expectations, and delayed his progress 
in possessing the town till near nightfall. The rebel commander 
seems to have done all that a prudent officer, regarding all the 

325 



326 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

chances, could have been expected to do. It was the unlooked- 
for and unsurpassed valor of that First corps which balked his 
plans ; for how could a body of eight thousand men, reduced 
finally to less than three, be expected to stand up nearly the 
whole day against twenty thousand, in an open field fight ? 

Lee is also severely censured for not having pressed his 
advantage on the evening of the 1st, after the First and Elev- 
enth corps had been driven from before the town. "The attack," 
says Lee, in his official report, " was not pressed that afternoon, 
the enemy's force being unknown, and it being considered advisa- 
ble to await the arrival of the rest of our troops." But what were 
the prospects of success, had Ewell attacked ? It is not probable 
that either Lee or Ewell would have held back, had a flattering 
promise of victory been presented. A direct assault upon the front 
and face of Cemetery Hill would assuredly have been attended 
by a bloody repulse. There was no point, commencing with the 
Baltimore pike and extending half way around on Culp's Hill, 
where one could have been made with any better hope of success ; 
for the guns of Stevens and the division of Wadsworth com- 
pletely covered that ground, which afforded excellent opportuni- 
ties for defence. Ewell might have pushed in, past Wadsworth's 
right, over Rock Creek and through the dense forest, as he did 
on the following evening ; but it was difficult ground, and 
entirely unexplored; besides, the Twelfth corps was just then 
coming up on the Baltimore pike, and could have at once been 
wheeled into position to have met any advance from that 
quarter. Were the prospects any better on the Union left? 
Had Ewell advanced in that direction, he would first have had 
to encounter the cavalry of Buford, drawn out so as to com- 
pletely cover that flank, with his artillery admirably posted for 
terrible execution, his skirmishers dismounted, and line of battle 
formed in such beautiful order, that it drew forth from that able 
soldier, General Warren, when he came upon the field, exclama- 
t ions of admiration. He would, in addition, have come immediately 
under the fire of Steinwehr's guns on Cemetery Hill, which would 
have completely enfiladed his lines. But had he been successful 
in passing Steinwehr's guns, and in routing the hero Buford, he 
would then have found Geary's division of the Twelfth corps 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 327 

in position, upon a line stretching away to Round Top, and 
behind Geary was the balance of the entire Twelfth corps, and 
the Third corps, General Sickles, already beginning to arrive. 
So that, on whatever side Ewell had chosen to have attacked, 
he would have been repulsed. 

A criticism is also made against the rebel leader, that his at- 
tacks on the 2d were disjointed and incoherent, and they have 
been compared to a balky team swaying back and forth upon 
a swingle-tree. On the contrary, they seem to have been made 
with rare skill. It was apparently a misfortune to him, that the 
day had not been a few hours longer ; but he made his attacks as 
soon as he could get his troops into position. His first effort was 
to brush away Ward's brigade, so as to open the way to Round 
Top. The obstinacy of Ward's men foiled this first attempt. It 
was necessary, before a second was made, that heavy attacks 
should be delivered along the whole line to the Peach Orchard, to 
prevent reinforcements being sent to Ward, which had been really 
despatched by De Trobriand, and to draw attention from the 
grand object of the fight, the possession of Round Top. The 
second attempt was successful, Hood breaking through Ward's 
line, but only to find Vincent in position on the very mount 
itself, which he had hoped to seize ; and Lee was again foiled. 
The constant sending of reinforcements into the slaughter-pen 
above and around the Wheatheld necessitated constant fighting, 
as he had seized the Peach Orchard, the key to the position, 
from which he could easily repulse every force sent against him, 
and where he could inflict far greater loss than he himself sus- 
tained. Hill withheld his attack until he saw Birney's line crum- 
ble and Humphreys' division fearfully exposed, and then made 
his determined assault at the very moment when he could with 
absolute certainty inflict the greatest damage, and gain the 
most signal success. Had Wright, at the moment when he made 
his successful charge, and had a number of Union guns turned 
upon their former possessors, been supported by the troops which 
Hill had ordered to go, the result would, without much doubt, 
have effected the complete rout of the Union army. This should 
be considered the crisis when the rebel army came nearest to 
a triumph, and where the failure, at the exact instant, of Pose}-, 



. 



528 ^MALTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



"31 

Mahone, Jtnd Pender to advance, cost Lee the battle. As soon 
as it was discovered that these operations had failed, and before 
troops could arrive from other parts of the field to stay his course, 
Ewell attacked on the extreme rebel left, and here delay was not 
a disadvantage ; for the troops which had all the day been in 
position upon that part of the field, and which would have given 
him a bloody reception, had, a few moments before, been Avith- 
drawii to reinforce other portions of the line, and Ewell was left 
unopposed to overrun that part of the field ; so that the delay was 
to him a positive advantage. The only part of the line which 
received any help from timely reinforcement that delay set at 
liberty, was where Carroll's brigade went to the aid of Howard. 
But this support would no doubt have been spared to go, if the 
Tigers had charged at the instant that Hill did on the left. 
Ewell has been blamed for not pushing his advantage further, on 
the night of the 2d ; but he was unable, on account of the creek, 
the forest, and the rugged nature of the ground, to take his artil- 
lery with him, and it would not have been safe to have advanced 
further without it, as troops could have turned uj)on him from all 
quarters, and the reserve artillery on Benner's Hill would have 
easily reached him the instant he came in sight. The probabili- 
ties are, therefore, that he would not have got off with his troops 
without losing heavily in captures, had he done so. 

Finally, Lee has been roundly berated for having made the 
last grand charge at all, and if he did make it, for having made 
it with so weak a column. It must be confessed that no one of 
his operations on the Gettysburg field shows so great a lack of 
insight into the conditions upon which he was acting, and reflects 
so little credit upon his military skill as this. But he had been 
led to take a hopeful view of the result of a heavy blow at this 
point, by the success which had attended the charge of a single 
brigade here on the day before, that of Wright. If so weak a 
column can accomplish so great results, what may we not expect 
from the assault of a body many times more powerful, fresh for the 
work, ably led, and preluded by an artillery fire that the world 
has rarely seen paralleled, was the problem that was presented 
before him ; and although he must have been sanguine of suc- 
cess, or he would never have ordered it, yet he must have con- 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 329 

templated it with the deepest solicitude, and only adopted it 
as his last desperate chance. But he failed to appreciate at its 
full value the fact that the field was nearly a level plain between 
the two lines, and that the instant his infantry crossed their 
works they came under view and concentrated fire of a full 
half of the Union army. Had the column been composed of 
thirty thousand instead of fifteen or eighteen, the result could not 
have been other than it was ; for before they could have crossed 
that mile and a quarter of space, and reached the Union lines, 
they would have been so nearly annihilated as to have had little 
force remaining ; and had any considerable body made a lodg- 
ment, the major part of the Union army could have been there 
to meet it, and it would have resulted in a grand hand to hand 
combat in which the Union men would have sold their lives 
dearly, and to the last one. Lee put in as many men as he 
could afford to do, and more would have been of no avail, the 
whole Union army being within a fifteen minutes' run of the 
place, most of it within five, and their resolution was beyond 
parallel in the history of warfare. This last act of Lee must 
ever be regarded as the one which had the least promise of 
success, and one the least defensible on sound princijDles of mili- 
tary tactics. 

As an offensive battle, Gettysburg will be esteemed as one, on 
the whole, well fought on the part of the rebel leader. Had Lee, 
after the first day, sat down upon Seminary Ridge, and manoeu- 
vred to induce the Union side to have attacked, and have kept a 
portion of his cavalry busy foraging in his rear, he might possibly 
have gained such an advantage as to have secured a temporary 
triumph. It would have been fatal for him to have waited very 
long, for troops were being gathered up and sent to the Union 
side from all quarters, and in a few days he would have been too 
weak to have fought even a defensive battle. On the other hand, 
had he succeeded in bringing on an immediate battle, and been 
successful, he could never have long maintained his triumph, or 
have long remained on Northern soil. It is doubtful if he could 
have reached either Baltimore or Washington ; for there would 
have still been an Army of the Potomac, a force at Harper's Ferry 
of 10,000, 36,000 in the Department of Washington, 25,000 



330 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

militia at Harrisburg, an army upon the James, and besides, the 
whole North was full of men, who at the first tocsin of disaster, 
would have flocked to the Union standard. 

In considering the conduct of the Union commander, many 
palliating circumstances must be allowed to have weight. He 
was, in the first place pitted against a veteran soldier, who had 
almost from the first commanded the Army of Northern Virginia 
— an army which had been formed and moulded under his eve, 
and which he had led to triumph on numberless fields — whose 
men had implicit confidence in him, amounting to a blind infatu- 
ation, and who was surrounded by a corps of Lieutenants of rare 
ability, sincerely devoted to their chief, and impelled by one 
idea — at all hazards beat the foe. Meade, on the other hand, 
had only been three days at the head of the army, had never 
exercised an independent command before, and had only led a 
division in battle, the Fifth corps at Chancellorsville not having 
been seriously engaged. His army was dispirited by frequent 
defeats, and the corps and division commanders, for political and 
other reasons, were far from being that homogeneous body that 
clasped hands about the rebel chieftain. 

Nevertheless, Meade was a .soldier by profession, and it is just 
that his management of the battle should be subjected to discus- 
sion upon the principles that govern that profession. The lessons 
which the battle should furnish can never be appreciated or 
learned until it be examined without fear or favor, and with a 
desire to discover what were its real phases. 

The first error which Meade committed was in allowing his 
corps to become so widely scattered, that at the moment of 
opening the battle the two extremes were over thirty miles apart. 
In the presence of an enemy, or in close proximity to him, it 
would have been a sound principle to have kept the infantry 
in as compact a body as possible. It is true that Meade seems to 
have been marching under the impression that the enemy was 
pushing for, or actually crossing the Susquehanna. But he 
should have held his army so in hand that he would at any 
time have been prepared for a change in the enemy's plans, 
and not have been bound to this one theory. Nothing was 
more likely than that the enemy should do precisely what he did 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 331 

do, when he found the Union army moving in close upon his 
flank, intent on fighting him. It is unfortunate, at the least, that 
Meade should have been so deficient in scouts and spies as to 
have been so long ignorant of the enemy's intention to concen- 
trate at Gettysburg, and to have first learned it through the Vice- 
President of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, telegraphed 
from Harrisburg to Washington and from Washington back to 
the field. Could that knowledge have reached him twelve hours 
earlier, the order of march would have been essentially modified, 
and the two corps would not then have been thrust forward into 
the jaws of the enemy without the power to support them. 

On the first day, it was unfortunate that the circular which he 
sent out was a circular and not an order ; for while he and a part 
of his corps commanders regarded it as having the force of an 
order, others of them understood it to have no effect other than 
an intimation. It was of so mixed a character that two could 
scarcely understand it alike. For, Avhile it indicated a purpose 
to fall back and concentrate on Pipe Creek, it still declared that 
contingencies might arise in which it would become expedient to 
fight from the present position. Buford, Reynolds, Doubleday, 
Howard, and Sickles when he learned that the battle was on, 
believed that such contigencies had arisen, while Meade himself 
ignored that part of his circular entirely, and clung to the part 
which would carry his army back to Pipe Creek, where he could 
leisurely prepare himself to fight. It would seem that he never 
forgave Doubleday and Howard for holding on at Gettysburg and 
fighting the whole day, instead of retiring and allowing him 
to carry out his preconceived plan. Technically and morally, 
Doubleday and Howard were undoubtedly right. In doing as 
they did, they obeyed the strict orders of Meade, and they 
avoided the demoralizing effect of running from the face of the 
enemy. As the battle resulted, it may be looked upon as almost 
a direct interposition of Providence. Meade was slow in going to 
the field, because he doubtless believed that the left wing would 
finally fall back, and then he would concentrate as he had in- 
tended. Both Slocum and Sickles were morally culpable for not 
going to the assistance of the forces engaged at Gettysburg on the 
first day, Slocum having full warrant for doing so in the orders 



332 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and circulars of Meade, and Sickles having early in the day 
been ordered up by Reynolds, and having no valid excuse for 
disregarding the summons. But here again that unfortunate 
circular comes to the surface, and is allowed to outweigh every 
other consideration. 

When General Meade had become satisfied that Gettysburg 
was {i suitable place to light the battle, he showed great energy 
and skill in concentrating his army, and bringing up his remote 
corps. It was not until seven o'clock on the evening of the 1st 
that he came to this decision. It was after eight before the 
Sixth corps got the order to move, and having to go from Man- 
chester by the way of Westminster, had thirty-four full miles to 
make, and yet it arrived at two of the following afternoon. 
All the rest of his army was practically on the field at two in 
the morning. 

General Hancock assumed command as the two broken corps 
came back through the town, and as troops from other corps 
began to arrive. His dispositions were skilfully made, and it was 
the firm front he was able at once to present that staid the 
hand of the enemy and made it impossible for him to push 
further his advantage. 

Meade's examination of the field on the morning of the 2d must 
have been extremely superficial and partial — a grave error. He 
appears to have been strongly impressed with the belief that the 
enemy would attack him upon the right, and to that part of the 
field he must give his exclusive attention. He, accordingly, put 
the whole of the Twelfth corps there with orders to fortify it 
thoroughly, and during the forenoon held the Fifth corps in re- 
serve near by, intending also to put the Sixth in there as soon as 
it should arrive. It maybe that the experience of other fields had 
taught him to expect that the tactics of the enemy would bring 
him upon that flank. At Beaver Dam Creek, Malvern Hill, Bull 
Run, Antietam, and Chancellorsville, the enemy had moved 
upon the Union right flank, and he may have anticipated that 
the same manoeuvre would here be repeated. When he found 
the enemy slow in opening the battle, he himself decided to 
attaek from that side. But after his engineer and General Slo- 
cum, who was to lead the assault, had reported the ground 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 333 

impracticable for an advance, he seems to have become dissatis- 
fied with the field, and despondent, and the conviction is forced 
upon us from his own conduct and sayings, and the testimony of 
a number of his officers, that he meditated changing to ground 
better suited to offensive operations ; not necessarily to Pipe 
Creek, but to the first ground which he could find adapted to 
manoeuvring his army. 

In consequence of his mind being occupied with this idea, he 
appears to have neglected to look to his left, or to make the 
necessary preparations for a defensive battle. According to the 
testimony of Sickles, he discredited the idea of the enemy attack- 
ing him upon that side, lightly remarking, when the dangers to 
which that part of the line was exposed were urged, that Gen- 
erals always believe that their positions are the ones in most 
clanger, and up to the very moment when the battle opened, 
he seems to have been busy with other schemes, and to have 
given little or no attention to preparation for an attack from 
that quarter. The consequence was, that when the battle 
opened his troops were not in position, and were actually 
pushed out to the ground which they occupied under fire. To 
the repeated importunities of Sickles for orders, and for him to 
go personally upon the ground, he turned a deaf ear, and even 
refused to send his engineer, General Warren, who was certainly 
the person of all others most suitable to represent him in the 
decision of such a question. 

It seems the more strange that he should have neglected to 
make his dispositions upon the left strong, as Hancock, in making 
his report upon the advantages of this ground for a battle, had 
particularly pointed out that, as being the weak part, and liable 
to be turned. It may be thought that the blame of this unpre- 
paredness was due to the failure of Sickles to take the position 
assigned him. But this explanation is in no way satisfactory. 
Meade was early informed that Sickles was in trouble about his 
position, and by repeated messages was kept advised that the 
left of his line was not fixed and in readiness for battle. Sickles 
was evidently very solicitous about his formation. He saw that 
the ground in a direct line from the Cemetery Ridge to Round 
Top was unsuitable, being low and marshy, commanded by 



334 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

ground to the front of it, and to the left was a screen of wood 
and rocky surface that it would be dangerous to allow the enemy 
to take, the altitude being considerably greater at the Peach 
Orchard than either Seminary or Cemetery lines opposite. Sickles 
undoubtedly sincerely desired to get the true position, but still, 
to satisfy his chief and have his approval of whatever ground he 
should take. When, therefore, Meade observed the solicitude of 
Sickles, and knew that he was liable at any moment to be at- 
tacked, it would appear that as a wise commander, knowing that 
a great battle was imminent, and intent on gaining a victory, 
he would not have rested until he had either thoroughly 
inspected every inch of the ground' himself, or through his engi- 
neers, and have, early in the day, had his lines accurately traced 
and fortified, so far as was practicable, and the troops and their 
supports in position. 

But what are the facts ? Until the very opening of the battle, 
nearly four o'clock in the afternoon, he remained at his head- 
quarters, situated near the centre of the field, from whence 
nearly every part was visible, with no preparation made to meet 
one of the most powerful and persistent assaults ever delivered 
on any field. His Lieutenant, Sickles, tired of waiting, and 
learning from his skirmishers, who had been engaged since nine 
o'clock in the morning beyond the Emmittsburg road, and from 
his own observation, that the enemy was massing upon his left 
and evidently preparing for a determined attack, took up the 
ground which he deemed the best, which with his small corps 
he was barely able to cover, and the battle opened before he was 
entirely in possession, the guns having been pushed forward upon 
that part which was the key to the whole position — the Peach 
Orchard — after the enemy had opened fire. The responsibility of 
this delay can never be shifted from the shoulders of General 
Meade. He had had the whole day until four o'clock, to decide 
on and fortify his line, and he was fully aware, up to the last 
moment, that the troops were not in position, and that no works 
were being thrown up for their protection. If the short line, 
which he claims he intended Sickles should take, was the one to 
be occupied, it needed much labor in fortifying through the 
swamp}' ground at the head of Plum Run. If the advance, or 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 335 

long line, which Sickles did take, then the key to the position — 
the Peach Orchard — should certainly have been fortified, as it 
was much exposed, though commanding. A little work with the 
spade on this knoll would have rendered it impregnable. 

But the culpability of the delay in taking and fortifying this 
line, or whatever one was to be adopted, is more than matched by 
the failure to hold Little Round Top. It was discovered by 
Warren, Meade's engineer, sometime after the battle had begun, 
and when the enemy was rushing with the force of the tornado 
to seize it, that it was entirely destitute of defenders, and that 
moreover it was a place of strength and importance. He also, for 
the first time, now discovered that artillery could be used from 
its summit to good advantage, and also that it was practicable to 
bring guns upon it. But why were these discoveries left to be 
made after the battle had begun? Was not the advantage of that 
stronghold as apparent at six, or eight, or ten in the morning as 
at five in the afternoon ? It was finally occupied and held, but 
more by chance, or the overruling hand of Providence, than by 
any skill or strategy of the General. 

The idea has been advanced that Longstreet, in moving as he 
did, behind the screen of forest trees on Oak Ridge to the extreme 
Union left, was not designing to fight, but was preparing to 
march away upon the Union rear, to capture Meade's trains, and 
make conquest of Baltimore and Washington ; and that he was 
arrested by the opportune advance and attack of Sickles. But 
there is no evidence that such was the design, and ever}' consid- 
eration of military strategy is against it. Longstreet had but two 
of his divisions with him, and the other had not been ordered up, 
and was not soon expected. Lee was too good a general to 
divide his army in the face of a united opponent, and allow him- 
self to be destroyed piecemeal. Besides, there were troops enough 
in Washington to have held Longstreet in check until other 
armies could come up, if not to have beaten him. No ! Long- 
street was moving to do precisely what he attempted to do, to 
capture Little Round Top and the wooded rugged ground in its 
immediate front, and had he not been attacked and arrested by 
the timely offensive of Sickles, he would doubtless have effected his 
purpose, and the battle would have been fought out on other ground. 



336 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

When Meade finally awoke to the fact that the enemy was 
determined to fight, he aroused himself to the uttermost, and 
pushed forward supports with a lavish hand. The Fifth corps, 
which had been resting since two that morning within a short 
distance of the field, and had come up in rear of Cemetery Hill 
during the forenoon, was sent over; portions of the Second, 
nearly the whole of the Twelfth, and portions of the Sixth 
which began to arrive at two in the afternoon, were pushed for- 
ward, and every part of Sickles' attenuated front was strengthened 
and patched. But now his zeal to establish his l^eft was as exces- 
sive as in the morning it had been wanting. For when Sickles 
lost the Peach Orchard, the attempt to hold the parts of the line 
wli ich were commanded and enfiladed from that key position was 
futile. With the loss of this, had Meade contracted his line to 
the ground in front of Round Top held by Crawford and Wheaton, 
on the night of the 2d, and drawn in Humphreys' to the Ceme- 
tery Ridge before he was attacked and forced back, and then 
acted purely on the defensive, thousands of killed and wounded 
would have been saved, and his position upon the left centre 
would not have been placed in jeopardy. But instead of this, 
brigade after brigade, and division after division were thrust out 
through the Wheatfield and over the wooded ground to the west 
and south of it, where the enemy rested in ambush to cut them 
down as fast as they came, and made that ground a slaughter- 
pen, with no advantage in the end. 

Not only was an injudicious use made of the troops thus hur- 
ried forward, but more than could by any possibility be used 
were called; and the strange error was committed of stripping 
the breastworks upon Culp's Hill and entirely denuding his 
right Hank, a vital part of his line, a portion of those very 
troops, as if in mockery of his infatuation, and impelled by 
fate, marching far out of their way, and never reaching the 
field where it was intended to use them. In the presence of 
the great peril, he seems to have lost the equipoise of his 
faculties. When, finally, he had the whole of the Fifth and 
Sixth, all but one brigade of the Twelfth, two divisions of the 
First, and a considerable part of the Second transferred to the left 
in support of the Third, leaving but one brigade of the Twelfth, 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. , 337 

and one small division each of the First and the Eleventh north 
of the Baltimore pike, then it was that the enemy attacked that 
weak and partially denuded line, at two points, with a fury and 
a determination almost past belief. The abandoned works where 
should have been the left flank of the army, fell into the enemy's 
hands ; but, thanks to the intrepid valor of the few troops left 
upon that line, the foe was bloodily repulsed in his first assault, 
and held at bay in the other, and a great disaster was averted. 
And here again the hand of Providence seems to have been inter- 
posed. For the nature of the ground was such that the enemy 
could bring no artillery with him upon the right flank, and with- 
out it he was robbed of his fighting arm. Could he have planted 
himself upon that rugged eminence with artillery, he might have 
fought as from a fortress, and bade defiance to his assailants. 

The error, we might be pardoned a stronger word, of removing 
almost the entire right wing, and leaving a strong position, 
which had been well fortified, and was vital to the integrity of 
the entire army, does not alone rest with the Commander-in-chief. 
The responsibility must be shared by General Slocum. Slocum 
was in command of the right wing. He knew thoroughly the 
ground, for he had reconnoitred it during the morning hours with 
a view of making an attack from it, and had regarded it of so 
much importance as to thoroughly fortify it. He should never 
have consented to the withdrawal of those troops without remon- 
strance ; and a vigorous protest from him would have prevented 
it. Or, if they were taken, he should not have rested till he had 
found troops, even though exhausted ones, to have taken their 
place. Men were not wanting ; for the whole Sixth corps was 
up and at hand. A single brigade would have held it. But it 
seemed as though the heads of the army were turned, and all 
grown giddy together. 

But with the setting of the sun on the evening of the 2d, the 
supremacy in generalship, which had been with the enemy, gravi- 
tated to the Union side. The dispositions of the artillery on 
commanding eminences bearing upon the enemy on Culp's Hill, 
for repelling an advance and driving him out, were admirable, 
and the marshalling of the infantry was no less judicious and 
skilful. There was none of that stripping of troops from one 
22 



338 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

part of the line and rushing them in superabundance to another, 
which had so blotted and shadowed the conduct of the preceding 
day. But there was an equipoise and a self-assurance, as of a 
General who felt the full command of his faculties, that is 
refreshing and inspiring to contemplate. The manoeuvres for 
regaining the lost ground were dexterously conducted, and would 
have soon resulted in the capture of large numbers of the foe had 
he not made a timely retreat. 

During the morning of the 3d, every arm of the service was 
kept in full tide. The cavalry was in strength, vigilant and 
active on either flank ; the artillery was repaired #nd posted in 
abundance, Avell supplied with ammunition, and the infantry 
lines were everywhere strong, with ample supports well in hand 
to meet any emergency. When, therefore, that supreme effort 
of the foe came on the afternoon of the 3d, it was met and 
repulsed, without weakening any other part of the line, and in 
the spirit of a master. Another and another such assault on 
whatever part it might have come would have been welcomed 
with as determined a front as was this. 

Several Union Generals give it as their opinion in their testi- 
mony, that if Meade had immediately ordered a countercharge 
with a strong column, the enemy might have been routed and 
his army destroyed. But such an opinion is in no case supported 
by any convincing reasons. The enemy was well prepared to 
meet a countercharge, in good position and behind breastworks. 
He had been prodigal of his ammunition ; but Lee and Longstreet 
were too cool and calculating to have squandered all and not have 
saved enough tc repel any assault that could have been made; 
besides, Longstreet expressly testifies that lie was in readiness, 
and would have counted such an assault as a rare piece of good 
fortune. The very same condition which made it easy for the 
Union forces to repulse Longstreet, would have been in that 
officer's favor had an attack been made upon him. It was the 
fact that the ground between the two lines was perfectly open, 
enabling either side to see and prepare to meet a charge 
from the very moment of starting, and that in the whole dis- 
tance to be passed over the advancing troops would be exposed 
to a destructive fire, certain to annihilate them, that rendered 



CONDUCT OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 339 

it impossible for either party to make a front attack with any 
prospect of success. 

Maintaining his position firmly during the night of the 4th 
and day of the 5th, there was no hope of advantage by direct 
attack. When the night of the 5th came, Lee was able to with- 
draw, under cover of darkness, without fear of molestation. 
There was only left a rear-guard which on the morning of the 6th 
it was possible to reach. To fight a rear-guard is always a boot- 
less task ; for while it presents only a small front, it can by 
filling back gradually, and taking strong positions, inflict great 
slaughter upon the attacking party, which must expose itself in 
approaching ; and even if it is overpowered and captured, it is in 
itself so insignificant as to be of small account. 

To have followed Lee's rear-imard then would have cost an 
expenditure of blood not warranted by the fruits which gave 
promise of being gathered. Having complete control of the two 
shortest routes to the Potomac, and one night the start, Lee was 
able to reach it without molestation, except such as the cavalry 
could interpose, which was inconsiderable. Considering the 
situation in which the two armies were, relative to the roads 
leading to the Potomac, it was no lack of generalship on the 
part of Meade in allowing Lee to make unmolested the transfer; 
for it was inevitable, one night sufficing to put the major part 
beyond the reach of the pursuing army. Once safely at the 
Potomac, Lee might have crossed immediately had the river been 
fordable, or had his bridges been in position ; but these were gone 
and the waters were at flood. His only alternative, therefore, 
was to fortify, which he had ample time to do, the hours of one 
night being enough. Meade might have followed by the direct 
roads over which the enemy had gone, whereby he would have 
saved several da}"s. But it would have been of no avail, as he 
would have found the enemy fortified, had he made the march 
with as much expedition as the enemy himself. But he seems 
to have considered his instructions to cover Washington and 
Baltimore of as much importance while following a beaten foe, 
as in facing one in full strength. 

When Meade came again to confront the enemy, he found 
him in strong position and ready for a fight. Had Mend" 



340 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

attacked, he would have met the fate of Magruder at Malvern 
Hill or Burnside at Fredericksburg. It has been asserted that 
Lee was deficient in ammunition at Williamsport, and that a 
resolute attack would have insured success ; but such was not the 
fact. Meade says in his testimony : " I had reason to believe 
that ammunition trains had been brought from Winchester, and 
crossed on the Ferry at Williamsport for the supply of General 
Lee's army. ... I had positive information that ammunition 
trains had been ferried across at Williamsport;" and General 
Imboden, in the article above quoted, says : " This would have 
been fatal to us, but for the opportune arrival at the critical 
moment of an ammunition train from Winchester. The wagons 
were ferried across to our side as soon as possible, and driven 
on the field in a gallop." This was on the morning of the Gth, 
so that when Meade came on the 12th, there was no lack of 
ammunition for all arms. 

There was only one contingency in which Meade can with 
justice be blamed for not attacking at Williamsport. General Lee 
says in his report : " Ewell's corps forded the river at Williams- 
port, those of Longstreet and Hill crossed upon the bridge. Owing 
to the condition of the roads, the troops did not reach the bridge 
until after daylight on the 14 th, and the crossing was not com- 
pleted until one P. m., when the bridge was removed." As at 
Gettysburg Lee held his front firmly until the evening of the 5th, 
giving no opportunity to attack with a prospect of success, and 
then retired under the cover of darkness, so here at Williamsport 
he held his impregnable ground until dark of the loth, and 
again disappeared under the shelter of the night. But if it be 
true that any considerable part of his army was on the North 
bank at daylight of the 14th, Meade is guilty of negligence for 
not knowing it and attacking. It was the only occasion he 
had of striking a successful blow. But the probability is that 
only a small number of the enemy's troops remained at that 
time in the morning when Meade could have got his forces 
forward to the points of attack, and then only the opportunity 
of fighting a rear-guard would have been presented. 



CHAPTER XVI. 




NUMBERS ENGAGED, LOSSES, AND BURIAL OF THE DEAD AT GETTYS- 
BURG. 

i|p|*|^^^UCH diversity of opinion has prevailed respecting 
the numbers engaged at Gettysburg, and the 
casualties on the part of the enemy. The rebels 
were accustomed in stating the forces brought into 
battle, to give the muskets actually carried in the 
ranks, instead of the names found on the rolls, 
while the Union leaders estimated their strength 
according to the latter basis, which was rarely 
less than a third, sometimes a half, more than 
the muskets actually borne. General Hooker, 
who was remarkably successful in keeping him- 
self informed of the enemy's numbers as well as 
their designs, says : " With regard to the enemy's 
force, I had reliable information. Two Union men had counted 
them as they passed through Hagerstown, and, in order that 
there might be no mistake, they compared notes every night, and 
if their counts differed they were satisfactorily adjusted by com- 
promise. In round numbers Lee had 91,000 infantry and 280 
pieces of artillery ; marching with that column were about 
6000 cavalry. It will be remembered . that a portion of the 
enemy's cavalry crossed the Potomac below Edward's Ferry and 
went into Maryland to join Ewell between me and Washington ; 
this column numbered about 5000 men." General Meade says : 
"I think General Lee had about 90,000 infantry, from 4000 to 
5000 artillery, and 10,000 cavalry." This would give an aggre- 
gate of one hundred and four or five thousand of all arms. 

Longstreet says, that "there were at Gettysburg 67,000 bayo- 
nets; or above 70,000 of all arms." Lee was obliged to leave 
strong guards, all the way from Winchester to Gettysburg; 

341 



342 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

besides, it is reported by the inhabitants, that the country Mas 
full of rebel stragglers, and when they heard that a great battle 
was in progress, believed that the rebel army was not half of it up. 

According to the testimony of Butte rfield, the strength of the 
Union army, as shown by returns made on the 10th of June, 
Avas 78,255, thus distributed: First corps, 11,350; Second, 11,361; 
Third, 11,898; Fifth, 10,136; Sixth, 15,408; Eleventh, 10,177; 
Twelfth, 7925. To this should be added two brigades of the 
Pennsylvania Reserve corps, some 4000 men, which joined the 
Fifth, Lockwood's Maryland brigade of 2500 that was attached 
to the Twelfth, Stannard's Vermont brigade, whose time of 
service had nearly expired, of 2500 more, which joined Double- 
day's division of the First corps, and 12,000 cavalry, which 
would give a gross sum of 99,000 men. The force of 11,000 
under French at Harpers Ferry and at Frederick, though under 
General Meade's orders, never joined the Army of the Potomac 
in Pennsylvania, and had no part nor lot in the battle, never 
having come nearer the field than Frederick, and should not 
therefore be taken into the account. These 99,000 represent the 
numbers borne upon the rolls, but by no means show the true 
numbers standing in the ranks. In this record the First corps is 
credited with 11,350 ; but we know that on the morning of the 
1st of July it could muster but 8200. If the difference in all the 
corps between the number borne upon the rolls and the number 
present to go into battle was as great as in this, the sum total of 
the army was reduced to 72,000. 

General Meade testifies: "I think the returns showed me, when 
I took command of the army, amounted to about 105,000 men ; 
included in those were the 11,000 of General French, which I 
did not bring up, which would reduce it down to about 94,000. 
Of that 94,000 I was compelled to leave a certain portion in the 

rear to guard my baggage trains I must have had on the 

field at Gettysburg but little short of 300 guns ; and I think the 
report of my Chief of artillery -was that there were not more 
than two batteries that were not in service during that battle." 
General Meade may have omitted in this estimate some portion 
of troops who joined him after receiving command of the army, 
probably those of Stannard and Lockwood. 



NUMBERS ENGAGED, AND LOSSES AT GETTYSBURG. 343 

The estimates of the numbers of Lee's army by both Hooker 
and Meade are substantially the same. They make the aggre- 
gate vary from 105,000 to 107,000. After allowing for strag- 
gling, and for troops not up, the statement of Longstreet of the 
number actually upon the Gettysburg field tallies very nearly 
with these figures ; for applying the same rule which we did above 
to the Union numbers, we have 76,300. But there may have 
been, and probably was, more straggling on the rebel than on the 
Union side. 

We may therefore fairly conclude that Lee crossed the Potomac 
with something over 100,000 men, and actually had upon the 
field in the neighborhood of 76,300, and Meade, rejecting the 
forces of French, with something less than 100,000, and went 
into battle with about 72,000. 

But in neither army was there at any one time this number 
of effective troops on the field. On the first day, Doubleday had 
but 8200 infantry and 2200 horse, and when Howard came he 
brought an addition of 7410, making a total of T7,810, while the 
enemy had four divisions which could not have been less than 
30,000. 

On the second day the whole rebel army was up with the 
exception of Pickett, Stuart, and Imboden, whose several 
strengths subtracted from the gross sum would leave 63,800 upon 
the field, nearly all of whom were hotly engaged. On the Union 
side, the whole strength was up before the close of the day's 
work ; but the Sixth corps, having marched thirty-four miles, was 
unserviceable, was not used, and was practically off the field, as 
was also Buford's division of cavalry, which was ordered away to 
Westminster before the battle began. Deducting these from the 
Union aggregate, it would leave a force actually on the field of 
barely 59,000. 

On the third day Lee had his whole force, with the exception 
of the small body of Imboden, on the field, as did the Union 
commander. 

But on no day are the estimates here given veritable ; for the 
two armies represented quantities that were constantly varying, 
the losses during every moment of the actual fighting being very 
great. On the first day the losses of dead and wounded were 



344 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

greater on the rebel than on the Union side, while the loss by 
capture was somewhat greater on the Union. On the second day 
the losses by killed and wounded were nearly equal, with but 
few prisoners on either side. On the third day the enemy lost in 
killed, wounded, and prisoners, very heavily, while on the part 
of the Union it was an extremely economical fight, only a small 
portion of the army being engaged, and these under cover, so that 
the casualties were comparatively light. 

The losses, in the aggregate, on both sides in the three days of 
fighting were immense. On the Union side, General Meade says 
in his official report, they "amounted to 2834 killed, 13,709 
wounded, and G643 missing; in all 23,186." Of the rebel losses 
no accurate report has been made. General Lee says : " It is 
not in my power to give a correct statement of our casualties, 
which were severe, including many brave men, and an unusual 
proportion of distinguished and valuable officers." It is estimated 
that the loss to the enemy in killed was 5500; though Mr. Samuel 
Weaver, who was charged with removing the Union dead to the 
National Cemetery, places the number considerably higher. lie 
says : " In searching for the remains of our fallen heroes, Ave ex- 
amined more than 3000 rebel graves. ... I have been making 
a careful estimate, from time to time, as I went over the field, 
of rebel bodies buried on this battle-field and at the hospitals, and 
I place the number at not less than 7000 bodies." General 
Meade reports 13,621 rebel prisoners taken. Of the number of 
rebel wounded it is impossible to form a correct judgment. Many 
were left on the field and along the roadside, all the way from 
Gettysburg to Williamsport, and large numbers were taken back 
in the trains to Virginia. If we place the killed at 5500, and 
allow five wounded to one killed, which is about the usual pro- 
portion, we have 27,500 wounded. A. H. Guernsey, the author 
of " Harper's Pictorial History of the War," after the most patient 
research and careful observation, estimates the rebel loss in killed, 
wounded, and prisoners at Gettysburg, at 36,000 men. "The 
entire loss," he says, " to this army during the six weeks, from 
the middle of June, when it set forth from Culpeper to invade 
the North, to the close of July, when it returned to the 
starting point, was about 60,000." General Meade reports 



NUMBERS ENGAGED, AND LOSSES AT GETTYSBURG. 345 

the capture of three cannon, forty-one standards, and 25,000 
small arms. 

On the rebel side, Major-Generals Hood, Pender, Trimble, and 
Heth were wounded, Pender mortally ; Brigadier-Generals Barks- 
dale and Garnett were killed, and Semmes mortally wounded. 
Brigadier-Generals Kemper, Armistead, Scales, G. T. Anderson, 
Hampton, J. M. Jones, and Jenkins were also wounded, Archer 
was taken prisoner, and Pettigrew was wounded, and subse- 
quently killed in the action at Falling Waters. 

In the Union army, Major-General Reynolds, and Brigadier- 
Generals Vincent, Weed, and Zook were killed. Major-Generals 
Sickles, Hancock, Doubleday, Gibbon, Barlow, Warren, and But- 
terfield, and Brigadier-Generals Graham, Paul, Stone, Barnes, and 
Brooke were wounded, General Sickles losing a leg. 

A great triumph had been achieved by the Union arms. But 
at what a cost ! and what a spectacle did that field present ! 
Amidst "the thunder of the captains, and the shouting," thou- 
sands of the gallant and brave, who three days before had 
marched as jo}^fully as the boldest, had been stricken down, and 
had poured out their life blood like water ; and thousands, cold 
in death, were scattered on every conceivable part of that gory 
field. 

Professor Jacobs in his " Later Rambles," says : " For several 
days after the battle, the field everywhere bore the fresh marks 
of the terrible struggle. The soil was yet red with the blood of 
the wounded and slain, and large numbers of the dead of both 
armies were to be seen lying in the place where the fatal missiles 
struck them. . . . The work of interring 9000 dead, and removing 
about 20,000 wounded to comfortable quarters, was a herculean 
task. The rebel army had left the most of their dead lying 
unburied on the field, as also large numbers of their badly 
wounded, and had fled for safety. . . . There was considerable 
delay in properly interring the corpses that lay on the field of 
battle. It was only after rebel prisoners, who had been taken in 
the vicinity after the battle, were impressed into this service, 
especially into that of covering up the bodies of their fallen 
comrades, that the work was finally completed. Whilst some of 
these prisoners went into this work with reluctance and murmur- 



346 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ing, others did it cheerfully, saying, ' It is just what we have 
compelled the Yankees to do for us ! ' Although the field was 
thoroughly searched, the dead were not all discovered until it was 
impossible to perform for them what humanity, under other cir- 
cumstances, would have demanded. In front of Little Round 
Top, amongst huge rocks, lay all summer long the decaying 
bodies of half a dozen or more of rebels, who had probably 
belonged to Hood's division, and, having been wounded on July 
2nd, in their desperate effort to take Little Round Top, may have 
crept into the open spaces between these rocks for shelter or for 
water. There they died undiscovered, and when found they were 
so far gone in decomposition that they could not be removed. 
And such also was the position in which they lay that it was 
impossible to cover them with earth. 

''Great surprise is sometimes expressed by visitors because 
they do not find so many graves as they had expected to see. 
' You tell us,' say they, ' that there were about 3500 Union, and 
about 5500 rebel soldiers killed in this battle; but we do not see 
so many graves. Where were they buried ? ' The answer has 
uniformly been, ' The whole ground around Gettysburg is one 
vast cemetery.' The men are buried everywhere. When they 
could conveniently be brought together, they were buried in 
clusters of ten, twenty, fifty, or more ; but so great was their 
number, and such the advanced stage of decomposition of those 
that had lain on the field for several days during the hot weather 
of July, together with the unavoidable delay, that they could not 
be removed. In gardens and fields, and by the roadside, just 
where they were found lying, a shallow ditch was dug, and they 
were placed in it and covered up as hastily as possible. The 
ground is, consequently, all dotted over with graves ; some fields 
contain hundreds of places indicating by the freshly turned up 
earth, and perhaps by a board, a shingle, a stick, or stone, that 
the mortal remains of a human being lie there. . . . Rose's farm, 
especially a wheatfield, and Sherfy's peach orchard, were points 
of desperate and bloody contest. The wheatfield was strewn 
with rebel dead, and one grave near Rose's garden alone contains 
400 of them. . . . Their remains will probably never be removed 
from the spot they now occupy, and doubtless in future time the 



NUMBERS ENGAGED, AND LOSSES AT GETTYSBURG. 347 

plough will turn up their crumbling bones, together with the 
remnants of the weapons they used in the atrocious warfare. 
The vicinity of Gettysburg will thus remain a vast charnel-house, 
and for years to come will be visited by mourning friends." 

A few weeks after the battle the writer passed over the field. 
It was not difficult then to trace the lines of the two armies, for 
the grass and even the turf was completely worn away for a con- 
siderable breadth throughout their whole extent. Cartridge- 
boxes, knapsacks, bayonet-sheaths, haversacks, coats, caps, and 
tin cartridge-cases were scattered in profusion over the whole 
ground, and trodden into the mud which the rains of the fourth 
day caused. None of the dead had then been removed, and they 
lay as they were left by the burying parties of the two armies. 
Many had never been moved from the places where they fell ; all 
the burial they received being a little earth thrown upon them, 
and where earth could not be got, loose stones and fragments of 
rocks were used. As the rains came the earth was washed off, 
and in many places the extremities of the limbs were exposed. 
At one point, in front of Little Round Top, was a boot with the 
leg in it just as it had been torn from the body. Dead horses 
still lay thick on all parts of the field. The citizens had piled 
rails around some and burned them. Near the grove where stood 
Stannard's brigade, was a pool of stagnant water, in which were 
the carcasses of nine horses. 

The roar of artillery, and the sulphurous smoke ascending 
heavenward, had scarcely told that the battle was on before the 
agents of the Sanitary Commission began to arrive upon the field 
with stores for the hospitals. Dr. Steiner, in charge of two 
wagons, well loaded, left Frederick on the 29th of June. One of 
them, accompanied by Dr. McDonald and the Rev. Mr. Scandlin, 
fell into the hands of the enemy, and these gentlemen, bound on 
errands of mercy and heavenly consolation to the wounded of 
friend and foe alike, were taken to Richmond, where they were 
subjected to the hard lot of rebel imprisonment, from the effect 
of which Mr. Scandlin died. He was a protege of Father Taylor, 
of Boston, the sailor's friend ; was a native of England, and had 
served in the British navy. He received his professional educa- 
tion at the theological school in Meadville, Pennsylvania. His 



348 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

treatment by the enemy is one of the foul stains upon the conduct 
of the rebel authorities. The other wagon reached the field on 
the evening of the first day. " As soon," says Dr. Steiner, " as 
the wounded began to come in, I started out with the wagons to 
distribute the stores. We reached five different hospitals, which 
were all we were able to find that night, and early in the morn- 
ing three others, which exhausted our stores. We were just in 
time to do the most good possible, as the government wagons had 
been sent back ten miles, and many of the hospitals were not 
supplied with material sufficient for immediate use. These 
stores consisted of concentrated beef soup, stimulants, crackers, 
condensed milk, concentrated coffee, corn starch, farina, shirts, 
drawers, stockings, towels, blankets, quilts, bandages, and lint, 
articles in immediate need among the suffering." Other supplies 
came by the way of Westminster, and before the railroad was 
open to Gettysburg, twelve wagon loads had been brought up. 

The work of this commission, from long experience, was 
efficiently done. Every part was thoroughly systematized, and 
reached to the inmates of the most insignificant hospitals. Not 
the least useful was the system of visitation, which had for its 
object examination into the wants of the inmates, and the making 
complete lists of the names of the wounded, which were forwarded 
to Washington, enabling the authorities to promptly and intelli- 
gently answer any inquiries made there respecting them. Of the 
hospitals on the rebel line there were those of the divisions of 
Hood, McLaws, Anderson, Early, and Johnson, on the Fairfield 
road ; of Johnson, on the Hunterstown ; of Heth, at Pennsylvania 
College ; of Rodes, on the Mummasburg road ; of Pickett, on the 
Chambersburg ; of Pender, on the Cashtown, containing in all 
5452 wounded. On the Union side the hospital of the First corps 
was divided, part being in the town, and the remainder two and a 
half miles out on the Baltimore pike, and contained 260 rebel 
and 2779 Union wounded ; that of the Second corps was on the 
banks of Rock Creek, and contained 1000 rebel and 4500 Union ; 
of the Third corps, near the junction of White and Rock Creeks, 
and contained 250 rebel and 2550 Union ; of the Fifth corps, in 
three divisions, and contained 75 rebel and 1400 Union ; of the 
Sixth corps, also in three divisions, and contained 300 Union; 



N UMBERS ENGAGED, AND LOSSES AT GETTYSBURG. 349 

of the Eleventh corps, at George Spangler's, and contained 100 
rebel and 1900 Union; of the Twelfth corps, at the house of 
George Bushman, and contained 125 rebel and 1131 Union, an 
aggregate of 14,860. Of these there were 7262 rebel, being the 
desperately wounded, all others having been removed, or gone 
back with the retreating columns. 

As the Union army was obliged to follow immediately the flee- 
ing enemy, but a limited number of medical officers could be left 
upon the field, and but few rebel surgeons remained behind. At 
first these were severely tasked ; but volunteers soon began to 
arrive, many of the most eminent physicians of the country flock- 
ing to the field, and freely giving their services. " The labor," says 
J. H. Douglas, associate secretary of the Sanitary Commission, "the 
anxiety, the responsibility imposed upon the surgeons after the 
battle of Gettysburg, were from the position of affairs greater 
than after any other battle of the war. The devotion, the solici- 
tude, the unceasing efforts to remedy the defects of the situation, 
the untiring attentions to the wounded upon their part, were so 
marked as to be apparent to all who visited the hospitals. It 
must be remembered that these same officers had endured the 
privations and fatigues of the long forced marches with the rest 
of the army ; that they had shared its dangers, for one medical 
officer from each regiment follows it into battle, and is liable to 
the accidents of war, as has been repeatedly and fatally the case ; 
that its field hospitals are often, from the changes of the line of 
battle, brought under the fire of the enemy, and that while in 
this situation, these surgeons are called upon to exercise the 
calmest judgment, to perform the most critical and serious opera- 
tions, and this quickly and continuously. The battle ceasing 
their labors continue. While other officers are sleeping, renew- 
ing their strength for further efforts, the medical are still toiling. 
They have to improvise hospitals from the rudest materials, are 
obliged to make i bricks without straw,' to surmount seeming 
impossibilities. The work is unending both by day and by night, 
the anxiety is constant, the strain upon both the physical and 
mental faculties unceasing. Thus after this battle, operators had 
to be held up while performing the operations, and fainted from 
exhaustion, the operation finished. One completed his labors to 



350 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

be seized with partial paralysis, the penalty of his over-exertion. 
While his duties are as arduous, his exposure as great, and the 
mortality from disease and injury as large as among staff officers 
of similar rank, the surgeon has no prospect of promotion, of a 
brevet, or an honorable mention to stimulate him. His duties 
are performed quietly, unostentatiously. He does his duty for 
his country's sake, for the sake of humanity. The consciousness 
of having performed this great duty is well nigh his only, as it 
must ever be his highest, reward. The medical corps of the army 
is well deserving this small tribute." 

Whoever has followed the phases of this battle, must have been 
impressed with the stubborn valor displayed on both sides by the 
common soldiers. The dauntless resolution exhibited in the 
attacks made it a terribly bloody and destructive conflict, and 
the unyielding and resolute front of the defence brought victory. 
But there was no possibility of achieving on either side such 
sweeping and complete triumphs as are recorded of wars in other 
countries, and in other days, in a contest between two armies 
where the common soldiers were of such a temper and in such 
earnest as were these. 

It is a sad spectacle to see the manhood of two, claiming to be 
Christian peoples, thus march out to a field, like trained pugilists, 
and beat, and gouge, and pummel each other until one or the 
other, from exhaustion, must yield. It is revolting and sicken- 
ing, and it is hoped that the day will come when disputes arising 
among nations may be settled by conference, as two reasonable 
and upright men would decide a difference, governed by the 
golden rule, instead of resorting to blows where right and justice 
must be subordinate to brute force. But in a great battle like 
that which we have been considering, it is not the soldiers them- 
selves who are responsible; but the parties which make the 
quarrel. Hence, while the mind revolts at the scenes of destruc- 
tion which the field discloses, the immediate actors are not to be 
held accountable. They go in obedience to the dictates of duty 
and of patriotism, and while they may indulge no personal hatred 
toward those who for the time they call enemies, they must in 
battle inflict the greatest possible injury upon them. 

In all ages the highest honors have been reserved for those 



BURIAL OF THE BEAT) AT GETTYSBURG. 351 

who have fought the battles of their country. And this is right. 
For if there is any deed in the power of a mortal, which can 
sway the feelings or soften the heart, it is that of one man laying- 
down his life for another. The breast heaves, and the eye is 
suffused with tears, at the spectacle of Damon putting his life in 
jeopardy only for his friend, and to how many souls have come 
the agonies of repentance, and the joys of sins forgiven in con- 
templation of the Saviour dying upon the cross. There is a halo 
of glory hovering about the profession of arms. It has its seat in 
the sacrifice of self, which is its ruling spirit. The man who 
stands upon the field of battle and faces the storm of death that 
sweeps along, whether he merely puts his life thus in jeopardy, 
or is actually carried down in death, torn and mangled in the 
dread fight, is Avorthy of endless honors ; and though we may class 
the deed with the lowest of human acts, prompted by a hardihood 
which we share with the brutes, and in which the most ignorant 
and besotted may compete with the loftiest, yet it is an act before 
which humanity will ever bow and uncover. Who that walked 
that field of carnage, and beheld the maimed and mangled, and 
him cold in death, could withhold the tribute of honor and 
respect? for, could he make that dying soldier's lot his own, or 
that of his nearest and dearest friend, he would only then justly 
realize the sacrifice. 

When, therefore, the friends of the dead came sorrowing, to 
seek their lifeless remains, they were struck with horror at the 
imperfect manner in which the burials had been executed. No 
one was more strongly impressed with the duty of immediately 
providing for the proper interment of these fallen patriots than 
Governor Curtin, the Executive of Pennsylvania. He intrusted 
the business of maturing a plan to Mr. David Wills, of 
Gettysburg. Acting under the instruction of the Governor, this 
gentleman purchased a plot of some seventeen acres on Cemetery 
Hill, adjoining the village cemetery on the north and west, where 
the centre of the Union line of battle had rested, and where the 
guns of Steinwehr and the men of the Eleventh corps fought. 
The eighteen states, whose troops gained the battle, joined in 
this enterprise. By an Act of the legislature, the title to the 
ground was vested in the State of Pennsylvania, in trust for all 



352 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the states having dead buried there, and a corporate body was 
created consisting of one from each state, to serve without pay, 
to whom its care was entrusted, the expense to be borne in pro- 
portion to the representation in Congress. 

The work of laving out the grounds, and suitably adorning 
them, was performed by an eminent landscape gardener, William 
Saunders. His suggestions upon the subject, accompanying the 
drawings, were eminently just. The great disparity in the 
number of the dead from the different states to be interred, 
demanded a plan that should obviate criticism as to preference in 
position. To this end a semicircular form was adopted, the head 
of every body pointing towards a common centre, which should 
be made the site for the monument. " The prevailing expres- 
sion," he says, "of the Cemetery should be that of simple 
grandeur. Simplicity is that element of beauty in a scene that 
leads gradually from one object to another, in easy harmony, 
avoiding abrupt contrasts and unexpected features. Grandeur, 
in this application, is closely allied to solemnity. Solemnity is 
an attribute of the sublime. The sublime in scenery may be 
defined as continuity of extent, the repetition of objects in them- 
selves simple and commonplace. We do not apply this epithet 
to the scanty tricklings of the brook, but rather to the collected 
waters of the ocean. To produce an expression of grandeur, we 
must avoid intricacy and great variety of parts, more particularly 
must we refrain from introducing any intermixture or meretri- 
cious display of ornament. The disposition of trees and shrubs is 
such that will ultimately produce a considerable degree of land- 
scape effect. Ample spaces of lawn are provided. These will 
form vistas, as seen from the drive, showing the monument and 

other prominent points As the trees spread and extend, the 

quiet beauty produced by these open spaces of lawn will yearly 
become more striking." 

A contract was entered into with F. W. Biesecker, for dis- 
interring the dead and reinterring their remains in their last 
resting place, a work which was commenced on the 27th of Octo- 
ber, 18G3, and completed on the 18th of March following. The 
whole number thus buried was 3512. The entire work was 
done under the superintendence of Samuel Weaver, who executed 



BURIAL OF THE DEAD AT GETTYSBURG. 353 

his arduous trust with great care and judgment. " Through his 
untiring and faithful efforts, the bodies in many unmarked graves 
have been identified in various ways. Sometimes by letters, by 
papers, receipts, certificates, diaries, memorandum books, photo- 
graphs, marks on the clothing, belts, or cartridge boxes, have the 
names of the soldiers been discovered. Money, and other valu- 
ables, have frequently been found, which, when the residence of 
the friends is known, have been immediately sent to them. 
Those not returned are carefully packed up and marked, and 
every effort will be made to find the friends of the deceased, and 
place these articles in their possession. Words would fail to 
describe the grateful relief that this work has brought to many a 
sorrowing household ! A father, a brother, a son has been lost 
on this battle-field, supposed to be killed, but no tidings whatever 
have the bereaved friends of him. Suddenly, in the progress of 
this work, his remains are discovered by sure marks, letters, 
probably photographs, and they are deposited in a coffin with 
care, and buried in this very appropriate place, on the battle-field 
where he fell, the Soldiers' National Cemetery." 

Of the condition in which the remains were found Mr. Weaver 
says : " Where bodies were in heavy clay soil, or in marshy places, 
they were in a good state of preservation. Where they were in 
sanely, porous soil, they were entirely decomposed." Of the 
articles found upon the bodies of the dead the following may be 
cited as examples : " G. W. Sprague, the grape-shot that killed 
him, two knives, two rings and comb ; " " James Kelley, company 
K, Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania regiment, ambrotype, sixty cents, 
comb, medal;" "Unknown, pocket-book, and hair of father, 
mother, sister, and brother." Of the entire number interred, 
3512, Maine had 104; New Hampshire, 49; Vermont, 61; Massa- 
chusetts, 159; Rhode Island, 12; Connecticut, 22; New York, 867; 
New Jersey, 78; Pennsylvania, 534; Delaware, 15; Maryland, 22; 
West Virginia, 11; Ohio, 131; Indiana, 80; Illinois, 6 ; Michigan, 
171; Wisconsin, 73; Minnesota, 52 ; U.S. Regulars, 138; Un- 
known, 979. Several of the Western States had but few troops 
in the Army of the Potomac, and hence their loss was corres- 
pondingly small, while New York, which had the greatest num- 
ber, suffered most severely. The Cemetery is enclosed on the 

23 



354 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

south, west, and north sides by a solid wall of masonry, sur- 
mounted with a heavy dressed coping stone, and on the east by 
an iron fence separating it from the village cemetery. The design 
for a monument by J. G. Batterson, of Hartford, Connecticut, was 
adopted by the commissioners, after an examination of a large 
number submitted. " The Whole rendering of the design is in- 
tended to be purely historical, telling its own story, with such 
simplicity that any discerning mind will readily comprehend its 
meaning and purpose. The superstructure is sixty feet high, and 
consists of a massive pedestal, twenty-five feet square at the base, 
and is crowned with a colossal statue representing the Genius of 
Liberty. Standing upon a three-quarter globe, she raises with her 
right hand the victor's wreath of laurel, while with the left she 
gathers up the folds of our national flag, under which the victory 
has been won. Projecting from the angles of the pedestal are four 
buttresses, supporting an equal number of allegorical statues, rep- 
resenting respectively War, History, Peace, and Plenty. War 
is personified by a statue of the American soldier, who, resting 
from the conflict, relates to History the story of the battle which 
this monument is intended to commemorate. History, in listen- 
ing attitude, records with stylus and tablet the achievements of 
the field, and the names of the honored dead. Peace is symbol- 
ized by a statue of the American mechanic, characterized by 
appropriate accessories. Plenty is represented hy a female figure, 
with a sheaf of wheat and fruits of the earth, typifying peace and 
abundance as the soldier's crowning triumph. The panels of the 
main die between the statues are to have inscribed upon them 
such inscriptions as may hereafter be determined. The main 
die of the pedestal is octagonal in form, panelled upon each face. 
The cornice and plinth above are also octagonal, and are heavily 
moulded. Upon this plinth rests an octagonal moulded base 
bearing upon its face, in high relief, the National arms. The 
upper die and cap arc circular in form, the die being encircled by 
stars equal in number with the states whose sons contributed 
their lives as the price of the victory won at Gettysburg." 

By the unanimous voice of the agents of the several states, 
I'M ward Everett, the eminent orator, statesman, and publicist, 
was invited to deliver an oration upon the occasion of the con- 




idiMittHii t tm'tiiitiiiiiiifciiiiiiiiiiiiiit 



iiiillliiiii 17 



I! iillilHllllIi 







BURG, PA. 



CONSECRATION OF THE GROUNDS AT GETTYSBURG. 355 

secration of the grounds. In his note accepting the invitation 
Mr. Everett said : " The occasion is one of great importance, not 
to be dismissed with a few sentimental or patriotic common- 
places. It will demand as full a narrative of the events of the 
three important days as the limits of the hour will admit, and 
some appropriate discussion of the political character of the great 
struggle of which the battle of Gettysburg is one of the most 
momentous incidents." The ceremonies occurred on the 19th 
of November, at which time the address, modelled upon the 
plan sketched in the above sentence, was delivered in presence 
of the President of the United States, Mr. Lincoln, the Secretary 
of State, Mr. Seward, the Ministers of France and Italy, the 
French Admiral, the Governors of many States, Members of 
Congress, and a vast concourse of citizens, among whom were 
many representatives of the Army and Navy. " One of the most 
sad and impressive features of the solemnities," says Mr. Wills. 
" was the presence, in the procession and on the grounds, of a 
delegation of about fifty wounded soldiers of the Army of the 
Potomac, from the York Hospital. These men had been wounded 
in the battle of Gettysburg, and were present in a delegation to 
pay this just tribute to the remains of their fallen comrades. 
During the exercises, their bronzed cheeks were frequently* 
suffused with tears." 

Mr. Everett's oration was one of the most eloquent and well 
wrought of his many addresses on important events in the 
national history which have made his name illustrious. The 
opening passages were in his peculiar vein, and are so beautiful, 
so apt, and so ornate that they will ever be recalled with delight. 
" Standing beneath this serene sky, overlooking these broad 
fields, now reposing from the labors of the waning year, the 
mighty Alleghenies dimly towering before us, the graves of our 
brethren beneath our feet, it is with hesitation that I raise 
my poor voice to break the eloquent silence of God and Nature. 
But the duty to which you have called me must be performed; — 
grant me, I pray you, your indulgence and your sympathy. It 
was appointed by law in Athens, that the obsequies of the citi- 
zens who fell in battle should be performed at the public expense, 
and in the most honorable manner. Their bones were carefully 



356 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

gathered up from the funeral pyre, where their bodies were con- 
sumed, and brought home to the city. There, for three days 
before the interment, they lay in state, beneath tents of honor, to 
receive the votive offerings of friends and relatives, — flowers, 
weapons, precious ornaments, painted vases, (wonders of art, 
which after two thousand years adorn the museums of modern 
Europe,) — the last tributes of surviving affection. Ten coffins of 
funeral cypress received the honorable deposit, one for each of 
the tribes of the city, and an eleventh in memory of the unrecog- 
nized, but not therefore unhonored, dead, and of those whose 
remains could not be recovered. On the fourth day the mournful 
procession was formed : mothers, wives, sisters, daughters led the 
way ; and to them it was permitted by the simplicity of ancient 
manners, to utter aloud their lamentations for the beloved and 
the lost; the male relatives and friends of the deceased followed; 
citizens and strangers closed the train. Thus marshalled, they 
moved to the place of interment in that famous Ceramicus, the 
most beautiful suburb of Athens, which had been adorned by 
Cimon, the son of Miltiades, with walks and fountains and col- 
umns, — whose groves were filled with altars, shrines, and tem- 
ples, — whose gardens were kept forever green by the streams 
from the neighboring hills, and shaded with the trees sacred to 
Minerva and coeval with the foundation of the city, — whose 
circuit enclosed 

' The olive Grove of Academe, 
Plato's retirement, where the Attic bird 
Trilled his thick warbled note the summer long ; ' — 

whose pathways gleamed with the monuments of the illustrious 
dead, the work of the most -consummate masters that ever gave 
life to marble. There, beneath the overarching plane trees, upon 
a lofty stage erected for the purpose, it was ordained that a 
funeral oration should be pronounced by some citizen of Athens, 
in the presence of the assembled multitude. 

" Such were the tokens of respect required to be paid at Athens 
to the memory of those who had fallen in the cause of their 
country. For those alone who fell at Marathon a peculiar honor 
was reserved. As the battle fought upon that immortal field was 
distinguished from all others in Grecian history for its influence 



CONSECRATION OF THE GROUNDS AT GETTYSBURG. 357 

over the fortunes of Hellas, — as it depended upon the event of that 
day whether Greece should live, a glory and a light to all coming 
time, or should expire like the meteor of a moment, — so the honors 
awarded to its martyr-heroes were such as were bestowed by 
Athens on no other occasion. They alone of all her sons were 
entombed upon the spot which they had forever rendered famous. 
Their names were inscribed upon ten pillars, erected upon the 
monumental tumulus which covered their ashes, (where, after COO 
years, they were read by the traveller Pausanias,) and although 
the columns, beneath the hand of time and barbaric violence, 
have long since disappeared, the venerable mound still marks 
the spot where they fought and fell, — 

' That battle-field where Persia's victim horde 
First bowed beneath the brunt of Hellas' sword.' 

" And shall I, fellow-citizens, who, after an interval of twenty, 
three centuries, a youthful pilgrim from the world unknown to 
ancient Greece, have wandered over that illustrious plain, ready 
to put off the shoes from off my feet, as one that stands on holy 
ground, — who have gazed with respectful emotion on the mound 
which still protects the dust of those who rolled back the tide of 
Persian invasion, and rescued the land of popular liberty, of 
letters, and of arts, from the ruthless foe, — stand unmoved over 
the graves of our dear brethren, who so lately, on three of those 
all important days which decide a nation's history, — days on 
whose issue it depended whether this august republican Union, 
founded by some of the wisest statesmen that ever lived, ce- 
mented with the blood of some of the purest patriots that ever 
died, should perish or endure, — rolled back the tide of an inva- 
sion not less unprovoked, not less ruthless, than that which came 
to plant the dark banner of Asiatic despotism and slavery on the 
free soil of Greece ? Heaven forbid ! And could I prove so 
insensible to every prompting of patriotic duty and affection, not 
only would you, fellow-citizens, gathered many of you from dis- 
tant states, who have come to take part in these pious offices of 
gratitude, — you, respected fathers, brethren, matrons, sisters, 
who surround me, — cry out for shame, but the forms of brave 
and patriotic men, who fill these honored graves, would heave 
with indignation beneath the sod." 



338 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

A single clause from the peroration will illustrate the happy 
manner in which, with a few master strokes, he glorified the 
field and the dead who there fell, whose last resting place he was 
aiding to consecrate. " The spots on which they stood and fell ; 
these pleasant heights ; the fertile plain beneath them ; the 
thriving village whose streets so lately rang with the strange din 
of war ; the fields beyond the Ridge, where the noble Reynolds 
held the advancing foe at bay, and, while he gave up his own 
life, assured by this forethought and self-sacrifice the triumph of 
the two succeeding days ; the little streams which wind through 
the hills on whose banks in after times the wondering plowman 
will turn up, with the rude weapons of savage warfare, the fearful 
missiles of modern artillery ; Seminary Ridge, the Peach Orchard, 
Cemetery, Culp, and Wolf Hill, Round Top, Little Round Top, 
humble names, henceforward dear and famous, — no lapse of 
time, no distance of space shall cause you to be forgotten." 

The dedicatory address Avas reserved to President Lincoln, 
who after the conclusion of Mr. Everett's oration, delivered the 
following : 

" Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon 
this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated 
to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are 
engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation so con- 
reived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a 
great battle-field of that war. We are met to dedicate a portion 
of it as the final resting place of those who here gave their lives 
that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper 
that we should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, 
we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave 
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far 
above our power to add or detract. The world will little note nor 
long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what 
they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated 
here to the unfinished work that they have thus far so nobly 
carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great 
task remaining before us, — that from these honored dead we take 
increased devotion to the cause for which they here gave the last 
lull measure of devotion, — that we here highly resolve that the 



CONSECRATION OF THE GROUNDS AT GETTYSBURG. 359 

dead shall not have died in vain, that the nation shall, under God, 
have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of the 
people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from 
the earth." 

Short and simple in sentiment and structure, it is yet a most 
impressive and appropriate piece of composition. So well does it 
embody the thought which seemed struggling for utterance in 
every breast, that a word added to, or subtracted from it, would 
mar its harmony and faultless conception. But, however perfect 
its formation, its delivery was more solemn and impressive than 
is possible to conceive from its perusal. Major Harry T. Lee, 
who was one of the actors in the battle, and who was present 
upon the platform at the dedication, says that the people listened 
with marked attention throughout the two hours that Mr. Everett 
spoke; that his oration was finished, grand, lofty, though as cold 
and imimpassioned as the marble which pressed the forms of the 
sleeping dead; but that when Mr. Lincoln came forward, and 
with a voice burdened with emotion, uttered these sublime words, 
the bosoms of that vast audience were lifted as a great wave of 
the sea ; and that when he came to the passage, " The brave men 
living and dead who struggled here," there was not a dry eye, 
and he seemed bewailing the sad fate of men, every one of whom 
was his brother. 

When he had concluded, Mr. Everett stepped forward, and 
taking him by the hand, said in a manner which showed how 
fully he felt what he uttered : " Ah ! Mr. Lincoln, I would gladly 
give all my forty pages for your twenty lines." The Westminster 
Review, one of the most dignified and scholarly of the English 
quarterlies, always chary of praise for literary excellence in an 
American, and which during the late war preserved an attitude 
of little sympathy for the cause in whose interest the battle was 
gained, said of this address : " His oration at the consecration of 
the burial ground at Gettysburg has but one equal, in that pro- 
nounced upon those who fell during the first year of the Pelopon- 
nesian war, and in one respect it is superior to that great speech. 
It is not only more natural, fuller of feeling, more touching and 
pathetic, but we know with absolute certainty that it was really 
delivered. Nature here really takes precedence of art, even 
though it be the art of Thucyclides." 



360 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The monument, above described, was completed in 18G8. It 
is of granite procured from Westerly, Rhode Island. The four 
figures about the base, and the colossal one upon the summit, are 
of marble, and were cut in Italy. The whole was constructed by 
Mr. Batterson, the designer. The names of the dead arc not 
inscribed on the monument, but on granite headstones, which 
mark the place where each reposes. Dedicatory services were 
held upon the ground on the 1st of July, 1869, when General 
Meade delivered a brief address, Governor 0. P. Morton, of 
Indiana, an oration, and Bayard Taylor an ode. General Meade 
alluded in touching words to the bereaved by that battle, and 
earnestly urged in conclusion the propriety and the duty of 
gathering the remains of the Confederate dead and giving them 
burial in some suitable ground to be devoted to that special 
purpose, justly observing that the burial originally was from 
necessity very imperfect. Mr. Morton described briefly the 
course of the battle, and traced the progress of freedom since 
the memorable era of 177G, deducing the conclusion that the 
triumph of the Union cause was due to its devotion to the 
principles of liberty. Mr. Taylor dwelt in a chaste, and well 
conceived poetic vein upon the fruits which should be gathered 
from the struggle, and concluded in these fitting lines : 



" Thus, in her seat secure, 
Where now no distant menaces can reach her, 
At last in undivided freedom pure, 
She sits, the unwilling world's unconscious teacher ; 
And, day by day, beneath serener skies, 
The unshaken pillars of her palace rise — 
The Doric shafts, that lightly upward press, 
And hide in grace their giant massiveness. 
What though the sword has hewn each corner-stone, 
And precious blood cements the deep foundation? 
Never by other force have empires grown ; 
From other basis never rose a nation ! 
For strength is born of struggle, faith of doubt, 
Of discord law, and freedom of oppression. 
We hail from Pisgah, with exulting shout, 
The Promised Land below us, bright with sun, 
And deem its pastures won, 

Ere toil and blood have earned us their possession ! 
Each aspiration of our human earth 
Becomes an act through keenest pangs of birth ; 



DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT AT GETTYSBURG. S61 

Each force, to bless, must cease to be a dream, 

And conquer life through agony supreme ; 

Each inborne right must outwardly be tested 

By stern material weapons, ere it stand 

In the enduring fabric of the land, 

Secured for those who yielded it, and those who wrested I 

This they have done for us who slumber here, 

Awake, alive, though now so dumbly sleeping; 

Spreading the board, but tasting not its cheer, 

Sowing but never reaping ; — 

Building, but never sitting in the shade 

Of the strong mansion they have made ; — 

Speaking their words of life with mighty tongue, 

But hearing not the echo, million-voiced, 

Of brothers who rejoiced, 

From all our river-vales and mountains flung! 

So take them, Heroes of the songful Past ! 

Open your ranks, let every shining troop 

Its phantom banners droop, 

To hail Earth's noblest martyrs, and her last ! 

Take them, O God ! our Brave, 

The glad fulfillers of Thy dread decree ; 

Who grasped the sword for Peace, and smote to save, 

And, dying here for Freedom, died for Thee ! " 




CHAPTER XVII 




THE MILITIA CAPTURE OF MORGAN — BURNING OF CTIAMBERSBURG 

FINAL TRIUMPH DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT. 

WING to the suddenness with which the battle 
of Gettysburg was precipitated and won, the 
militia which had been called out for this emer- 
gency did not come to mortal conflict except in 
meeting the advanced guard of the enemy in the 
Cumberland valley, and after the battle, in ad- 
vancing upon his flanks as he retired to the 
Potomac. General (Baldy) Smith, who had the 
active command in the valley, when he found the 
enemy retiring before him for the purpose of 
participating in the great battle, moved forward 
with his column cautiously, and when General 
Meade came up with the foe at Williamsport, 
Smith's column was reported in readiness to join in the battle 
which was expected there to take place. But the enemy having 
made good his escape across the river, the services of the militia 
were no longer needed. 

The Thirty-sixth and Fifty-first regiments Avere sent to Gettys- 
burg, where Colonel II. C. Alleman, the commander of the 
Thirty-sixth, was made Military Governor of the district embrac- 
ing the battle ground and all the territory contiguous in any way 
pertaining to the battle. He was charged with gathering in the 
wounded and stragglers from both armies, in collecting the debris 
of the field, and in sending away the wounded as last as their 
condition would permit. The following trophies are reported to 
have been gathered and turned over to the agent of the War 
Department deputed to receive them, or were shipped directly to 
the National Arsenal at Washington : 2G,6G4 muskets, \)'2oQ 

3G2 




% 




Brev.Maj.GeTL.TJ. S."\ : 



THE MILITIA— CAPTURE OF MORGAN. 363 

bayonets, 1500 cartridge-boxes, 204 sabres, 14,000 rounds of small 
arm ammunition, 26 artillery wheels, 702 blankets, 40 wagon 
loads of clothing, 60 saddles, 60 bridles, 5 wagons, 510 horses 
and mules, and 6 wagon loads of knapsacks and haversacks. 
From the various camps and hospitals on the field and in the 
surrounding country, were sent away to hospitals in northern 
cities, 12,061 Union soldiers, 6197 wounded rebels, 3006 rebel 
prisoners, and 1637 stragglers. 

The Forty-seventh, Colonel Wickersham, was sent to the 
mining regions of Schuylkill county, where trouble was threat- 
ened ; but through the resolute front, and timely precautions 
of the Colonel commanding, no collision occurred. The Thirty- 
eighth, Colonel Horn, the Forty-ninth, Colonel Murphy, and the 
Fifty-third, Colonel Royer, were sent into the north central 
portions of the state, to enforce authority where disturbance was 
apprehended. The Forty-sixth, Colonel John J. Lawrence, the 
Fifty-ninth, Colonel McLean, and the Thirty-fourth, Colonel 
Albright, were sent to Philadelphia. Rioting and wild disorder 
was at the moment prevailing among the turbulent classes in 
New York city, and seemed ready at any moment to break forth 
here in lawless acts. By the prudence of these officers the excite- 
ment was allayed, and bloodshed averted. 

John Morgan, a daring rebel cavalry leader, that he might 
make a diversion in favor of Lee, who was moving on Gettysburg, 
set out from Sparta, Tennessee, on the 26th of June, the day after 
that on which the last of Lee's forces crossed the Potomac, with 
two thousand men and four guns, for a raid through the border 
free states. Recruits joined him on the way through Kentucky 
until his numbers were doubled, and his guns increased to ten. 
He crossed the Ohio river at Brandenburg, forty miles below 
Louisville, on the 7th of July, and struck out boldly through the 
country, burning mills, destroying railroads and telegraph lines, 
and levying contributions of money and horses. Trees were 
felled to impede his course, and the militia sprang up on all sides 
to harass, but not in sufficient force to corner him. He was 
followed by Union cavalry under Generals Hobson and Shackle- 
ford, and gunboats upon the Ohio patrolled the river. Having 
passed through Salem, Versailles, Sardinia, Piketon, and Jackson 



364 MARTIAL LEEDS OE PENNSYLVANIA. 

without encountering any considerable opposition, he approached 
the Ohio river at Pomeroy on the 19th, and commenced crossing, 
intending to make good his escape, when suddenly the gunboats 
hove in sight, and a force of infantry appeared upon his rear. 
Without awaiting a contest he betook himself to flight, leaving 
his guns, wagons, and about six hundred of his men to be 
captured, and made the best of his way to Belleville, where, on 
the following day, he again commenced to cross ; but the gun- 
boats again cut short the passage. Shackleford and Hobson, 
coming up in his rear, he was driven to an inaccessible bluff, 
where the major part of his command, after a brief parley, was 
compelled to surrender. The terms of the surrender were 
supposed to embrace all, but Morgan with a considerable body 
of his men stole away, and made for a point upon the river 
further up. As soon as it became evident that he was heading 
towards Pennsylvania, and seemed likely to reach it, General 
Brooks, in command of the Department of the Monongahela, sent 
a portion of his forces by rail from Pittsburg, to guard the upper 
fords of the Ohio. The Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania militia, Colonel 
R. B. McComb, was sent on the 11th to Parkersburg, and in 
company with troops under General Wallace, was posted in the 
vicinity, a part of the Fifty-fifth occupying the lower portion of 
Blennerhassett island. On Friday the 24th, General Brooks 
moved his headquarters temporarily to Wellsville, and ordered 
three of his regiments, the Fifty-fourth, Colonel Thomas F. 
Gallagher, the Fifty-seventh, Colonel James R. Porter, and the 
Fifty-eighth, Colonel George H. Bemus, to move down, and take 
position at the different fords along the river, between Steuben- 
ville and Wheeling. The Fifty-seventh arrived first, and halted 
at Portland Station to cover the Warrenton ford, Colonel Porter, 
with the right wing occupying strong ground on the Hill road, 
and the left wing under Major Reid, on the valley road. The 
Fifty-eighth arrived next, and in conjunction with a section of 
artillery, and two companies of Kentucky cavalry, occupied Le 
Grange opposite Wellsville. The Fifty-fourth came last, and 
was ordered first to Mingo Station, and afterwards to the ford at 
Rush Run, midway between the positions of the other two 
regiments. On Friday night, the 24th, Morgan was near Mount 



THE MILITIA—CAPTURE OF MORGAN. 365 

Pleasant, heading for Warrenton ford, where he would have 
crossed but for the timely arrival of Colonel Porter. On Saturday 
morning, being pressed in the rear, he again attempted to break 
through at Warrenton ; but finding his way blocked, he turned 
northward towards Smithfield, feeling successively the positions 
of Gallagher and Bern us. Seeing that escape by these routes 
was equally hopeless, he again struck out and made for Richmond, 
passing by Steubenville. At Wintersville, on Saturday afternoon, 
he encountered the Steubenville militia, and at night bivouacked 
between Richmond and Springfield, his scouts reconnoitring the 
fords above. To checkmate this last move, Porter's command 
was moved up to Island Creek, while Gallagher and Bemus were 
posted at fords higher up, to intercept him, if he should strike 
for Shanghai, Yellow Creek, or points further on. Learning by 
his scouts that all the avenues of escape were strongly held, he 
did not await the coming of the morning, but moved in the 
darkness in the direction of Salineville, where he was early 
attacked by Major Way, of the Michigan cavalry, and lost some 
three hundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Colonel Galla- 
gher had reached Salineville by the Cleveland and Pittsburg 
Railroad, and had formed line of battle near the village ; but 
after the charge of Major Way, the enemy drew off in the oppo- 
site direction, and turned again northward, as if to strike Smith's 
Ferry, or Beaver. Again were the Pennsylvania regiments 
moved up, and preparations made to meet this new disposition, 
when tidings were received that General Shackleford had cap- 
tured Morgan, and what was left of his band. The prisoners 
were at once placed in charge of the Fifty-eighth, and were held 
until turned over to. the authorities of the Department, by whom 
they were incarcerated in the Ohio Penitentiary in retaliation 
for alleged irregular treatment of Colonel Straight by the rebel 
government. As soon as the chase for Morgan was over, the 
Pennsylvania regiments returned to camp, near Pittsburg. 

With the close of this raid ended the rebel invasion of the 
North of 1863. Further service for which the militia had been 
called was no longer required, and during the months of August 
and September, the majority of the men were mustered out. In 
the department of the Monongahela, there were five regiments 



o G(5 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and a company of artillery, and one of cavalry, an aggregate of 
3750. In the department of the Susquehanna were thirty-one 
regiments of infantry, besides a number of independent companies 
of infantry and artillery, aggregating 28,354. There were, in 
addition, 4480 troops recruited in this period in these departments 
for six months' service. The sum total called forth by the inva- 
sion in addition to the regular contributions to the United States 
service, was 30,574. With few exceptions, they did not engage 
the enemy. But they, nevertheless, rendered most important 
service. They came forward at a moment when there was 
pressing need. Their presence gave great moral support to the 
Union Army, and had that army been defeated at Gettysburg, 
they would have taken the places of the fallen, and would have 
fought with a valor and desperation worthy of veterans. Called 
suddenly to the field from the walks of private life, without a 
moment's opportunity for drill or discipline, they grasped their 
muskets, and by their prompt obedience to every order, showed 
their willingness — all unprepared as they were — to face the 
enemy before whom veterans had often quailed. The bloodless 
campaigns of the militia may be a subject for playful satire; but 
in the strong arms and sturdy hearts of the yeomanry of the land, 
who spring to arms at the moment of danger, and when that 
danger has passed cheerfully lay them down again, rests a sure 
guaranty for the peace and security of the country. 

The year 18G3 closed hopefully for the Union. The capture 
of Vicksburg and Port Hudson in mid-summer had opened the 
Mississippi river, and had severed the rebel power. The victory 
at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge had saved the Union 
Army there from destruction, to which it was threatened, and 
rendered that important position secure. Longstrect, who had 
besieged Burnside at Knoxville, was foiled in his purposes and 
driven away with considerable loss. And the gaining of the 
Battle of Gettysburg by the Army of the Potomac had relieved 
the border territory at the east, and had so broken the power and 
esprit of the Army of Northern Virginia, as to greatly modify 
the dread which- it had inspired. 

But the rebel authority was everywhere defiant; and while the 
armies were in winter quarters, vigorous efforts were put forth to 



BURNING OF CHAMBEBSBUBO. 3G7 

fill their depleted ranks, and be prepared to enter upon the 
spring campaign with renewed power. So thoroughly was the 
country searched and the men gathered up that General Grant 
afterwards very significantly observed : " The little boys and old 
men are guarding prisoners, guarding railroad bridges, and form- 
ing a good part of their garrisons in intrenched positions. A man 
lost by them cannot be replaced. They have robbed the cradle 
and the grave equally to get their present force." 

In the Union Army, a large portion of the Pennsylvania troops, 
recruited for three years, would in a few months be entitled to 
discharge. Opportunities were given them to re-enlist for an 
additional term, and thus become veteran regiments. On this 
condition a liberal furlough was offered, and the j)rivilege 
afforded to fill up their depleted ranks with new recruits. Large 
numbers embraced this proposition, and the winter of 18G3-G4 
was made memorable by the return of veteran soldiers, and 
activity in recruiting fresh levies. 

The spring campaign of 18G4 opened early in May on the part 
of the Army of the Potomac, General Grant, who had been made 
Lieutenant General and placed in command of all the armies of 
the United States, accompanying it, and having the general 
direction of its operations. The Battle of the Wilderness, Laurel 
Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, 
and Petersburg followed in rapid succession and with terrible 
destruction of life. In the meantime General Sigel had been 
left in command of the Department of West Virginia, and by his 
order, simultaneously with the movement of Grant into the Wil- 
derness and Sherman towards Atlanta, General Crook moved from 
Kanawha for the destruction of the Virginia and Tennessee rail- 
road, and General Averell, with another column, pushed out from 
Beverly to cooperate with Crook. Sigel in person, with 8500 
troops, moved up the valley, and at New Market met the enemy 
under Breckcnridge, where Sigel was defeated and retired to 
Cedar Creek. He was soon after relieved, and General Hunter 
succeeded him, who, having repaired losses and stripped to light 
marching order, again commenced an advance up the valley. At 
Piedmont a battle was fought in which Hunter gained a hand- 
some victory, and the rebel commander, William E. Jones, was 



368 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

killed. Hunter pushed forward to form junction with Crook and 
Averell, who had been ordered up, fought at Quaker Church, and 
moved upon Lynchburg, an important depot of supply to the 
rebel army, repulsing the enemy on the 18th of June in their 
attack upon him. From prisoners taken Hunter discovered that 
he was fighting veteran troops of Lee's army, and that Early 
had been detached with an entire corps, which was hourly 
arriving by rail. Hunter found that he was in a perilous situa- 
tion, two hundred and fifty miles from his base, with ammunition 
running low, and greatly outnumbered. He, accordingly, deter- 
mined to retire by the Kanawha Valley, and thence back by the 
Ohio river and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Martinsburg. 
This left the Shenandoah Valley open to the enemy, and he was 
not slow to take advantage of his opportunity. 

Early advanced into Maryland at the beginning of July, was 
checked for a while at the Monocacy by General Lew Wallace, 
but soon forced his way to the outer defences of the city cf Wash- 
ington. By this time troops from the Army of the Potomac 
arrived — the Sixth corps under General Wright, and the Nine- 
teenth under General Gilmore — and Early was driven back into 
the valley. 

The approach of the enemy to the border created much solici- 
tude among the inhabitants of Maryland and Pennsylvania, who 
had felt the weight of the invaders' blows in the previous years. 
Upon intelligence of the enemy's advance being received, the 
farmers again sent away their stock, and the merchants in the 
towns and villages their merchandize and valuables. General 
Couch was still at the head of the Department of the Susque- 
hanna, and when it was discovered that Hunter had been driven, 
and that Early with a large army was moving down for the 
annual invasion, a call was made for volunteers from Pennsyl- 
vania to serve for the period of one hundred clays in the States 
of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and at Washington and its 
vicinity. Under this call six regiments and a battalion of six 
companies were raised. Recognizing the great danger to which 
the border was exposed from daring rebel raiders, Governor Cur- 
tin, and Governor Bradford of Maryland united in a request to 
the General Government that the forces raised for this emergency 



BURNING OF CHAMBEBSBUBQ. 3G9 

should be retained within the limits of these states ; but this was 
refused. General Couch also made a request that the General 
Government should simply furnish uniforms to citizen soldiers to 
be raised in the six border counties most exposed, who should 
hold themselves as minute men ready to fly to arms the moment 
a rebel force was found approaching. This also was refused. 
The regiments of one hundred days men as fast as they were got 
ready for the field were called away, the last regiment leaving 
the state on the 29th of July. 

On the very evening of this day, the rebel Generals McCausland 
and Johnson, with some three thousand mounted men with six 
guns, crossed the Potomac at Clear Spring and moved at once to 
Mercersburg, seizing and cutting the telegraph wires before any 
messages could be sent. The place was picketed by forty-five 
men under Lieutenant McLean, who gallantly checked the 
advance, as he withdrew, keeping his face to the foe. Another 
rebel column under Vaughn and Jackson, consisting of three thou- 
sand more mounted men, crossed at Williamsport, and advanced 
to and beyond Hagerstown, and a third crossed at Shepherdstown 
and marched to Leitersburg. General Averell with the remnants 
of his command, consisting of less than 2500 effective troops, worn 
out with the hard service in the Hunter campaign, was in the 
neighborhood of Hagerstown, and finding himself overmatched 
and hemmed in on three sides, withdrew towards Greencastle, 
and thence by Mount Hope, fearing a combined attack. Lieu- 
tenant McLean, at the instant he was apprised of the presence 
of the enemy, and found that the telegraph wires were broken, 
sent a messenger to warn General Couch, who was at Chambers- 
burg. This officer, though a Major General, and in command of 
a department, was without troops, and the most he could do was 
to gather all the Government stores and move them away by 
rail, and give notice to the citizens to prepare themselves for the 
advent of the foe. Lieutenant McLean, who kept a bold front, 
was driven as far as the western turnpike at St. Thomas by one 
o'clock A. m. of Saturday the 30th, and at three A. M. had reached 
the western toll-gate leading into the town of Chambersburg. As 
the stores were not yet all ready for shipment, Major Maneely of 
Couch's staff determined to hold the enemy in check until all 



370 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

could be got away, boldly pushed out with one gun, aided by a 
squad of men, and planting it on a hill a short distance west of 
the fair ground, opened fire, killing one and wounding five by his 
first discharge. As it was too* dark to discover just what force 
was opposing them, the enemy halted until daylight. By that 
time the trains had all been moved, and, being well mounted, 
Maneely and McLean with the handful of men were able to with- 
draw without loss. The enemy employed his time, while thus 
checked, in planting his batteries in commanding positions, and 
in bringing up his entire column. At six A. m. he opened with 
his batteries upon the town ; but after firing a few shots, which 
fortunately did no damage, and discovering that there was 
no force opposing him, he ordered an advance. Suddenly his 
skirmishers entered by every street and alley leading from the 
south and southwest, and finding the way clear, four hundred 
and fifty of the cavalry came dashing in. McCausland was in 
command, accompanied by Generals Bradley Johnson and Harry 
Gilmore. While the leaders were making terms with citizens 
whom they met for the ransom of the town, the soldiers were 
busy in plundering. " Hats, caps, boots, watches and silver-ware, 
and everything of value were appropriated without ceremony 
from citizens on the streets, and when a man was met whose 
appearance indicated a plethoric purse, a pistol was presented to 
his head, with the order to 'deliver,' with a dexterity that 
would have done credit to the freebooting accomplishments of 
an Italian brigand." 

Not finding any representative persons to furnish the money 
demanded to save the place, McCausland ordered the Court House 
bell rung to draw the people together. But few persons, how- 
ever, came. Captain Fitzhugh, an officer of McCausland's staff, 
produced an order, which he read to those present, signed by 
( Jeneral Jubal Early, directing the command to proceed to Cham- 
be rsburg and demand $100,000 in gold, or in lieu thereof 
$500,000 in Northern currency, and if the demand was not 
complied with, to burn the town in retaliation for six houses 
alleged to have been destroyed, or in some way injured by Hun- 
ter in his campaign in the upper part of the valley, — a town of 
G000 inhabitants, with all its dwellings and public edifices, set 



EVENING OF CHAMBEESBUEG. 371 

against six buildings of some sort, far up the Shenandoah Valley. 
But no attention was paid to the threat. Infuriated by the 
indifference of the citizens, Gilmore rode up to a group, consist- 
ing of Thomas B. Kennedy, AVilliam McLellan, J. McDowell 
Sharpe, Dr. J. C. Richards, William H. McDowell, W. S. Everett? 
Edward G. Etter, and M. A. Foltz, and ordered them under arrest. 
Hoping to gain by intimidation what he had failed to obtain 
voluntarily, they were told that they would be held for the pay- 
ment of the sum demanded, and in default they would be driven 
captives to Richmond, and the town destroyed. While he was 
thus employed the torch was applied, and the fell work of 
destruction was begun, the hostages being released when it was 
found that threats would have no effect. 

Scarcely ten minutes from the time the first building was fired, 
the whole business and most thickly peopled part of the town 
was in flames. No notice was given to the inhabitants of the 
intention to burn, and no time was allowed for the removal of 
women and children, but like fiends let loose from the nether 
world, they went straight to their work. Burning parties were 
sent into each quarter of the town, and having apportioned the 
streets, the work was made thorough and quick. Every house, 
or, at most every other house, was fired. Entering by beating 
down the door, if found closed, they would break up the furni- 
ture, and pouring oil upon it, apply the torch. No conception 
can be formed of the horrors of the scene. The following graphic 
account, published in the Rebellion Record, is understood to 
be from the pen of Mr. McClure, previously quoted : " They 
almost invariably entered every room of each house, rifled the 
drawers of every bureau, appropriated money, jewelry, watches, 
and any other valuables, and often would present pistols to the 
heads of inmates, men and women, and demand money or their 
lives. In nearly half the instances, they demanded owners to 
ransom their property, and in a few cases it was done and the 
property burned. Although we have learned of a number of per- 
sons, mostly widows, who paid them sums from twenty-five to two 
hundred dollars, we know of but one case where the property was 
saved thereby. The main object of the men seemed to be plunder. 
Not a house escaped rifling — all were plundered of everything 



372 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

that could be carried away. In most cases houses were entered 
in the rudest maimer, and no time whatever allowed even for the 
families to escape, much less to save anything. Many families 
had the utmost difficulty to get themselves and children out in 
time, and not one half had so much as a change of clothing with 
them. They would rush from story to story to rob, and always 
fire the building at once, in order to keep the family from 
detecting their robberies. Feeble and helpless women and chil- 
dren were treated like brutes — told insolently to get out or 
burn ; and even the sick were not spared. Several invalids had 
to be carried out as the red flames threatened their couches. 
Thus the work of desolation continued for two hours; more than 
half of the town on fire at once ; and the wild glare of the flames, 
the shrieks of women and children, and often louder than all, the 
terrible blasphemy of the rebels, conspired to present such a 
scene of horror as has never been witnessed by the present 
generation. No one w r as spared save by accident. The widow 
and the fatherless cried and plead in vain that they would be 
homeless and helpless. A rude oath would close all hope of 
mercy, and they would fly to save their lives. The old and infirm 
who tottered before them were thrust aside, and the torch applied 
in their presence to hasten their departure. So thoroughly were 
all of them masters of the trade of desolation, that there is 
scarcely a house standing in Chambersburg to-day that they 
attempted to burn, although their stay did not exceed two hours. 
In that brief period, the major portion of Chambersburg — its 
chief wealth and business — its capital and elegance, were 
devoured by a barbarous foe; three millions of property sacri- 
ficed ; three thousand human beings homeless and many penni- 
less, and all without so much as a pretence that the citizens of 
the doomed village, or any of them, had violated any accepted 
rule of civilized warfare. Such is the deliberate, voluntary 
record made by General Early, a corps commander in the insur- 
gent army. The Government may not take summary vengeance, 
although it has abundant power to do so; but there is One whose 
voice is most terrible in wrath, who has declared, ' Vengeance is 
mine, — I will repay ! ' " 

The Rev. Dr. Schneck, who was an eyewitness and a sufferer, 



BURNING OF CHAMBERSBVRG. 373 

in addition to his own vivid description of the scene, has given, 
in a little volume devoted to this subject, the testimony of several 
citizens who saw all. "As to the result," says the Rev. Joseph 
Clark, " I may say that the entire heart or body of the town is 
burned. Not a house or building of any kind is left on a space 
of about an average of two squares of streets, extending each way 
from the centre, with some four or five exceptions where the 
buildings were isolated. Only the outskirts are left. The 
Court House, Bank, Town Hall, German Reformed Printing 
Establishment, every store and hotel in the town, and every mill 
and factory in the space indicated, and two churches were burned. 
Between three and four hundred dwellings were burned, leaving 
at least 2500 persons without a home or a hearth. In value 
three-fourths of the town was destroyed. The scene of desola- 
tion must be seen to be appreciated. Crumbling walls, stacks of 
chimneys, and smoking embers, are all that remain of once 
elegant and happy homes. As to the scene itself, it beggars 
description. My own residence being in the outskirts, and feeling 
it the call of duty to be with my family, I could only look on 
from without. The day was sultry and calm, not a breath stir- 
ring, and each column of smoke rose black, straight, and single; 
first one, then another, and another, and another, until the 
columns blended and commingled, and then one lurid column of 
smoke and flame rose perpendicularly to the sky, and spread out 
into a vast crown like a cloud of sackcloth hanging over the 
doomed city ; whilst the roar and surging, the crackling and 
crash of falling timbers and walls, broke upon the still air with 
a fearful dissonance; and the screams and sounds of agony of 
burning animals made the welkin horrid with echoes of woe. It 
was a scene to be witnessed and heard but once in a lifetime." 

Mr. McClure owned a beautiful residence about a mile from 
the town, called Norland. Passing over all the houses on the 
way this was singled out for destruction, and Captain Smith, son 
of the Governor of Virginia, was sent to apply the torch. Mrs. 
McClure had for several days been confined to her bed by 
severe illness. But her weak and infirm condition could not 
avail to save the home from destruction. This lady had shown 
great kindness to sick and wounded soldiers of both armies, care 



374 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

which had been acknowledged since their departure in the most 
grateful manner; but even this service, the evidence of which 
was exhibited in the missives which had just been received, had 
no weight, and the mansion and well-stored barns were converted 
to a mass of ruins. 

" The streets," says Mr. John K. Shryock, "were fdled with 
smoke and Hame, and almost impassable. After we had reached 
a temporary shelter, my wife returned to the scene of destruction, 
as a bird to its nest, and on her way was stopped before a burn- 
ing house in which a corpse was lying and a little child at the 
point of death. The dead woman was gotten out with difficulty 
and buried in the garden without shroud or coffin, and the child 
was barely rescued and placed in her arms. ... In some cases 
women attempted to extinguish the lire, and Averc prevented by 
threats and personal violence. Some were thrust from their 
houses, others were struck, and in some instances pistols were 
drawn upon them. One lady had a bucket of water, which she 
had brought to extinguish the fire, thrown in her face. In almost 
every case the sick and infirm were hindered from leaving their 
homes. There appeared to be a desire to have some burned if 
possible by accident. . . . Cows and dogs and cats were burned, 
and the death cries of the poor dumb brutes sounded like the 
groans of human beings. It is a picture that may be misrepre- 
sented but cannot be heightened." 

" Never was there so little saved," says the Rev. T. G. Apple, 
" at an extensive fire. Sixty-nine pianos were consumed. The 
most sacred family relics, keepsakes, and portraits of deceased 
friends, old family bibles handed down from past generations^ 
and the many objects imparting a priceless value to a Christian 
home, and which can never be replaced, were all destroyed. In 
the dim moonlight we meditated among the ruins ; chimney 
stacks and fragments of walls formed the dreary outline of 
ruined houses. Not a light was left but the fitful glowing of 
embers, amid the rubbish that fills the cellars. The silence of 
the grave reigns where oft we have heard the voice of mirth and 
music, of prayer and praise. Now and then some one treads 
heavily along in the middle of the street ; for the pavements are 
blocked up with fallen walls." 



BUBXING OF CHAMBERSBUBQ. 375 

Of the spirit which was preserved under these calamities the 
Rev. Dr. Schneck says : " In regard to the first, I am enabled to 
say, that during the whole course of my life, I have not witnessed 
such an absence of despondent feeling under great trials and 
sudden reverses of earthly fortune, never such buoyancy and vigor 
of soul, and even cheerfulness amid accumlated woes and sorrows, 
as I have during these four weeks of this devastated town ; and I 
leave you to imagine the many cases of extreme revulsion from 
independence and affluence to utter helplessness and want. The 
widoAV and fatherless, the aged and infirm, suddenly bereft of 
their earthly all, in very many instances, even of a change of 
clothing; large and valuable libraries and manuscripts, the ac- 
cumulations of many years, statuary, paintings, precious and 
never to be replaced mementoes, more valuable than gold and 
silver, — gone forever. ... A highly intelligent and pious woman 
in a remote part of the county, a few days after the burning, 
called at the house in which a number of the homeless ones were 
kindly cared for. The large dining table was surrounded by 
those who, a few days before, were in possession of all the com- 
forts and many of the luxuries of life. Pleasant and cheerful 
conversation passed around the board. The visitor alone seemed 
sad and out of tune. Tears stood in her eyes as she looked 
around upon us. i I am amazed beyond measure at you all,' she 
said, ' I expected to see nought but tears, hear only lamentations 
and sighs, and here you are as I have seen and known you in 
your bright and happy days, calm, serene, and even cheerful ! ' 
When one of our number replied, that no tear over the losses 
sustained had yet been shed by herself, but many tears at the 
numerous tokens of Christian sympathy and generous aid from 
far and near to relieve the immediate necessities of the sufferers, 
she added : ' God be thanked for your words ; they flow like 
precious ointment, deep down into my heart. Oh, what a com- 
mentary on the promised grace of God.' And we all felt, I am 
sure, that among the many gifts of our heavenly Father, not 
the least was 

' A cheerful heart, 
That tastes those gifts with joy.' 

" In regard to the feeling of revenge, so natural to the human 



37G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

heart, I have been gratifyingly disappointed. Among the heaviest 
sufferers, by far the largest proportion have not only expressed 
themselves decidedly opposed to the spirit of retaliation, but 
have used their best efforts to dissuade our soldiers from carrying 
their threats into execution when an opportunity should offer. 
They have gone farther, and have drawn up a petition in which 
they earnestly implore the Government in Washington to prevent 
to the utmost anything of the kind on the part of our army. 
They believe it to be morally wrong, no matter what may be the 
provocation from the other side, and have always condemned the 
destruction of private property by our troops in the South, when- 
ever isolated instances of the kind were reported. They believe, 
moreover, with our wise and judicious Governor, that retaliation, 
' can do no good to our own people, but a great deal of harm. ' ' 

The leading journals of New York city were loud in their 
denunciation of the people of Chambersburg, because they did 
not rise and beat back the foe. But how senseless was this fault- 
finding will be apparent when we consider that the force actually 
surrounding the town was 3100 mounted men, accompanied by 
two batteries, and there were in addition two other columns 
within supporting distance amounting at least to 5000 more ; 
that the advance guard stole upon the force at Mercersburg, and 
cut the wires before intelligence of their coming could be sent 
lorward; and that the few officials and guards at Chambersburg 
had hardly time to gather up government property and get it 
away before the enemy were within the town, holding complete 
sway. There were not men enough in the town, nor the whole 
county together, had they been armed and thoroughly drilled, to 
have made any head against these veteran troops, well furnished 
with artillery, which were engaged in this raid. There were 
b irely one hundred and fifty Government soldiers under General 
Couch's command, and consequently he was powerless. General 
Averell, with two or three thousand cavalry, was ten miles away, 
and might possibly have interposed, together with such help as lie 
could have extemporised, a sufficient resistance to have saved the 
town, had he previously known the enemy's purpose. But he 
was himself expecting an attack, and was bracing himself to 
receive it, well knowing that he was inferior in numbers to the 



BURNING OF CHAMBERSBUBG. 377 

foe, and that his command was broken down with hard service 
in the recent disastrous campaign in West Virginia. The large 
wagon train of Hunter's army, which had been sent back from 
the Potomac, had passed through Chambersburg on the afternoon 
of the 29th. With this train was a strong guard which, if it 
could have remained at the town, might also have afforded some 
protection, and with Averell's command would for a time at least 
have been more than a match for the advanced column of the 
enemy. But these, as well as Averell's troops, were under the 
command of General Hunter, and over them General Couch had 
no authority. So that to no party could any blame be reasonably 
attributed. We can now see how, if the purpose of the foe had 
been known in advance, Averell and the train guard, and the 
soldiers of Couch, and the citizens, might have been gathered up 
and moulded into a force sufficient to have protected the town for 
the moment, yet even then not to have made headway against 
the combined forces of the enemy. But McCausland came as a 
thief in the night, and his work in two hours was done. Averell 
reached the town at three p. m. of the 30th ; but the foe had then 
been gone five hours. 

The city of New York, whence these diatribes came which were 
levelled against the people of Chambersburg, had throughout the 
war been the seat and hiding place of a most turbulent and 
dangerous class, and it had been necessary to call veteran soldiers 
from the front in large bodies to hold it in subjection. If, then, 
that great and populous city could not control the disaffected 
class in its own midst, with how poor a grace could it point 
the finger of reproach to the people of a defenceless town for 
not beating back a powerful body of veteran enemy, when 
suddenly attacked ? 

Governor Curtin, on the 1st day of August, issued his proclama- 
tion calling together the Legislature, which convened on the 9th 
of that month, to take measures for the state defence. In his 
message to that body, on this occasion, his Excellency referred in 
just terms of rebuke to the sentiment which had been so ruth- 
lessly displayed. " How could an agricultural people, in an open 
country, be expected to rise suddenly, and beat back hostile 
forces which had defeated organized veteran armies of the Govern- 



378 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ment ? It is of course, expected that the inhabitants of an in- 
vaded country will do what is in their power to resist the 
invaders ; and the facts hereafter stated will show, I think, that 
the people of the counties have not failed in this duty. If 
Pennsylvania, by reason of her geographical position, has required 
to be defended by the national forces, it has only been against a 
common enemy ; it has never been necessary to weaken the army 
in the field, by sending heavy detachments of veterans to save 
her cities from being devastated by small bands of ruffians, com- 
posed of their own inhabitants, nor have her people been dis- 
posed to sneer at the great masses of law-abiding citizens in any 
other state who have required such protection. Yet when a 
brutal enemy, pursuing a defeated body of Union forces, crosses 
our border and burns a defenceless town, the horrid barbarity, 
instead of firing the hearts of all the people of our common 
country, is actually in some quarters made the occasion of mocks 
and jibes at the unfortunate sufferers, thousands of whom have 
been rendered homeless ; and these heartless scoffs proceed from 
the very men who, when the state authorities, forseeing the 
danger, were taking precautionary measures, ridiculed the idea 
of there being any danger, sneered at the exertions made for the 
purpose of meeting it, .and succeeded, to some extent, in thwart- 
ing their efforts to raise forces. These men are themselves 
morally responsible for the calamity over which they now 
chuckle and rub their hands. It might have been hoped — nay, 
we had a right to expect — that the people of the loyal states, 
engaged in a common effort to preserve their Government and all 
that is dear to a freeman, would have forgotten, at least for the 
time, their wretched local jealousies, and sympathized with all 
their loyal fellow citizens, wherever resident within the borders 
of our common country. It should be remembered that the 
original source of the present rebellion was in such jealousies, 
encouraged for wicked purposes by unscrupulous politicians. 
The men who for any purpose now continue to encourage them, 
ought to be held as public enemies — enemies of our Union, our 
peace — and should be treated as such. Common feelings, com- 
mon sympathies, are the necessary foundations of a common free 
government." 



MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR CURTIN. 379 

After reciting the history of previous invasions of the state 
and the measures taken for its defence, he recommended the 
raising of a special corps for the protection of the border. He 
says : " I also recommend that the Governor be authorized to 
form, either by the acceptance of volunteers or by draft, in such 
parts of the state as he may deem expedient, a special corps of 
militia, to consist in due proportions of cavalry, artillery, and 
infantry, to be kept up to the full number of fifteen regiments, 
to be styled Minute Men, who shall be sworn and mustered into 
the service of the state for three years ; who shall assemble for 
drill at such times and places as he may direct; who shall be 
clothed, armed, and equipped by the state, and paid when 
assembled for drill or called into service ; and who shall at all 
times be liable to be called into immediate service for the defence 
of the state, independently of the remainder of the term enlisted 
for. As this force would be subjected to sudden calls, the larger 
part of it should be organized in the counties adjoining our 
exj)osed border, and as the people of those counties have more 
personal interest in their protection, the recommendation is 
made to authorize the Governor to designate the parts of the 
state in which it shall be raised, and save the time and expense 
of transporting troops from remote parts of the state, and the 
subsistence and pay in going to and from the border. A body 
of men so organized will, it is believed, be effective to prevent 
raids and incursions." 

In compliance with the recommendations of the Governor, the 
Legislature promptly passed acts of the 22d and the 25th of 
August, providing for the organization to be known as the State 
Guard, to consist of fifteen regiments. Lemuel Todd was appoin- 
ted Inspector General, under whose immediate agency the corps 
was to be organized. An order was issued on the 30th by the 
Governor calling for volunteers, to form three regiments of 
infantry, two squadrons of cavalry, and four batteries of field 
artillery, as the first portion of this corps. " Although strenuous 
efforts were made," says General Todd in his annual report, " to 
recruit the force in nearly every county of the Commonwealth, 
the attempt proved a total failure, attributable to inherent defects 
in the law, and the then pending United States draft." The acts 



380 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

provided that if volunteering failed to bring out the requisite 
strength, a draft should be resorted to, and the assessors were re- 
quired to make a careful enrolment of the arms-bearing popula- 
tion. An order was issued by the Governor directing such an 
enumeration to be made. Much time was consumed in this 
labor, and in hearing appeals for exemptions. 

In the meantime a new military character had come upon the 
scene, destined to eclipse by the boldness of his achievements all 
previous conduct of affairs in the Valley, and to render a force for 
the defence of the border unnecessary. On the 2d of August, 
General Philip II. Sheridan was sent to Washington, and a few 
days after was put in command of the Middle Department in- 
cluding that of West Virginia, Washington, and the Susque- 
hanna, and an ample force of all arms was given him. He soon 
initiated a campaign of unexampled brilliance, and so thoroughly 
beat the enemy in repeated encounters, and laid waste the fertile 
region whence the rebel supplies had heretofore been largely 
drawn, as to make it untenable even for a defensive army. No 
force being needed in Pennsylvania, further attempts to recruit 
the contemplated corps Avere abandoned. 

The work of recruiting the national army, however, was 
vigorously pushed, a record of the number furnished by each 
locality was kept in the Provost Marshal General's office at 
Washington, where all recruits were accredited, and when calls 
were made for additional troops, each township and village was 
allowed the opportunity of filling its share by volunteers. If 
not able to do so, then the draft was resorted to. 

The campaign for the spring of 18G5 opened early, and with 
great activity along the whole front. Indeed, the army of Sher- 
man had not stopped to go into winter-quarters, but in its march 
to the sea and its subsequent campaign through the Carolinas 
had been kept in almost constant activity. Sheridan having 
pushed from the valley upon the James River canal which he 
destroyed, and the railroads leading to the rebel capital, marched 
for Grant's army before Petersburg, which he reached on the 27th 
of March. This was the signal for the general advance, of which 
Sheridan took the lead. Leaving only the Ninth corps before 
Petersburg, the remaining corps followed the cavalry by the left 



FINAL TRIUMPH— DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT. 381 

flank. At first, it was a movement for the destruction of the two 
railroads by which the rebel army was fed; but as the Union 
commander warmed to the work, and saw the success of his 
encounters with the enemy, he changed his plan, and instead 
of confining himself to cutting off supplies and hemming in 
the foe, he wrote to Sheridan : " I now feel like ending the 
matter, if it is possible to do so, before going back. I do not 
want you, therefore, to cut loose and go after the enemy's roads 
at present. In the morning push round the enemy, and get on 
his right rear. We will act altogether as one army here, until it 
is seen what can be done with the enemy." 

That was all the order that a soldier like Sheridan needed, and 
on the 9th of April the army of Northern Virginia surrendered. 
The tidings of this triumph were every where received with 
great joy. Not long after, the army opposed to Sherman likewise 
capitulated. But in the meantime, when every household was 
filled with rejoicing, and while preparations were in progress for 
public demonstration, a great sorrow fell upon the whole nation. 
Mr. Lincoln, who had borne the burden of a great war, who 
had at times been so depressed with the ill fortune of the cause 
he upheld as to count life as of no value, who, having finally 
seen his purposes consummated, was about to sit down in peace 
and quiet to heal the wounds which war had inflicted, and 
during the evening of his official term to enjoy the fruits of the 
triumph, while, surrounded by his family and friends, he was wit- 
nessing the personation of the play, Our American Cousin, was 
assassinated by an obscure actor, Wilkes Booth, who stealing 
unobserved from behind, and coming upon the President un- 
awares, shot him clown. His sad fate touched every heart, 
and he was mourned more sincerely the civilized world over, 
and especially among his own people, than any American, or it 
may not be too much to say than any human being, ever was. 
Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson very justly remarked on the occasion: 
" We meet under the gloom of a calamity which darkens down 
over the minds of good men in all civilized society, as the fearful 
tidings travel over sea, over land from country to country, like 
the shadow of an uncalculated eclipse over the planet. Old as 
history is, and manifold as are its tragedies, I doubt if any death 



382 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

has caused so much pain to mankind, as this lias caused or will 
cause on its announcement." After impressive services at the 
executive mansion and beneath the great dome of the capital, 
the mourning cortege started with the body of the dead Presi- 
dent for his home amid the prairies, and it was determined to 
return by the same route by which he had travelled to the cap- 
ital a little more than four years before. Ollicers of the army and 
navy, representatives of the many departments of the Govern- 
ment, and of the national Congress, were of the sorrowing train. 
General E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General of the 
a nny, as the representative of the War Department, had charge 
of the ceremonies in the cities through which it passed. In reply 
to the telegram of General Townsend indicating the intention to 
pass through Harrisburg, and to remain there from eight o'clock 
P. M. of Friday to twelve, noon, of Saturday, Governor Curtin 
returned the following answer : " I propose to take charge of the 
remains at the line of the state, and to accompany them till they 
Leave it. I will meet them at the border. At Harrisburg they 
will be placed in the capitol. All military and civil honors will 
be shown." The greeting of the Governors of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania was cordial as the latter joined the train. Every- 
where as the cortege passed, crowds were gathered, and attested, 
by uncovered heads and subdued expression, their deep sorrow. 
Flags were displayed draped in mourning, and many were the 
emblems of grief. At York, a company of ladies asked permis- 
sion to lay a wreath of flowers upon the bier. This having been 
granted, six of their number entered the funeral car, and amid 
the tolling of bells and the strains of solemn music deposited the 
flowers upon the coffin, the witnesses to this touching mark of 
affection being moved to tears. 

It was raining heavily when at eight o'clock the train arrived 
at Harrisburg, but, notwithstanding this, dense crowds filled all 
the streets and the capitol grounds as the funeral car, escorted 
by cavalry, infantry, and artillery, passed along. Upon a cata- 
falcc erected in front of the Speaker's stand in the Hall of the 
House of Representatives, richly draped with sable stuffs, and 
caught by silver stars, the casket which held all that was mortal 
of Abraham Lincoln was deposited. The face was exposed to 



DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT. SS3 

view, and presented the expression which it bore in life, though 
changed in hue ; the lips firmly set but half smiling, and the 
whole indicating the energy which had characterized the living 
man. As soon as the doors were thrown open a constant stream 
of citizens, who had waited patiently for hours under a drenching 
rain, commenced passing through the hall on cither side of the 
dead, which continued until midnight, when the building was 
closed. At dawn the concourse again began to move, and con- 
tinued until the time of departure at midday, thousands being 
unable to gain admission. A delegation of ladies bore a beautiful 
floral offering to the capitol, and laid it upon the bier. At Lan- 
caster a similar offering was made. At Philadelphia, after having 
been escorted by an imposing display of the military through the 
city, the body was deposited in Independence Hall, where it lay 
in state during Sunday. At dawn, the avenues through the Hall 
were opened, and in two lines the sorrowing people moved 
through, taking the last look at the remains of the Martyr. "Be- 
fore daylight lines were formed east and west of the Hall, guards 
being posted at Fifth and Seventh streets, preventing the passage 
of all except those in lines. By ten o'clock these lines extended 
from the Schuylkill to the Delaware river." It was estimated that 
not less than 100,000 persons passed through. Seventy-five vet- 
erans who had each lost a leg in the service came in a body and 
hobbled past his dead corpse, as did also 150 sick and wounded 
soldiers brought from the hospitals in ambulances. It was a 
touching spectacle, and no one beheld it unmoved. Flowers, 
the most rare and beautiful, wrought in every variety which 
the hand of affection could devise, were placed upon and about 
the remains with that loving and tender regard which the near- 
est of earthly ties can excite. 

At four o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 24 th, under 
imposing escort, the body was moved to the train which took 
it to New York. Never was a scene so grand seen in the me- 
tropolis. The military with trailing arms, the upturned, sorrow- 
ing faces of the multitude, the long, sad train which followed, the 
whole city, as it were, turned out to pay the tribute of grief, 
presented the spectacle of a people lamenting a common parent. 
Thus onward, through all its way to the final resting place in 



381 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the rural cemetery at Springfield, near his former home, there 
was the outpouring of sorrow and demonstrations of bereave- 
ment. His deeds and his utterances had enshrined him in the 
popular heart. 

" Such was he, our martyr chief, 

Whom late the nation he had led, 
With ashes on her head, 

Wept with the passion of an angry grief. 

Nature, they say, doth dote, 
And cannot make a man 
Save on some worn-out plan, 

Repeating us by rote : 
For him her Old World mould aside she threw, 

And, choosing sweet clay from the breast 

Of the unexhausted West, 
With stud' untainted shaped a hero new, 
Wise, steadfast in the strength of God, and true. 

How beautiful to see 
Once more a shepherd of mankind indeed, 
Who loved his charge, but never loved to lead ; 
One whose meek flock the people joyed to be, 

Not lured by any cheat of birth, 

But by his clear-grained human worth, 
And brave old wisdom of sincerity ! 

They knew that outward grace is dust ; 

They could not choose but trust 
In that sure-footed mind's unfaltering skill, 
And supple tempered will, 

That bent like perfect steel to spring again and thrust. . . . 
His was no lonely mountain peak of mind, 

Thrusting to thin air o'er our cloudy bars, 
A sea-mark now, now lost in vapors blind ; 
Broad prairie rather, genial, level-lined, 
Fruitful and friendly for his humankind, 

Yet also known to heaven and friend with all its stars. 
He knew to bide his time, 

And can his fame abide, 
Still patient in his simple faith sublime, 

Till the wise years decide. 
Great captains, witli their guns and drums, 

Disturb our judgment for the hour, 
But at last silence comes : 

These all are gone, and, standing like a tower, 
Our children shall behold his fame, 

The kindly-earnest, brave, foreseeing man, 
Sagacious, patient, dreading praise, not blame, 

New birth of our new soil, the first American." 



PART II. 

BIOGRAPHY 



25 



385 



CHAPTER I. 



THE KILLED IN BATTLE. 




DWARD D. BAKER, Colonel of the Seventy-first re- 
giment, was born in London, England, on the 24 th 
of February, 1811. When seven years of age he 
came with his parents, who were Quakers, to Phila- 
delphia. He was early left, with a younger bro- 
ther, an orphan with no near relatives to whom he 
could look for protection or aid. He had, however, 
learned the handicraft of his father, that' of a 
weaver, and he found work in a small establish- 
ment in South street, where he earned sufficient for 
their support. He had, consequently, few oppor- 
tunities for school education ; but he was fond of 
reading, and eagerly pursued a general and desul- 
tory course, acquiring a good acquaintance with the standard 
English poets. While yet in boyhood, he removed to Illinois, 
where he embraced the tenets of the religious sect known as 
Campbellites, and became an ardent travelling preacher. At the 
age of nineteen, he married the widow of a distinguished mem- 
ber of that body. Burdened with the cares of a family he left 
the itineracy and commenced the study of the law, upon the 
practice of which he soon entered, and with signal success. 
He early developed great power in forensic debates, in which he 
subsequently disputed the palm with Douglas and Lincoln. 
He was elected, in 1846, as member of the lower house of Con- 
gress. But, in 1847, the Mexican War breaking out, he only 
took his seat long enough to record his votes in favor of sustain- 
ing the Government, when he hastened to join his regiment, the 
Second Illinois volunteers, which he had raised, and of which he 
was Colonel. He distinguished himself at Cerro Gordo, and 
when General Shields was wounded, took command of his 

387 



388 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

brigade, and led it to the close of the action. He was also in the 
battles of Vera Cruz, Puebla, and the City of Mexico. He had 
besides seen some desultory service in the Black Hawk war. 
While engaged in embarking troops upon a steamer near Mobile, 
Alabama, for service in Mexico, and in the act of bravely 
quelling a riot between mutinous soldiers, he was dangerously 
wounded in the neck and throat. 

After his return from Mexico he was again elected to Congress, 
and in 1850, upon the death of President Taylor, who was his 
intimate personal friend, and whose cause in the recent campaign 
he had devotedly championed, he delivered a famous eulogy upon 
the Life and Character of his Departed Chief. In 1851, he went 
to Panama on business, where he was stricken down with the 
coast fever, which came near proving fatal. The tide of emigra- 
tion was just then setting towards the golden shores of California, 
and thither he determined to go. He accordingly removed with 
his family, with the design of making the Pacific coast his per- 
manent home. He soon acquired a reputation for eloquence 
unsurpassed, and took a leading rank at the California bar. 
Over the dead body of his friend Broderick, who had fallen nomi- 
nally in a duel, Colonel Baker delivered an eloquent and most- 
impressive eulogy, in which he declared that Broderick had been 
assassinated because " he was opposed to the extension of 
slavery and a corrupt administration." 

In 1860, he removed to Oregon, and was elected a member of 
the United States Senate. This was an arena where his forensic 
powers had full scope. It was at a period when a drama was 
enacting, the most tragic, stirring, and grand known to American 
history. Amid the stormy scenes of that body, where the open- 
ing acts of the rebellion were transpiring, where treason was 
plotted, and treasonable speech was defiantly uttered, he was a 
master spirit, and met rebellious threats with no cowering or 
timid front. When Mr. Lincoln came to be inaugurated, his life- 
long friend, Colonel Baker, came forward and presented him as 
the President elect, to the assembled thousands of his fellow 
citizens. The firing upon the flag at Sumter aroused him to 
bursts of unwonted eloquence, and in the great war meeting 
convened at Union Park, in New York, on the 20th of April 





I 



EDWARD D. BAKER. 380 

following, lie spoke in. a strain of impassioned oratory, which, 
flashed upon the wires of the telegraph to the remotest hamlets 
of the Republic, roused the nation to a sense of impending 
danger. He said on that occasion : " The majesty of the people 
is here to-day to sustain the majesty of the constitution, and I 
come a wanderer from the far Pacific, to record my oath along 
with yours of the great Empire State. The hour for conciliation 
has passed, the gathering for battle is at hand, and the country 
requires that every man should do his duty. Fellow-citizens, 
what is that country ? Is it the soil on which we tread ? Is it 
the gathering of familiar faces? Is it our luxury, and pomp, 
and pride? Nay, more than these, is it power and majesty 
alone ? No, our country is more, far more than all these. The 
country which demands our love, our courage, our devotion, our 
heart's blood, is more than all these. Our country is the history 
of our fathers — our country is the tradition of our mothers — 
our country is past renown — our country is present pride and 
power — our country is future hope and destiny — our country is 
greatness, glory, truth, constitutional liberty — above all, freedom 
forever ! These are the watchwords under which we fight ; and 
we will shout them out till the stars appear in the sky, in the 
stormiest hour of battle. 

" I have said that the hour of conciliation is passed. It may 
return ; but not to-morrow, nor next week. It will return when 
that tattered flag (pointing to the flag of Fort Sumter) is 
avenged. It will return when rebel traitors are taught obedience 
and submission. It will return when the rebellious confede- 
rates are taught that the North, though peaceable, are not 
cowardly — though forbearing are not fearful. That hour of 
conciliation will come back when again the ensign of the 
Republic will stream over every rebellious fort of every con- 
federate state. Then, as of old, the ensign of the pride and 
power, and dignity and majesty, and the peace of the Republic 
will return. . . . 

" The blood of every loyal citizen of this Government is dear 
to me. My sons, my kinsmen, the young men who have grown 
up beneath my eye and beneath my care are dear to me ; but if 
the country's destiny, glory, tradition, greatness, freedom, govern- 



390 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ment, written constitutional government — the only hope of a 
free people — demand it, let them all go. I am not here now to 
speak timorous words of peace, but to kindle the spirit of manly, 
determined war. I speak in the midst of the Empire State, amid 
scenes of past suffering and past glory ; the defences of the Hud- 
son above me; the battle-field of Long Island before me, and 
the statue of Washington in. my very face — the battered and 
unconquered flag of Sumter waving in his hands, which I can 
almost now imagine tremble with the excitement of battle, and 
as I speak, I say my mission here to-day is to kindle the heart 
of New York for war — short, sudden, bold, determined, forward 
war. The Seventh regiment has gone. Let seventy and seven 
more follow. Of old, said a great historian, beneath the banner 
of the cross, Europe precipitated itself upon Asia. Beneath 
the banner of the constitution, let the men of the Union 
precipitate themselves upon disloyal, rebellious confederate 
states. . . . Let no man underrate the dangers of this contro- 
versy. Civil war, for the best of reasons upon the one side, 
and the worst upon the other, is always dangerous to liberty — 
always fearful, always bloody; but, fellow-citizens, there are 
worse things than fear, than doubt and dread, and danger and 
blood. Dishonor is worse. Perpetual anarchy is worse. States 
forever commingling and forever severing are worse. Traitors 
and secessionists are worse. To have star after star blotted 
out, — to have stripe after stripe obscured — to have glory after 
glory dimmed — to have our women weep, and our men blush 
for shame throughout generations yet to come, — that and 
these are infinitely worse than blood. People of New York, 
on the eve of battle, allow me to speak as a soldier. Few 
of you know, as my career has been distant and obscure, .but 
I may mention it here to-day, with a generous pride, that it 
was once my fortune to lead your gallant New York regiment 
in the very shock of battle. I was their leader, and upon the 
bloody heights of Cerro Gordo, I know well what New York 
can do when her blood is up. . . . 

" The national banners leaning from ten thousand windows in 
vour city to-day, proclaim your affection and reverence for the 
Union. You will gather in battalions, 



EDWARD D. BAKER. 39 X 

Patient of toil, serene amidst alarms, 
Inflexible in faith, invincible in arms ; 

and as you gather, every omen of present concord and ultimate 
peace will surround you. The ministers of religion, the priests 
of literature, the historians of the past, the illustrators of the 
present, capital, science, art, invention, discoveries, the works of 
genius — all these will attend us in our march, and we will con- 
quer. And if from the far Pacific, a voice feebler than the 
feeblest murmur upon its shore may be heard to give you courage 
and hope in the contest, that voice is yours to-day ; and if a man 
whose hair is gray, who is well nigh worn out in the battle and 
toil of life, may pledge himself on such an occasion and in such 
an audience, let me say as my last word, that when, amid sheeted 
fire and flame, I saw and led the hosts of New York as they 
charged in contest upon a foreign soil for the honor of your flag ; 
so again, if Providence shall will it, this feeble hand shall draw 
a sword, never yet dishonored — not to fight for distant honor in 
a foreign land, but to fight for country, for home, for law, for 
government, for constitution, for right, for freedom, for humanity, 
and in the hope that the banner of my country may advance, 
and wheresoever that banner waves, there glory may pursue and 
freedom be established." 

Moved by that spirit which was first in his heart, and intent 
on acting patriotism as well as talking it, though a senator of the 
United States, he obtained authority from the War Department, 
and immediately set about raising a regiment, not for ninety 
days — for he understood too well the nature of the contest to 
harbor a hope that the Avar would soon be over — but for three 
years. It was the first regiment ordered for the long period. 
He called it the California regiment. There were, indeed, a few 
officers who had been with him in that state, but it was wholly 
recruited in Pennsylvania, in the counties of Philadelphia and 
Chester. The states were not prepared, at this time, to accept 
troops for the war, and this organization was treated as belonging 
to the regular army, its returns being made accordingly. When 
it came to be recognized by this Commonwealth, it was known as 
the Seventy-first Pennsylvania. Its camp was established at 
Fort Schuyler, in New York harbor, where it was organized and 



392 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

drilled. "The command and care of the regiment, until it should 
take the field, was intrusted to the Lieutenant-Colonel, Isaac J. 
Wistar, and Colonel Baker still kept his place in the Senate, 
where a foe not less daring but far more subtle was to be met. 
Senators who were at heart with the secessionists, and who were 
in full fellowship and correspondence in their secret conclaves, 
still held their seats, and by their inflammatory speeches and 
predictions sought to encourage the rebellious, and scatter fire- 
brands and discord among the people of the loyal states. As 
late as August, 1861, Mr. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, who still 
held his place, in speaking upon the bill for the suppression of 
insurrection, said : " Gentlemen mistake when they talk about 
the Union. The Union is only a means of preserving the princi- 
ples of political liberty. The great principles of liberty existed 
long before the Union was formed. They may survive it. ... I 
venture to say that the brave words we hear now about subjuga- 
tion and conquest, treason and traitors, will be glibly altered the 
next time the Representatives of states meet under the dome of 
the capitol. . . . You may look forward to innumerable armies 
and countless treasure to be spent for the purpose of carrying on 
this contest, but it will end in leaving us just where we are 
now. . . . War is separation, in the language of an eminent 
senator, now no more. It is disunion — eternal, final disunion. 
. . . Fight for twelve months, and this feeling will develop itself. 
Fight for twelve months more, and you will have three con- 
federacies instead of two. Fight for twelve months more, and 
we shall have four." 

The burning love of the national honor, dignity, and per- 
petuity in the breast of Baker would not allow him to suffer such 
sentiments to pass unrebuked. After examining and refuting in 
a logical and conclusive manner the objections which Mr. Breck- 
enridge had made to the bill, he thus replied to the general drift 
of his speech : " I would ask him, what would you have us do 
,„,//• — a confederate army within twenty miles of us, advancing, 
or threatening to advance, to overwhelm your Government, to 
shake the pillars of the Union ; to bring it around your head, if 
you stay here, in ruins? Are we to stop and talk about an 
uprising sentiment in the North against the war? Are we to 



EDWARD D. BAKER. 393 

predict evil, and retire from what we predict ? Is not the manly 
part to go on as we have begun, to raise money, and levy armies, 
to organize them, to prepare to advance; when we do advance to 
regulate that advance by all the laws and regulations that civili- 
zation and humanity will allow in time of battle? Can we do 
anything more ? To talk to us about stopping, is idle ; we will 
never stop. Will the senator yield to rebellion ? Will he shrink 
from armed insurrection? Will his state justify it? Will its 
better public opinion allow it ? Shall we send a flag of truce ? 
What would he have ? Or would he conduct this war so feebly, 
that the whole world would smile at us in derision? What 
would he have ? These speeches of his, sown broadcast over the 
land — what clear, distinct meaning have they ? Are they not 
intended for disorganization in our very midst? Are they not 
intended to dull our weapons ? Are they not intended to destroy 
our zeal ? Are they not intended to animate our enemies ? Sir, 
are they not words of brilliant, polished treason, even in the 
very capitol of the Republic ? 

*- " What would have been thought if, in another capitol, in 
another Republic, in a yet more martial age, a senator as grave, 
not more eloquent or dignified than the senator from Kentucky, 
yet with the Roman purple flying over his shoulders, had risen 
in his place, surrounded by all the illustrations of Roman glory, 
and declared that advancing Hannibal was just, and that 
Carthage ought to be dealt with in terms of peace ? What 
would have been thought, if, after the battle of Cannae, a 
senator there had arisen in his place and denounced every levy 
of the Roman people, every expenditure of its treasury, and 
every appeal to the old recollections and the old glories ? Sir, a 
senator [Fessenden], himself learned far more than myself in 
such lore, tells me, in a voice that I am glad is audible, that he 
would have been hurled from the Tarpeian rock. It is a grand 
commentary upon the American Constitution that we permit 
these words to be uttered. I ask the senator to recollect, too, 
what, save to send aid and comfort to the enemy, do these pre- 
dictions of his amount to? Every word thus uttered falls as 
a note of inspiration upon every confederate ear. Every sound 
thus uttered is a word, and falling from his lips, a mighty word, 



394 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of kindling and triumph to a foe that determines to advance. 
For me, I have no .such word, as a senator, to utter. For 
me, amid temporary defeat, disaster, disgrace, it seems that my 
duty calls me to utter another word, and that word is, sudden, 
forward, determined war, according to the laws of war, by 
armies, by military commanders clothed with full power, advanc- 
ing with all the past glories of the Republic urging them on to 
conquest. 

" Sir, it is not a question of men or money in that sense. All 
the men, all the money, are in our judgment well bestowed in such 
a cause. When we give them we know their value. Knowing 
their value well, we give them with the more pride and the more 
joy. Sir, how can we retreat ? Sir, how can we make peace ? 
Who shall treat ? What commissioners ? Who would go ? Upon 
what terms ? Where is to be your boundary line ? Where the 
end of the principles we should have to give up ? What will 
become of constitutional government ? What will become of 
public liberty ? What of past glories ? What of future hopes ? 
Shall we sink into the insignificance of the crave — a degraded, 
defeated, emasculated people, frightened by the result of one 
battle, and scared at the visions raised by the imagination of the 
Senator from Kentucky upon this floor? No, sir ; a thousand 
times, no, sir! . . . There will be some graves reeking with blood, 
watered by the tears of affection. There will be some privation ; 
there will be some loss of luxury ; there will be somewhat more 
need for labor to procure the necessaries of life. When that is 
said, all is said. If we have the country, the whole country, the 
Union, the Constitution — free government — with these will 
return all the blessings of civilization ; the path of the country 
will be a career of greatness and of glory such as in the olden 
time our fathers saw in the dim visions of years yet to come, 
and such as would have been ours now, to-day, if it had not 
been for the treason for which the senator too often seeks to 
apologize." 

For a time, Colonel Baker's regiment was at fortress Monroe, 
but was not included in the column that participated in the affair 
at Big Bethel. After the Battle of Bull Run it was brought up 
to Washington, and was posted in the fortifications upon the Vir- 



EDWARD D. BAKER. 395 

ginia shore. It was afterwards upon the front line in the advance 
of the army upon Munson's Hill. Early in October it was sent 
to Poolsville, Maryland, where Colonel Baker was placed in 
command of a brigade, in which his own regiment was em- 
braced, and which was employed in guarding the fords of the 
Potomac. It was in the division commanded by General Charles 
P. Stone. 

On the 20th of that month, General McCall had a brisk fight 
with the enemy at Dranesville, Virginia, only a few miles from 
the position occupied by Colonel Baker's brigade, but on the 
Maryland side, in which he was victorious, completely routing 
the enemy. On the evening of the same day, Colonel Devens, of 
the Fifteenth Massachusetts, was ordered by General Stone to 
send a scouting party across the river at Harrison's Island, 
opposite Ball's Bluff on the Virginia shore, and reconnoitre 
towards Leesburg. Captain Philbrick with twenty men was 
despatched, who -reported a small camp of twenty tents, and 
no other troops in sight. Whereupon Colonel Devens was 
ordered to cross with a part of his regiment to destroy it, 
and Colonel Lee, of the Twentieth Massachusetts, Avas sent over 
with picked men to take position on the Bluff, to cover the 
retreat of Devens, should he be worsted. General Stone seems 
to have been desirous of cooperating with General McCall, 
whom he supposed to have been in permanent possession of 
Dranesville, for the expulsion of the enemy from the Potomac. 

A battalion of Baker's regiment, consisting of eight companies, 
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar, was ordered to the 
island on the morning of the 21st, with directions to go to the 
Virginia shore to the assistance of Devens and Lee, provided 
the fire indicated hard fighting, and Colonel Baker was directed 
in that contingency to cross and assume command of all the 
troops sent over. Devens with five companies moved to near 
Leesburg without finding the rebel camp reported, but had a 
skirmish, early in the morning, with a force of the enemy, in 
which he had one killed and a number wounded. Devens retired 
towards his supports near the Bluff, and was followed up by the 
foe, who were being rapidly reinforced, the rebel General Evans, 
with a body of five thousand men, being upon Goose Creek 



396 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

within easy supporting distance. Colonel Baker found the means 
for transporting troops entirely inadequate, consisting of an old 
scow, a small metallic boat, and two small skiffs. Meantime 
Devens was being pushed back ; and soon after the arrival of 
Colonel Baker upon the island, a person came down from the 
Bluff to the waters edge, and cried out: "Hurry over; we can 
^gee three regiments of infantry coming down from Leesburg." 
Baker stood for a moment in a thoughtful manner, as if consider- 
ing the whole problem; when, seeming to come to a decision, he 
shouted back : " Then there will be the more for us to whip." 
Every energy was now taxed to push troops across from the 
island to the Bluff, and Colonel Baker himself soon went over 
and assumed command. Colonel Lee says: "Between one and two 
o'clock I heard a voice behind me inquiring for Colonel Lee, and 
Major Revere, I think, said, pointing to me, ' There he stands.' I 
turned around, and a military officer on horseback presented him- 
self, bowed very politely, and said : ' I congratulate you upon 
the prospect of a battle.' I bowed and said: 'I suppose you assume 
command.' I knew it was Colonel Baker." He was followed by 
the battalion of his own regiment, and a part of the Tammany, 
and immediately proceeded to form his line of battle, giving the 
right to the Fifteenth Massachusetts, Colonel Devens, with two 
howitzers; the centre to the Twentieth Massachusetts, Colonel 
Lee ; and the left to the Tammany and his own, a rifled piece 
being posted to rake the only road that led to the Bluff. The 
ground on which he stood was cleared, but on three sides it was 
hemmed in by dense forest, and on the fourth, to the backs of the 
men, was the Bluff overhanging the river and the island. 

The action commenced soon after two o'clock, the enemy 
apparently in heavy masses, but concealed from view by the 
wood in which they had taken position, completely hemming in 
the little Union force, only about 1G00 in number. " The fight 
went on," says Captain Young, of Colonel Baker's staff, " on the 
part of the enemy systematically. They would give terrible 
yells in front and on our left ; none on the right. They would 
yell terribly, and then pour a shower of bullets everywhere over 
the field." 

Horses were soon sent to the rear, and Colonel Baker instructed 



EDWARD D. BAKER. 397 

his men to lie down and shield themselves as much as possible, 
though he himself was moving on every part of the field, even 
in front of the line, and into the woods, a fair mark by his 
erect form and venerable appearance for the enemy's sharp- 
shooters, of which numbers had climbed to the tree-tops from 
the first, and kept up a constant fire, especially singling out 
officers wherever they appeared. At the opening of the battle 
the officers of the two howitzers upon the right were wounded, 
and the guns were withdrawn and tumbled over the Bluff. The 
gun upon the left was in like manner unmanned almost before it 
got into position. Seeing it standing idle when it might do great 
execution, Colonel Baker put his own shoulder to the wheel, and, 
with the help of Colonels Wistar and Coggswell, loaded and fired 
it several times with marked effect, opening lines through the 
solid ranks of the enemy. He was composed and thoughtful, 
moving upon the field with his sword drawn while his left hand 
was thrust into his bosom ; but he was extremely solicitous. In 
the midst of the fight, a dispatch came from General Stone well 
calculated to quench what little hope of success had previously 
inspired his efforts. It read thus: "Sir, four thousand of the 
enemy are marching from Leesburg to attack you." A sufficient 
time had elapsed for them to be upon his front, and he knew 
by the pressure on • all sides that they had already arrived. 
To Colonel Wistar, who said to him " We are greatly outnum- 
bered in front," he replied: " Yes, that is a bad condition of things." 
The hopelessness everywhere was apparent to the officers. " I 
retired to the left," says Captain Young, " and Colonel Coggs- 
well came to me and said, i I am acquainted with you and I want 
you to stay with me on the left. I don't care what anybody 
says, we are all gone to hell ; but we must make a good fight of 
it." Colonel Baker was, however, composed and resolute, and 
conducted the battle in every part with a most determined and 
unyielding valor. 

When the enemy's plan of battle was developed he seemed 
intent on bringing his strength to bear on the Union left, where 
Colonel Baker's regiment stood. This was first discovered by two 
companies of skirmishers under Captain Markoe, who while ad- 
vancing into the wood, were unexpectedly confronted by the entire 



398 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Eighth Virginia regiment, which suddenly rose up and charged 
with the bayonet. Heroically Markoe met it, and try a steady 
lire checked it, and not until two-thirds of these two companies 
and all their officers had fallen, did they give ground. Regiment 
after regiment came forward upon the left, but, being met by the 
steady aim and deadly volleys of Colonel Wistar's men, they were 
as often checked and driven back. In the midst of the fight 
a staff officer, Captain Stewart, came from General Stone with the 
glad tidings that General Gorman with 5000 men was advancing 
to their relief from Edward's Ferry ; but they never came. At 
length, at about four o'clock, Baker having combatted with unex- 
ampled heroism greatly superior numbers, the enemy prepared to 
deliver a crushing charge with a force judged to be 2500 strong. 
It soon appeared on the top of the hill, its right wing closed in 
column, its left deployed in line. It had no sooner come in full 
view than the left delivered a volley, and the right charged with 
a yell down the hill. The two lines soon came to close quarters, 
and the Twentieth Massachusetts, in the midst of which Colonel 
Baker was, gave way, and that gallant officer, before whom 
listening senates had been held breathless and spell bound, and 
who in the face of danger knew no fear, fell pierced with many 
bullets and expired without a struggle. He had often enjoined 
upon his officers that, if he was slain they should not allow his 
body to fall into the enemy's hands. Captains Harvej* of his staff, 
and Bierel of Company G, no sooner discovered that their idol- 
ized leader had fallen, than they headed a counter-charge, and 
with a yell rushed with the bayonet upon the advancing foe, 
with such terrible effect, as to stay the whole rebel line, and to 
thrust it back until the body of the fallen chief had been 
recovered and borne away in safety . The condition of the Union 
soldiers, which before had been hopeless, was now desperate. The 
leader fallen, and many of the bravest and the best gone down in 
the fight, the only alternative was for the survivors to cut their 
way out or surrender. Colonel Coggswell, who succeeded to the 
command, proposed to fight through to Edward's Ferry. But the 
way was completely cut off by strong bodies of the enemy, and 
the only escape was by the Bluff. Here, to the dismay of all, 
it was found that no means of recrossing the river were left, the 



EDWARD D. BAKER. 399 

only boat having been swamped. Few surrendered, and from the 
steep declivity down which they retired, a sharp fire was poured 
into the rebels as they showed themselves above, until late at 
night. Darkness favored the retreat, and each for himself chose 
his own way ; some up the river, some down, some stripping and 
plunging into the deep stream, where many perished. 

The body of Colonel Baker was brought off, and transported 
to the Maryland side before the rout had begun. The manner 
of his death is quite circumstantially described by Lossing. 
" Eye-witnesses say that a tall, red-haired man appeared emerg- 
ing from the smoke, and approaching to within five feet of the 
commander, fired into his body the contents of a self-cocking 
revolver pistol. At the same moment a bullet entered his skull 
behind his ear, and a slug from a Mississippi Yager wounded his 
arm and made a terrible opening in his side. Captain Bierel of 
the California regiment, who was close by Baker, caught the 
slayer of his friend by the throat, just as he was stooping to seize 
the Colonel's sword, and with his pistol blew out his brains." 

Colonel Lee says : " Colonel Baker went to the left and passed 
into the woods. After a moment he came out of the woods on 
my front and left. The enemy were perhaps within fifty or 
seventy-five feet of the position in which he stood. There was a 
heavy firing there, and Colonel Baker was shot by a man with a 
revolver — shot in the temple — at least I supposed so, for as he 
was borne by me dead, I saw that his temple was bleeding. He 
passed to the rear a dead man." 

Concerning the cause of the disaster in this affair much specu- 
lation has been indulged. A radical defect was in not having 
cavalry with which to scour all the approaches for a long 
distance around, and to ascertain what was in their front. The 
second was in not having thrown up some protection for men 
and guns, in 'a good position for defence, which should have been 
done by Colonel Lee at the outset, on first reaching the Mary- 
land shore, and have been continued by Colonel Devens. In a 
later day, men have rushed forward under the sheeted fire from 
musketry and artillery in well-manned breastworks, and with 
their tin cups and finger-ends have dug rifle-pits, sheltered 
themselves, and held their ground. The inadequacy in trans- 



400 MARTIAL DEEDS OF DEXXSYLVAXIA. 

portation, and the lack of an officer on the Maryland shore, 
to have had complete and entire control over such transpor- 
tation, and to have forwarded men and ammunition as they 
were wanted and were called for, — the allowing a few isolated 
troops to be surrounded, and to fight for four hours without sup- 
porting them from right or left, when a sufficient force was 
within three miles, — and more than all, ordering such a demon- 
stration with the understanding that General McCall with a 
strong column was at Dranesville in short supporting distance, 
and then withdrawing the latter entirely, just as the demonstra- 
tion under Baker was opening, and without giving any notice of 
the withdrawal, — are all circumstances that would not have been 
allowed to occur in well-ordered military operations. 

But the valor with which the troops fought, in an open, 
exposed position, against overwhelming odds, and even against 
hope, has never been questioned. Indeed, it is scarcely matched 
in the whole catalogue of heroic actions even in the most mar- 
tial ages. That a body of troops who had never before met a 
foe in mortal conflict should display such undaunted courage 
would seem incredible, did we not know the heroism of their 
leader, and the devotion which his fearless and lofty bearing 
upon the field had inspired. 

The death of no officer during the whole war caused so pro- 
found a sensation, and such a feeling of real grief throughout the 
entire nation as that of Colonel Baker, and the sorrow was only 
exceeded by the tragic death of the good President himself. The 
words which he had uttered but a few short weeks before, 
"There will be some graves reeking with blood, watered by the 
tears of affection," when he was pleading with the fervor and 
devotion of his great heart for the integrity and well being of his 
country, seemed prophetic of his own sacrifice. His body was 
taken to Washington, and at the Capitol, amid places which had 
been familiar to him, solemn services were held, and the most 
gifted and eloquent of his associate Senators spoke in his eulogy. 
Mr. Sumner said : " He died with his face to the foe. . . . Such 
a death, sudden, but not unprepared for, is the crown of the 
patriot soldiers life." From Washington it was borne to New 
York, where, with flags at half-mast, and buildings mournfully 



JOHN T. GREBLE. 401 

draped, escorted by the military, and followed by many honored 
citizens, it moved to the sad strains of martial music to the pier of 
the steamer Northern Light, where it was embarked for Panama, 
and thence taken to its last resting-place on the far Pacific coast. 

fOHN T. Greble, Lieutenant-Colonel in the regular army, and 
the first officer in that service who was killed in battle 
in the late war, was born at Philadelphia on the 19 th of 
January, 1834. He was the eldest son of Edwin, and Susan 
Virginia (Major) Greble, both of whose ancestors early settled in 
Pennsylvania, and were active for the patriot cause in the 
Revolutionary war. He was educated in the public schools of 
Philadelphia, graduating at the High School at the age of sixteen, 
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1850, and receiving the 
Master's degree in 1854. From his earliest years he had dis- 
played a strong predilection for the military profession, his 
favorite amusement in childhood being the movement of toy 
soldiers in imagined conflict. This taste becoming known to the 
representative in Congress from the district where he lived, his 
appointment as a cadet at West Point was solicited, and obtained 
from President Taylor. Ignatius L. Donnelly, who was a class- 
mate and intimate friend, in a quaint, but evidently heartfelt 
estimate of Greble r s character, conveys some idea of the respect 
which he had thus early inspired. "He has," says Donnelly. 
" very strong good sense ; sees very well into the actions of 
others, and will never do a disgraceful thing. . . . He is gene- 
rous to a fault. . . . He is energetic and an excellent confidant. 
.... His fault is not vanity. . . . He is brave, and dares do 
all that may become a man. He is inclined to religion. ... In 
short, he is the embryo of a bold, honorable, true man ; one that 
will be a glory to his name, and an honor to his country ; and 
one that will always be my friend." Among his classmates Avere 
Ruger, Howard, Weed, and Abbot, on the Union side, and G. W. 
C. Lee, Deshler, Pegram, J. E, B. Stuart, Gracie, S. D. Lee, Pen- 
der, Villepique, Mercer, and Chapman on the rebel. The device 
for the class ring was a mailed hand holding a sword with 
the legend, " When our Country calls," leaving it in doubt 

whether the wearer would forsake, or defend it. 
26 



402 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

On graduating he was sent to Newport barracks, Kentucky, as 
brevet Second Lieutenant in the Second artillery. In a letter 
addressed to his parents in grateful remembrance of their in- 
fluence upon his life and character, is a tribute to them which it 
were well if all children could bear to their parents. " And 
now," he says, " my thoughts carry me to my happy home in 
Philadelphia ; to the kind influences which surrounded me there ; 
to the loving hearts which so dearly cherished me. How kind 
both father and mother in fostering and providing for my am- 
bition ; inciting me to study ; and supplying every want. . . . 
For what is polite or refined in my composition, I am indebted 
to you and my much loved sisters ; whatever is affectionate is 
but what has been taught me by the love of all at home." 

He had not been long at Newport before he was ordered to 
rejoin his regiment, then in Florida. The war which had been 
waged against the Seminole Indians for seven years had ended in 
1849 ; but it was deemed necessary to keep a force of observation 
upon the border, and in preparation for their ultimate removal. 
His letters from the scene of his duty show keen discernment of 
the country and its inhabitants. His description of one portion 
is amusing. " I have," he says, " noticed the topography of the 
country through which I have passed. Go a little way, and you 
see pines. Go a little farther, and you see pines ; and a little 
farther, and you see pines. Look as far as you can, and you see 
pines. It is a glorious country ! " 

His duties were very severe, taking him through the Ever- 
glades, and subjecting him to much exposure. But however 
disagreeable the service, or arduous, it was always faithfully 
performed. He often came in company with Billy Bowlegs, the 
chief of the Seminoles, who entertained a high opinion of his 
valor. When Greble, on one occasion, was alone with the chief, 
conversing about Florida affairs, the latter said : " If war should 
come between your people and mine, I will tell all my young men 
not to kill you. I will kill }ou myself. You must be killed by 
a chief." 

While in camp at Fort Myers, engaged in drilling recruits, one 
of the number died. There was no chaplain to solemnize the 
rites of burial. He could not brimx himself to be content with 




LEEZ? BY A 



-az-zt /y ^ 







\ 



JOHN T. GREBLE. 4C3 

consigning the body to the grave without some service. After 
many misgivings, he finally decided himself to officiate, and read 
over the dead body of his comrade the impressive funeral service 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He sought the opinion of 
his mother respecting the propriety of his course, saying in his 
letter : " I thought it was better than to place the body in the 
ground without any religious exercises." The mother answered : 
" It was better, much better, my dear son, and far more im- 
pressive to his comrades than it would have been had they 
walked away from his grave without hearing those comfort- 
ing words. Besides, these men will regard you with far more 
respect for having done so, than if you had allowed them to 
deposit their lost comrade in the narrow tomb without one 
word." General HartsufF, who was then a brother officer, in 
speaking of Greble's life in Florida said : " He was constantly 
and actively engaged in the sometimes exciting, but oftener 
tedious, hard, and laborious duty in pursuing and wearing out 
the crafty and almost ubiquitous Indians, until the autumn of 
1856, when his company was ordered out of Florida. This kind 
of duty, which is the most difficult and aggravating, offers fewer 
points, and tries more true soldierly qualities than any other. 
Lieutenant Greble developed in it the truest and best qualities 
of the good soldier and officer, winning the esteem and admira- 
tion of his brother officers, and the perfect confidence of the 
soldiers. . . . He never shrank from any duty, but always met 
it more than half way." 

In December, 1856, he was ordered by Jefferson Davis, then Sec- 
retary of War, to duty at the West Point Academy as assistant 
Professor of Ethics. This was distasteful to him, as he pre- 
ferred active duty with his command ; but he soon became recon- 
ciled, and here not long after, was affianced to a beautiful 
young woman, the daughter of Professor French, whom he subse- 
quently married. In October, 1860, he was relieved from duty at 
the academy, and was ordered to join his company, then on duty 
at Fortress Monroe. With his wife and two children, he took up 
his abode in two of the casemates of the fortress, which he had 
fitted up so as to be comfortable, and even beautiful. In April 
following, war opened, and all the women and children were 



404 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ordered away from the fortress. He sent a notice of the order to 
his father at Philadelphia, who replied :•" Your letter of the 17th 
was received about ten minutes ago. I was in hourly expecta- 
tion of receiving one from you, and anticipated its contents. 
Send your family on to me ; they shall be most welcome, and I 
will take good care of them as long as the trouble shall last. It 
is needless to say to you, be true to the Stars and Stripes ! The 
blood of Revolutionary patriots is in your veins, and it must all 

be drawn out before you cease to fight for your country and its 

i " 
laws. . . . 

General Butler was soon after put in command at Fortress 
Monroe, and commenced preparations to defend strategic points 
upon the James, and to plan operations against the rebel capital. 
Greble was promoted to Lieutenant, made Master of Ordnance, 
and sent, with other troops, to Newport News, charged with 
the responsible duty of superintending the construction of mili- 
tary works there, and instructing three thousand volunteers in 
artillery practice. In a few days a battery was put in position 
which completely commanded the ship-channel of the James, 
and the mouth of the Nansemond. Magruder, who had deserted 
his Hag, and was now in chief command of the enemy in the 
immediate front, was evidently intent on seizing the positions at 
Newport News and Hampton. To this end he had occupied Big 
and Little Bethel. General Butler determined to break up and 
drive away the hostile forces at these points, and General Peirce 
was ordered to proceed on Sunday, the 9th of June, with a strong 
column to effect this purpose. Lieutenant Greble was to accom- 
pany it in command of two light guns. When the latter was 
shown the general plan of operations, he was much troubled ; for 
he saw at a glance its inherent defects. " This is," he said, " an 
ill-advised and badly-arranged movement. I am afraid no good 
will come out of it. As for myself, I do not think I shall come 
off the field alive." 

The troops Mere to commence the movement at a little after 
midnight. Advancing in the darkness, and proceeding from 
different points, they unfortunately mistook each other for the 
foe, and one party not having been apprised of the watchword, 
they twice fired into each other. The enemy occupied a strong 



JOHN T. GREBLE. , 405 

position on the bank of Back Creek, where formidable earth- 
works had been thrown up. Between nine and ten in the morn- 
ing, Peirce had arrived in front of this position, near Big Bethel, 
and determined to attack. The advance was boldly and resolutely 
made under the immediate direction of General G. K. Warren ; 
but the foe was well posted, and his fire soon began to tell upon 
the advancing column. Unable to stand the ordeal, it fell back ; 
and now was seen the skill and valor of Greble. Fearing the 
effect of a counter-dash by the foe, he stood by his guns, sighting 
them himself, and dealt double charges of canister with such 
rapidity and effect as to silence the rebel artillery, and to deter 
an advance for nearly two hours. In the meantime Peirce had 
prepared for a second assault. It was made, and for a time with 
the prospect of success ; but again having fired into each other, 
and a portion of the attacking force having been thrown into 
confusion, it was finally withdrawn. The day was lost; but 
Greble still maintained his position. Only five of his men were 
left, and he could work but one gun. He was appealed to by 
an officer to withdraw, or to dodge, as others had done. His 
reply was, " I never dodge ! When I hear the bugle sound a 
retreat I will leave, and not before." That order soon came ; 
but it had scarcely been received, when he was struck by a 
ball from the enemy's gun a glancing blow on the right side 
of the head. " Serjeant ! " he exclaimed, " take command — no 
ahead ! " and then fell dead by the side of his gun. His body 
was placed upon the piece and taken back to Fortress Monroe. 
In his pocket was found a note in pencil, evidently written on 
the field, addressed to his wife, in which he said, " God give 
me strength, wisdom, and courage. If I die, let me die a brave 
and honorable man ; let no stain of dishonor hang over me or 
you. Devotedly, and with my whole heart's love." His re- 
mains were removed to Philadelphia, where, amid the tolling 
of bells and the booming of cannon, and profound demonstra- 
tions of approbation, all business in the city being suspended, 
he was laid to rest. 

Tokens of esteem and appreciation were freely offered to his 
memory. Officers of the army at Fortress Monroe in their reso- 
lutions said, " The heroic death of this gallant officer" fills us all 



4CC MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Avitli admiration and regret. Standing at his piece in the open 
road in front of the enemy's battery till shot down, he served it 
with the greatest coolness, and most undaunted courage." The 
Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia tendered the use of 
Independence Hall for his obsequies, and in most eloquent and 
impressive resolutions declared, " Our city is called to deplore the 
loss of a most worthy citizen, and our country, one of her noblest 
defenders." His companions in the artillery, in their homely, 
honest way, were unstinted in their praise of him. Lieutenant 
Lodor, in a note written just after the battle, said : "Just think 
of poor John Greble's death ! Was it not awful, Bill ? He was 
a noble man ; one of the kind you don't often meet in this world ; 
modest — -particularly so — unassuming, retiring ; a perfect dispo- 
sition, and, withal, as brave as a lion. Oh, I tell you it was 
grand the way he stood there and took the fire of the whole 
battery, and just as cool and quiet as at a drill. The volunteer 
officers cannot praise him enough. They think him a brave of 
the first order." In a conversation long afterwards with Robert 
Dale Owen, President Lincoln is reported to have said, " that of 
all those who had fallen, or who had distinguished themselves in 
the present contest, it was his deliberate judgment, that not one 
had acted so heroically nor deserved so well of his country as 
Lieutenant Greble." 

In recognition of his services and his valor the ranks of Brevet 
Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel were conferred by the 
unanimous consent of the Senate of the United States ; and Sec- 
retary Stanton, in forwarding the commissions to the father of 
the deceased, wrote : " I have the pleasure of inclosing to you 
the commissions conferred in honor of the memory of your son 
John T. Greble, the first officer of the regular army w r ho perished 
in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion. His distinguished 
character, his gallant conduct on the field where he fell, and his 
devoted sacrifice to the cause of his country, will make his name 
and memorv illustrious." 



Qkneca Galusha Simmons, Colonel of the Fifth Reserve regi- 
>-^ ment and Major of the Fourth United States Infantry, 
was born on the 27th of December, 1808, in Windsor county, 



SENECA G. SIMMONS. 407 

Vermont. He was the son of Alfred, and Deborah (Perkins) 
Simmons. His boyhood was passed for the most part upon a 
farm, he receiving only such advantages of education as could be 
obtained from a country school. At the age of fourteen he left 
his native state, and entered the military school of Captain 
Partridge, then located at Middletown, Connecticut, in which he 
remained several years, accompanying that school on its removal 
to Georgetown, District of Columbia. While there, he received 
from President Jackson, the appointment of cadet at West Point. 
He graduated with distinction in 1834, and was assigned to the 
Seventh Infantry. In the following August he married Miss 
Elmira Adelaide Simmons of Harrisburg. 

Previous to joining his regiment, in the autumn of that year, 
he was assigned to topographical duty, under Major McNiell, and 
assisted in the survey of the harbor of Apalachicola, Florida. 
During the summers of 1835—36, he was engaged under Colonel 
Long upon surveys in the State of Maine; first on the coast, and 
then on a contemplated line of railway between Belfast and Que- 
bec, Canada. In the winter of 1837, he joined his regiment, and 
shortly after received the appointment of Aid to General Ar- 
buckle, then in command of the Department of the South- 
west. He was also made Assistant Adjutant-General, which 
position he held for several years, retaining it after General 
Taylor assumed command, and until relieved by Colonel Bliss, 
the General's son-in-law. His regiment was then, the spring of 
1842, serving in Florida, and thither he immediately repaired. 
At the conclusion of the Florida war, his regiment was detailed 
for duty in garrisoning Gulf posts, and he was stationed at Fort 
Pike, Louisiana, where he remained during the years 1842-43, 
transacting in addition to the duties of his position in his com- 
pany, those of Commissary and Quartermaster to the Post. 
When his turn came for being detailed on recruiting service he 
was ordered to Syracuse, New York, and was engaged in that 
duty until the opening of the Mexican war. On his arrival in 
the enemy's country, he was immediately assigned as Assistant 
Commissary and Quartermaster at Matamoras. During the year 
1847, he remained at his post; but on being promoted to Captain 
he rejoined his regiment then en route for the city of Mexico. 



408 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.. 

At the close of the war, and the return of the troops, his 
regiment was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. A por- 
tion of the command, including his own company, was ordered 
for special duty to Fort Leaven worth, Kansas. While here he 
received a severe injury, which seemed for a time likely to 
prove fatal, and from which he never entirely recovered. One 
knee was frightfully crushed, and the wound, after some 
years of intense suffering, resulted in permanent lameness; 
but not to such an extent as to unfit him entirely for duty. 
While yet upon crutches, he was, in 1857, sent upon recruit- 
ing service to Pottsville. While here he so far recovered as 
to attend to active duty, and was sent to take command of 
Fort Arbuckle, upon the frontier. His regiment was soon after- 
wards sent to Utah. As the labor was likely to prove too ardu- 
ous for him in his crippled state, he sought and obtained a 
furlough, and joined his family in Harrisburg, where he was 
living at the outbreak of the Rebellion. When troops were 
called, Captain Simmons was made mustering officer for Penn- 
sylvania volunteers. 

Upon the organization of the Reserve Corps, he was chosen 
Colonel of the Fifth regiment, though personally unknown to any 
of the officers of that body. His first service was to march, in 
connection with the Bucktail regiment and some artillery, to the 
support of General Wallace in West Virginia, and thence to 
Washington, where he drilled his regiment and prepared it for 
service in the division. In September of this year, he was pro- 
moted to Major of the Fourth Infantry, but preferred to remain 
with the volunteer troops. He was at Beaver Dam Creek and 
Gaines' Mill, in both of which desperately fought battles, he 
escaped unhurt. At Charles City Cross Roads, on the 30th of 
June, 18G2, while leading the First brigade with unexampled 
valor, he fell in the thickest of the fight, breathing his last upon 
the field of honor. No braver man drew sword in any cause. 
In person, he was nearly six feet in height, of strong and robust 
frame, florid complexion, brown hair, heavy beard, light^blue 
eyes ; his face presenting ordinarily a calm and benevolent ex- 
pression ; but when excited, every feature seemed to flash fire, 
and woe to the man who, having disregarded his orders, attempted 



CHARLES ELLET, JR. 409 

to persist in an improper course of conduct. To him, however, 
who was willing to acknowledge his fault, the Colonel at once 
relaxed his sternness, and received the offender as though no 
offence had been committed. 

The poet N. P. Willis, in writing to the Home Journal, from a 
visit to the camps of the army, said : " I had never before thought 
that water could embellish a soldier. As we sat in our hack, at 
the outer edge of the encampments, watching an incipient rain- 
bow, and rejoicing in the prospect of holding-up, a general officer 
rode past with his aid and orderly, on the return to his tent, just 
beyond. Of a most warlike cast of feature, his profuse and 
slightly grizzly beard was impearled with glistening drops, and, 
with horse and accoutrements all dripping with water, he rode 
calmly through the heavy rain like a Triton taking his leisure 
in his native element. It was the finest of countenances and the 
best of figures for a horseman. He looked indomitable in spirit, 
but unsubject, also, to the common inconveniences of humanity — 
as handsome and brave when tired and wet, as he would be 
when happy and dry ! I was quite captivated with the picture 
cf such a man, and did not wonder at the comment which was 
appended to the reply, by a subaltern officer of whom I inquired 
his name, ' General Simmons,' said he, ' a man whom anybody 
would be glad to serve under.' " 

Charles Ellet, Jr., Colonel of Engineers, was born on the 
1st of January, 1810, at Penn's Manor, Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania. He early devoted himself to the business of a 
Civil Engineer, and eventually became one of the most eminent 
of his profession, some of the greatest triumphs of engineering 
skill being the products of his devise. The wire suspension bridge 
across the Schuylkill below Fairmount, the first of the kind con- 
structed in this country, the suspension bridge across Niagara 
river below the falls, and that at Wheeling, West Virginia, were 
all the fruit of his active brain. The improvement of the navi- 
gation of the Kanawha river, and the construction of the Virginia 
Central, and Baltimore and Ohio railroads found in him a master 
spirit, before whom difficulties vanished, and in whose hand 
victories were achieved. 



410 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

When the war commenced, he was residing at Washington, 
and immediately interested himself in the cause of the Union. 
Original in designing, and rapid in executing, he became impa- 
tient with the Union leaders, and himself drew a plan for cutting 
off and destroying the rebel army at Manassas, in the fall of 1861. 
This plan, on being presented to General McClellan, was rejected 
by that commander; whereupon Ellet wrote two pamphlets 
severely censuring the dilatory and inefficient conduct of the 
Union chief, lie early projected plans for constructing steam 
rams, for use in the navy, providing them with powerful beaks 
for running down and piercing opposing crafts. His plans were 
rejected by the Navy Department ; but, on being presented to 
the Secretary of War, were approved and adopted by him, and 
Ellet was sent to the Ohio to transform river-boats into rams. 
On the Gth of June, 18G2, Colonel Ellet' s fleet attacked a force 
of rebel rams, off the city of Memphis, and, after a contest stub- 
bornly maintained, Ellet was triumphant, having run down, 
blown up, destroyed, or captured seven of the eight vessels com- 
posing the rebel force. Ellet was the only man injured on the 
Union side. He received a wound from a rifle ball in the knee, 
that proved mortal, expiring near Cairo, on the 21st. Colonel 
Ellet was the author of several important works, chiefly de- 
voted to the Improvement of the Navigation of the Mississippi 
and Ohio rivers, Internal Improvements of the United States, 
illustrating the Laws of Trade, and Coast and Harbor De- 
fences by the use of steam battering rams. He was buried at 
Laurel Hill, Philadelphia. His wife dying of grief — broken 
hearted — within a few days, was laid in the same grave. She 
was the eldest daughter of Judge William Daniel, of Lynch- 
burg, Virginia. 

fAMES Cameron, Colonel of the Seventy-ninth (Highlander) 
regiment, New York Volunteers, was born at May town, 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of March, 1801. At 
the age of nineteen he entered the printing office of his brother, 
the Hon. Simon Cameron, at Harrisburg, where he served a 
faithful apprenticeship, and in 1827 removed to Lancaster, where 
he became the editor of the Political Sentinel, studying law in the 



JAMES CAMERON.— AMOR A. McKNIGIIT. 43 1 

meantime in the office of James Buchanan, afterwards President 
of the United States. He was with the army of General Scott 
in Mexico, and, after his return, settled upon an estate on the 
banks of the Susquehanna, near Milton, Pennsylvania, where he 
was living in retirement when the Rebellion broke out. At the 
solicitation of the soldiers of the Highlander Regiment, he 
accepted the commission of Colonel of that organization. At the 
battle of the first Bull Run, he was of Sherman's brigade, Tylers 
division, and at the crisis of the struggle, bore himself with the 
greatest gallantry. Again and again he led his men with the 
cry, " Scots, follow me ! " in the face of a withering fire of 
musketry and artillery, until stricken down mortally wounded, 
expiring on the field of his heroic exploits. " No mortal man," 
says an eye-witness, " could stand the fearful storm that swept 
them." 

The body of Colonel Cameron was subjected to indignity. 
It was rifled of valuables, and portraits of cherished ones, and 
thrown rudely into a trench with numbers of others, without 
any mark by which it could be identified. Friends of the 
family who went to the field to recover it were taken captive 
and thrust into the Richmond prison pens, where, for several 
months, they languished. It was finally recovered, and re- 
ceived Christian burial, amid many demonstrations of respect 
and affection. 

mor Archer McKnigiit. Early in the Rebellion, rebel offi- 
cers, mindful of their repute for chivalry, sought op- 
portunities for its exemplification ; but later in the war, 
soured by frequent defeat, and grown heart-sick by hope long 
deferred, the actors and sympathizers in the direful work 
eschewed the much-vaunted claim, and did not hesitate to mu- 
tilate the body of a Dahlgren, treat with barbaric cruelty prison- 
ers of war, send pestilence and fire into northern cities, and 
finally come stealthily from behind upon the Chief Magistrate 
of the nation, and shoot him down in cold blood. When Colonel 
McKnigiit fell on the gory field of Chancellorsville, on that 
fearful Sabbath, ushered in with the lurid flames of war, of the 
3d of May, 1863, a sudden turn in the fortunes of the day cut 



412 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

off the possibility of rescuing his body, and it remained in the 
hands of the enemy. His prowess on that field had been sorely 
felt by the foe ; but when the lifeless form of such an antagonist 
was seen, it disarmed hostile feeling. The old Kearny badge 
which he wore was the symbol of gallantry, and they recognized 
in him a true type of his old master, — a veritable Kearny. His 
body was taken up and properly disposed. It was followed to 
the grave by a guard of honor, many officers being present. 
Their bands played mournful music. Over his remains a salute, 
due to his rank, was fired, and his grave was marked so as to be 
recognized by sorrowing friends. 

Amor Archer McKnight, son of Alexander, and Mary (Thomp- 
son) McKnight, both of Scotch-Irish descent, was born at Blairs- 
ville, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of April, 1832. His education was 
obtained at the common schools and the academy in Brookville, 
where he proved himself an apt scholar. He eaiily acquired a 
taste for books of an elevated character, and as his scanty means 
would allow, collected a small library. His father died when he 
was but a mere lad, and as the eldest of the children, he labored 
assiduously for the support of the widowed mother and depen- 
dent family. He learned the printer's trade at Blairsville, at 
which he worked zealously. Attracted to the law by his taste 
for exalted subjects, he subsequently commenced its study in 
the office of Hon. "W. P. Jenks, of Brookville, since president 
judge of that district, but was still obliged to set type one-half 
of each day for his support. At the age of twenty-one, he was 
admitted to practice, and soon after, entered into partnership 
with G. W. Andrews, Esq., as a practising attorney at the Jef- 
ferson county bar. The firm at once took a high rank, and its 
business was extensive and laborious. McKnight early evinced 
a liking for military duty, and at the breaking out of the Rebel- 
lion, was captain of a militia company known as the Brookville 
Guards. He promptly tendered his company, and with it, served 
in the three-months' term in the Eighth regiment. At the ex- 
piration of this period, he was authorized by the Secretary of 
War to recruit a regiment for three years. After encountering 
many difficulties, his efforts were finally rewarded with success, 
the officers whom he had trathered about him having secured the 



amor A. Mcknight.. 413 

full complement of hardy men ; and on the 28th of September, 
1861, it was mustered into service as the One Hundred and 
Fifth regiment. The indomitable energy manifested by their 
leader was caught by his men, and this organization soon became 
noted for its excellence. 

In the battle of Fair Oaks, before Richmond, Colonel McKnight 
fought under the immediate eye of General Jameson, the veteran 
officer who commanded the brigade, and received from him the 
warmest commendation. " During the time McKnight was 
engaged on the Richmond Road, the line had been gradually 
giving way about a quarter of a mile to his right. Just as 
McKnight succeeded in routing the force in his front, the line 
gave way entirely at the point above indicated, and the rebel 
force came pouring into the Richmond Road directly in his rear, 
and while the gallant McKnight was pursuing the South Caro- 
lina chivalry towards Richmond, the rebels were pursuing a 
portion of our forces towards the Chickahominy. . . . No other 
evidence of the valor displayed by this heroic little band is 
necessary, than a list of the killed and wounded. General 
Kearny's horse and mine were both killed. A parallel to this 
fighting does not exist in the two days' battle, nor will it exist 
during the war." 

Iii this battle, a ball struck the watch of Colonel McKnight, 
which glanced off, causing a slight wound. He was soon after 
stricken with fever, and not until told by his physicians that he 
would die if he remained in the field, under the influence of the 
deadly miasmas of the Peninsula, could he be prevailed on to 
relinquish his command. Failing to obtain a furlough, he ten- 
dered his resignation, and retired to Philadelphia, By care- 
ful nursing and attendance, he was, at the end of two months, 
so far recovered as to be able to again take the field, and was re- 
commissioned Colonel of his old regiment. While absent at this 
time, he was impatient of the delay in again reaching the front. 
His greatest wish and most ardent desire was to be with the boys 
of the One Hundred and Fifth regiment. He said he had been 
instrumental in taking them into the war, and he wished to 
share their toils and fortunes. With the exception of a short 
leave of absence in March following, this was his only absence 



414 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

from his command. While at home during his furlough in March, 
he remarked that he would not survive to again return. Little 
did his friends think that this was the language of prophecy. 
But so it proved. On the field of Chancellorsville, while leading 
on his brave men against the veterans of Stonewall Jackson — 
nerved to unwonted deeds of valor to avenge the fall of their 
idolized leader, who had a few hours before received his mortal 
h ur t — Colonel McKnight, while in the act of waving his sword 
above his head to cheer on his men, was struck in the arm, the 
missile passing on through his brain, killing him instantly. 
Strenuous efforts were made to recover his body, but they proved 
fruitless, and he sleeps on that gory field — the scene of his daring 
valor. 

At his death, Colonel McKnight was already in a fair way of 
promotion. The excellence of his regiment and his own cool- 
ness and courage on the field, had attracted the attention of his 
superior officers, and he had at intervals been called to the com- 
mand of a brigade, and had been recommended for appointment 
as a Brigadier. 

He was one of those men who had come up to manhood 
through the rough school of experience. He had learned to set 
a true value on those qualities which, in any walk of life, win 
success. When he entered the army, he went with the feeling 
that he was personally responsible for accomplishing what the 
nation had undertaken, and in his struggles with the great problem 
at the very threshold of the momentous contest, he seemed to 
have fathomed its mysterious depths, and fearlessly announced 
his sentiments in advance of all others. When, in January, 
18G2, before leading his regiment to the field, the Hon. J. K. 
Moorhead, in behalf of his Excellency Governor Curtin, pre- 
sented the command with the State Colors, Colonel McKnight 
in reply, after returning thanks for the gift, and referring to 
the responsibilities imposed in defending it, said : " The intelli- 
gent American soldier enters upon this conflict with entirely 
(lIll'tTent emotions from those possessed by the combatants in 
the ordinary wars between nations. He feels that the war has 
been wantonly and unprovokedly commenced by those who have 
always basked in the favor of the Government — commenced not 



amor a. Mcknight. 415 

to assert the majesty of the law, but to violate it — not to protect 
freedom, but to enforce the perpetuation and enlargement of 
degrading servitude — not to preserve the Government, but to 
destroy it. 

" To defeat such a nefarious plot, the citizen soldier has left 
the comforts of home to endure the privations of camp; and 
while he hazards his life without hesitation, he also expects 
that no unnational or squeamish regard on the part of those who 
order and conduct the war will deprive our forces of the assis- 
tance we might derive from those unwilling serfs who escape 
from the enemy ; and that, casting aside the pusillanimous fear 
which dreads the stigma of a name, they will promptly punish 
and weaken our opponents by removing from them and the country 
that institution ichich is not only the cause of the present difficulties, 
hut has ever been a source of annoyance and irritation. 

" Should such be the policy pursued, the war will not have 
been for nought ; the earnings of the tax-payer, which are being 
so lavishly emptied into the National Treasury, will have been 
expended to some practical purpose ; and the soldier, whose blood 
is now offered as the occasion presents, will know that it has 
been done to preserve liberty to himself and friends, and to pro- 
tect them from the moral debasement which would result from 
the enlargement in our midst of a race who are degraded because 
their condition is base." 

To execute the purpose which is here sketched, and which he 
cherished as the real object of the struggle, he labored with the 
earnestness and assiduity of a life and death aim. Says a mem- 
ber of his command : " At Camp Jameson, Virginia, he would 
convert the officers of the regiment into a school every evening, 
and would have them study tactics and discipline, and then recite 
them to him. On these occasions, he would impress upon their 
minds the necessity of study to become good officers ; and would 
not only have his officers study, but applied himself to the work 
with all the power of his great mind. Seldom did he lie down 
until the small hours of the night and his own exhausted 
strength told him too plainly that man must have some rest ; 
but his repose was short, for four o'clock soon came, and with it 
arose the Colonel and at once resumed his daily labors." 



41G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Colonel McKnight was thirty years eleven months and four- 
teen days old when he died — just upon the threshold of life. 
He was six feet in height, of commanding presence, blue eyes, 
brown hair, and possessed of a remarkably attractive and intelli- 
gent countenance. His mother died before his entrance to mili- 
tary life. He left two brothers. He was unmarried. His loss 
in the community in which he lived was deeply felt, and his 
death sincerely mourned. His old instructor in the law, Judge 
Jenks, says of him, " A braver, truer, nobler man than Amor A. 
McKnight could not be found in the service." 

1\X ark Kern, Captain of battery G, First artillery, which he 
c£g^ aided in recruiting at Philadelphia, was commissioned its 
First-Lieutenant in July, 18G1. Shortly after, he was promoted 
to Captain, and until the day of his death led that noble battery 
with unexampled skill and heroism. At Beaver Dam Creek, it 
was brought up from its position in reserve just in time to 
do most effective service, when the enemy was pressing on in 
massed columns, and confident of sweeping everything before 
them. But canister from the double-shotted guns of Kern drove 
them back and saved the field. On the following day Kern was 
posted upon commanding ground on the left at Gaines' Mill. For 
a time the Union infantry held the front and covered his pieces ; 
but it was finally swept back, and they were in danger of cap- 
ture. Then it was that the spirit of Kern was tested. Again and 
again the enemy charged on him, but his guns, admirably posted, 
did fearful execution. With a persistence rarely equalled the 
enemy assaulted, and made that battery the object of his most 
determined efforts. Finally, when he could no longer hold out, 
on account of the enemy swarming upon him, he retired behind 
a new line of battle, losing two of his guns, himself being 
wounded. 

At Charles City Cross Roads the execution of his guns was 
even more deadly and destructive than on previous fields. 
The ground was open for a long distance in his front, and as 
often as the enemy attempted to advance, Kern scourged them 
with terrible effect. The struggle on this part of the field was 
continued for over two hours, the enemy gaining no advantage. 



MARK KERN.— PETER R. HOUSUM. 417 

Finally, the ammunition running low, General McCall ordered 
Kern to send his caissons to the rear, and soon the battery fol- 
lowed. The fidelity which Captain Kern displayed in the most 
trying positions caused him to be selected for critical duty. At 
four o'clock P. m. on the evening of the 30th of August, on the 
Second Bull Run battle-ground, he was attacked — the first on the 
part of the line which he held, to feel its power. The rebel 
tactics of massing and delivering assault after assault, at what- 
ever sacrifice, were here repeated, and upon Kern they fell with 
terrible power, the shocks carrying swift destruction. So long as 
his supports remained firm, he was triumphant ; but when they 
failed, having himself again received a severe wound, he was 
forced to yield, and fell into the enemy's hands, where he soon 
after died. Three of his men were killed and twenty-one 
wounded. Four guns, two caissons, two limbers, and twenty- 
seven horses were lost. For the short space of time that he 
was in active service, it was his lot to play as important, if not 
a more important part, than any commander of a battery in the 
Potomac Army. In all places he acquitted himself manfully, 
and fell in the very front of the battle. 

>eter B. Housum, Colonel of the Seventy-seventh regiment. 

y$ " It was the banner regiment at Stone River," said Gene- 
ral Rosecrans, as he reined in his steed in front of the Seventy- 
seventh Pennsylvania, while passing his army in review just 
previous to the second grand advance against Bragg. "Give my 
compliments to the bo} r s," said he, "and tell them that I say, ' It 
was the banner regiment at Stone River.' They never broke 
their ranks." It was at Stone River, while leading this regi- 
ment, that Colonel Housum was killed. 

He was born on the 22d of September, 1824, in Berks county, 
Pennsylvania. His father was George L., and his mother Eliza- 
beth (Burknard) Housum, both natives of Berks county. He 
received a good English education at the public schools, and by 
close application during his leisure hours, attained to a high 
degree of proficiency in mathematics and civil engineering, for 
which he evinced a decided taste. His occupation was that of a 
millwright. In physical stature he was five feet ten inches, and 

27 



418 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was possessed of a sound constitution. He was married on the 
25th of September, 1S4G, to Miss Lucy E. Elmenston. 

For fifteen years previous to the Rebellion he had served as 
First-Lieutenant of a uniformed militia company, and in the 
three months' service was Captain of company A, Second Penn- 
sylvania regiment. He recruited a section of a battery at Cham- 
bersburg, for three years' duty, which, after having been consoli- 
dated with a section raised in Erie, was organized for service 
with the Seventy-seventh regiment, of which body he was made 
Lieutenant-Colonel. The first of the only three Pennsylvania 
infantry regiments sent to the Western armies, in the early part 
of the war, it was assigned to duty with the force in Kentucky, 
then under command of General Buell. On the field of Shiloh, 
he bore a part for the first time in a great battle, and beheld the 
horrors which war carries with it. When the fighting opened he 
was with his command twenty miles off, toilsomely wending his 
way over heavy roads towards the field, Grant having been 
attacked by Sidney Johnston before Buell could form a junction 
with him. Hastening forward, it moved upon the field on the 
morning of the second day, passing over the ground where three 
out of the five of Grant's divisions had, the day before, been 
crushed and his entire army well-nigh annihilated. At one P. M. 
the Colonel of the regiment, Stumbaugh, having succeeded to the 
command of a brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Housum assumed that 
of the regiment, and led it throughout the severe fighting which 
followed. In the final charge, which decided the fate of the day, 
and swept the enemy hopelessly back, he was upon the front 
lino, and took many prisoners, among them, Colonel Battles of 
the Twentieth (rebel) Tennessee. 

After the battle, the Union troops encamped upon the field, 
the sickening odors from which soon became intolerable, occasion- 
ing disease, from which Colonel Housum was a sufferer, and for 
a long time prostrated. At Stone River, on the last day of the 
year 18G2, he was in command of his regiment, and was posted 
on the extreme right of Rosecrans' line, where the enemy, having 
secretly massed his troops under the cover of darkness, attacked 
at dawn with overwhelming power. Colonel Housum had 
divined this strategy, having detected in the confused sounds 



PETER B. HOUSUM. 419 

that came to him, that a constant movement of troops across the 
front of the Union line, towards the right was in progress. He 
accordingly ordered his men to stand to their arms throughout 
the weary hours of that long night, and when, at length, the 
blow was given at dawn, he was ready to receive it, and to 
deliver a counter-blow, which fell with stunning effect upon the 
too confident foe, who, counting unreservedly on a complete 
surprise, had anticipated an easy victory. But the other regi- 
ments upon the left, being less vigilant, the attack came upon 
them while unprepared, and they soon gave way. Left without 
support or cooperation, it was impossible for this single body to 
long hold out against a determined and strong assailant, and it 
was borne back. But reforming at right-angles to the main 
direction of the Union line, and connecting with the next 
division, which stood firm, Colonel Housum prepared to advance. 
In his front were Edgarton's guns in possession of the enemy, 
having been captured in the confusion which resulted from the 
first surprise. To retake them and bring them in became a 
darling project with Colonel Housum. Ke ordered a charge, 
which was heroically executed, and the guns, after a brief 
struggle, were recovered. Stimulated by this success, the assault 
was continued, being directed upon the enemy's own guns ; but 
before they could be reached the rebels rallied in great strength, 
and everything was lost, Colonel Housum himself receiving a 
wound, from which he soon after died. In his last moments his 
thoughts were of his men, and the success of the conflict. Com- 
prehending the nature of his hurt, he exclaimed, " I am mortally 
wounded. See to it that my brave boys do not yield an inch ! " 
To his Adjutant he said, and they were the last words he 
uttered, " Stay by my brave boys of the Seventy-seventh." 

Of his character as a soldier, one who was with him through- 
out all his campaigns, and who, from his own sterling qualities, 
knew how to estimate valor, says, " He never faltered, and when 
without regular rations for days, he never murmured, but strove 
to do all in his power for the relief of his men. He was 
cool, brave, and unassuming, and no one of his rank in the 
Army of the Cumberland stood higher in the estimation of 
his superior officers." 



420 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

T ; : ansford Foster Chapman, Major of the Twenty-eighth regi- 
^-H ment, was born at Mauch Chunk, on the 13th of Septem- 
ber, 183-4. His father, Joseph Henshaw Chapman, was a native 
of Northampton, Massachusetts, and his mother, Martha Pro- 
basco Woolley, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. The son was 
educated at the common schools of Mauch Chunk, and spent one 
term at the Wyoming Seminary, an institution of some note in 
Luzerne county. At the age of fifteen, manifesting a taste for 
civil engineering, he joined a party engaged in locating a railroad 
at Summit Hill, and was subsequently employed in surveying- 
several other roads in the anthracite coal regions of the central 
part of the state, either as assistant or engineer-in-chief. On the 
1st of May, 1856, he was married to Olive A. Jackson, of Car- 
bondale. A short time previous to this he had abandoned civil 
engineering, and had embarked in the lumber business on the 
Lehigh river, in which he continued to the breaking out of the 
Rebellion. 

His military education previous to taking the field was limited 
to a year or two of service in a militia company known as the 
(leaver Artillerists, in which he was a Lieutenant. Upon 
the issue of the President's call for 75,000 men, he was among 
the first to rally, and in two clays three full companies were 
raised at Mauch Chunk. But such a number could not be 
accepted, and the question became not who will go, but who is 
willing to stay? He was not of the number chosen to go. In 
June, in conjunction with J. D. Arner, and his brother C. W. 
Chapman, he set about recruiting a company for three years' ser- 
vice, and of this he was commissioned Captain. Having placed 
his company in camp, he put it to a severe course of discipline. 
Of camp-life he soon tired, and having heard of battles, "he 
longed to follow to the field some war-like chief." His desire 
was gratified, for his company was accepted by Colonel John W. 
Geary, a soldier of the Mexican Avar, and made the color com- 
pany of his regiment, — the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania. 

The regiment was first stationed on the upper Potomac, and 
Captain Chapman, when the troops under General Banks were 
ordered to cross into Virginia, made himself useful by his engi- 
neering skill in constructing a rope ferry, and afterwards in 



LAKSFORD F. CHAPMAN. 421 

laying a pontoon bridge, the task being a difficult one on account 
of high water, six men having been drowned by the upsetting of 
a boat in attempting to take the heavy hawser across. With his 
company he participated in the stirring campaign in the Shenan- 
doah Valley in the fall and winter of 1861, and in the valley of 
Virginia with Pope in 18G2. At Antietam, on the 17th of Sep- 
tember, the regiment was subjected to severe fighting, and per- 
formed efficient service. Captain Chapman was struck by a 
fragment of shell and sustained considerable injury, but in a 
short time was sufficiently recovered to be again at the head of 
his company. 

In January, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and 
at once took command of the regiment, and retained it until, on 
the field of Chancellorsville, at ten o'clock on Sunday morning, 
May 3d, when the battle was at its height and raging with 
unparalleled fury, he fell dead at the head of his troops, leading 
them on and encouraging them to deeds of valor by his intrepid 
example. Eagerly did his comrades strive to rescue the body of 
their fallen leader, but in the fitful changes of the fight they were 
compelled to leave it upon the field, and it fell into the hands of 
the enemy. Many times afterwards were his remains sought by 
his friends ; but in the tangled wilds of that desolate region, 
where the dead were strewn thick on every hand, it was impos- 
sible to identify the place of their interment. 

When, in May, 1865, the war being ended, the Union troops 
with joyous step were on the homeward march, General Geary 
turned aside at Chancellorsville to search for the anxiously and 
long sought grave of his old companion in arms. The corres- 
pondent of the New York Tribune was on the ground with the 
disinterring party, and in a communication thus described the 
scene : " The most notable case of recognition was the discovery 
of the remains of the heroic Major Chapman of the Twenty- 
eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, one of the finest regiments in the 
Second division of the Twelfth corps, which at- the time of his 
death he was commanding. Major Chapman fell in sight of 
General Geary, and that thoughtful commander was the first to 
identify his remains, although they had several times been sought 
by his friends, but in vain. Knowing the spot where he fell, and 



422 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

finding a grave near, General Geary at once supposed it to be 
that of the lamented officer, and directed the disinterment. An 
eager crowd of friends of the deceased gathered around the spot, 
and as each shovelful of earth was laid aside, one and another 
identified some token. The teeth, hair, and size of the body all 
coincided with those of Major Chapman. In addition to these 
evidences there were several others equally strong. The coat 
was identified by the officer who ordered it from the maker. 
The buttons had been cut off by rebel desperadoes, and the pants 
were missing. Men who had been taken prisoners near the spot 
knew that the body of Major Chapman had been thus despoiled. 
It was known moreover that no other field officer had fallen near 
this position. Stronger evidences than these could scarcely be 
in a case of this kind. By order of General Geary the bones 
were carefully taken up and placed in a cracker box, the only 
receptacle which the moment afforded, and now they follow the 
command to Alexandria, whence they will be transported to 
the North." 

On the 27th of May, 1865, they were laid peacefully to rest in 
the quiet cemetery at upper Mauch Chunk by sorrowing friends. 
A beautiful monument erected by his family marks his last 
resting-place. His memory is fondly cherished, not only by his 
relatives, but by a large circle of acquaintances. Among many 
letters of condolence which his family received, the following 
paragraph from one written by Daniel Kalbfus, Esq., will illus- 
trate their tenor : " I never can forget him. He was a true 
man, a brave soldier, a finished scholar, and a perfect gen- 
tleman. He was my friend, and his friendship was very warm. 
A man of his years, talents, social and political attainments, 
will be missed in Carbon county, for, in my judgment, there were 
few like him. Brave to rashness, I knew that he would win 
honor at the head of his regiment, or die nobly fighting there, 
and so it proved." 

Nearly six feet in height, and of noble proportions, enjoy- 
ing perfect health, induced by habits of sobriety, he was a 
shining mark for the destroyer. As a boy, he was a Cadet of 
Temperance, and when arrived at man's estate was a Son of 
Temperance, and no one was more consistent to his professions. 



JOHN W. McLANE. 423 

In his family relations he was fortunate, and a wife and two 
children, a girl and a boy, the objects of his warmest affection, 
are left to grieve his loss. 

ffOHN White McLane, Colonel of the Eighty-third regiment, 
was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, August 24th, 
1820. He was the son of James H. and Phebe (Fleming) 
McLane. The family removed to Erie, in 1'828. After a few 
years of instruction received chiefly from his maternal grand- 
mother, and a brief season at the Erie Academy, he was placed 
in the store of his uncle, William Fleming. In 1842, he organ- 
ized and commanded the Wayne Greys, a volunteer company, 
favorably known throughout western Pennsylvania for their 
admirable discipline and soldierly bearing. This compairy, in 
competition with many others from Pennsylvania, New York, 
and Ohio, was awarded the prize-banner at the encampment 
at Meadville, September 10th, 1844. 

When the Mexican war broke out, McLane was residing tem- 
porarily at Fort Wayne, Indiana. During his brief sojourn in 
that city, the ruling passion had manifested itself in the forma- 
tion of a military company, which, now that troops were needed, 
promptly volunteered for the war, and marched to camp at New 
Albany, where they were attached to, and became part of the 
First regiment, Indiana Volunteers, Colonel James P. Drake. 
This regiment was engaged chiefly in performing garrison duty 
at Matamoras and Monterey, and saw but little real service save 
repelling the attacks of the Mexican cavalry and guerillas, in 
marching to the latter place. The Wayne Greys volunteered 
their services to the Governor, for the same war, and placed their 
arms in condition ; but the State quota being full, were not called 
out. After the war, Captain McLane engaged in farming and 
milling. In 1859, he formed a fine volunteer organization, known 
as the Wayne Guard of Erie. On the 10th of September, 1860, 
the company took part in the imposing ceremonies incident to 
the inauguration of a monument to the memory of Commodore 
Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, at Cleveland, Ohio. 
Captain McLane was officer of the day upon that occasion, and, 
representing the Guards, presented an elegantly mounted cane, 



424 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

made from the wood of Perry's Flag-ship, the Lawrence, to the 
Hon. George Bancroft, the orator of the day. 

" I well remember," says Mr. Isaac G. Morehead, who has 
kindly furnished the matter fortius sketch, "the spirit exhibited 
by Captain McLane on his return from witnessing the inaugura- 
tion of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. 
Meeting a group of young men, members of the Wayne Guard, in 
the Park, he said : ' Boys, you may as well think the matter over, 
and make up your minds what you are going to do, for we are 
going to have a fight. I am going into it, — to lead my company, 
I hope ; if not, I'll go as a private. We will fill up our ranks 
and march to Pittsburg, or some other point, and help to make 
a regiment.' Most of the group smiled incredulously -at the idea 
of a war with our own people ; but the Captain said, ' It will 
come.' Returning home on the night of the loth of April from 
a brief journey, I was awakened in the morning by the noise of 
fife and drum, and the tramp of marching men. Bells were 
ringing and cannon firing. Strange sounds to break upon the ear 
on Sabbath morning in a quiet little city ! Sumter had been 
fired upon, and the Captain had commenced his work. When 
all others seemed stunned and appalled, he went to work easily 
and quietly as though anticipating all that was occurring. Flags 
were ftying everywhere. Anxious, determined-looking men were 
talking in groups, or hurriedly leaving town to rouse the people 
in the quiet country places. In four days, Captain McLane's 
company had grown to 1600 men. Men of all trades and pro- 
fessions were there. The plow was left with its point in the 
earth, the pen and the hammer were dropped, law-books and 
briefs were left upon the table." McLane abandoned his office 
of Sheriff of the county — refused the office of Commissary-General 
of Pennsylvania tendered him by Governor Curtin, which he said 
a lame man could administer — and as Colonel, at the head of his 
regiment, amid the cheers of assembled thousands, in a furious 
storm of rain and snow, took up the march to Pittsburg. The 
regiment was known as McLane's Independent Regiment, and 
at camps Wilkins and Wright, was drilled during the three 
months of its service in a very effective manner. Scarcely had 
the regiment reached home, when news of the disaster of the 



JOHN W. McLANE. 425 

Union arms at Bull Bun was received. Colonel McLane imme- 
diately telegraphed General Cameron, then Secretary of War, 
and received authority to recruit a regiment for three years. On 
the 8th of September, the men were mustered into the service 
by Captain Bell of the regular army, and on the 16th, headed by 
Mehl's brass band, they started for Washington. They went 
into camp near that city, and, on the night of the 1st of October, 
crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia. At Hall's Hill, they 
were placed in Fitz John Porter's division in the Third brigade, 
commanded by General Butterfield. Here the regiment settled 
down to hard work, and that discipline was perfected which 
gave them their reputation, and fitted them for winning im- 
mortal glories on every great battle-field of the Army of the 
Potomac. None who heard, in those days, that clear ringing 
voice of Colonel McLane, can ever forget it. His men never 
misunderstood his orders. There was something so energizing 
in his voice, in the full, firm tone, that gave such entire 
assurance to the men, something so electric — far beyond the 
ordinary acceptation and use of the word — that it was a pro- 
verb, " McLane can lead those men anywhere." He was born 
to command. 

" Proud was his tone, but calm ; his eye 
Had that compelling dignity, 
His mien that bearing haught and high, 
"Which common spirits fear." 

Marching up the Peninsula, their first fighting was at Hanover 
Court House ; and they fought well. On the morning of the 27th 
of June, 1862, they were on the extreme left of our line at Gaines' 
Mill. They stood firm all of that terrible day. Every attack 
upon the left was repelled ; but toward evening, Colonel McLane 
was informed that our lines were forced in the next brigade on the 
right. " I cannot believe that," said the Colonel," for the Sixty- 
second Pennsylvania is in that brigade." But when the unwel- 
come truth was made evident, the Colonel said : " Well, we will 
change front, boys, and fight it out here." But in changing 
front, Colonel McLane and his Major, Naghel, were both killed. 
The retreat now became general, and but a small portion of But- 
terfield's brigade remained on the field. The courier that had 



426 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

been sent with the order to retreat was killed on the way. The 
Eighty-third had been directed to hold this position, and retreat 
without orders was not to be thought of. Major Von Vegesack, 
an Aid of General Butterfield, came at last, with an order to 
retire. He found them with the glare of battle upon their faces. 
Their blood was up, and there they stood savagely and des- 
perately fighting over the dead body of their beloved leader, 
Colonel McLane. They paid no attention to the order of retreat. 
While the Aid stood there, vehemently repeating his commands, 
the Eleventh South Carolina appeared moving past in front. 
With the sublimity of impudence, the Eighty-third, surrounded 
almost as they were, and their retreat endangered, sent out Lieu- 
tenant White with a handkerchief tied to his sword,, to demand 
their surrender. This, of course, was indignantly refused, and 
before the officer returned to his regiment, he heard the order 
given in his rear, accompanied by the click of hundreds of mus- 
kets, and, dropping instantly upon his face, a volley passed over 
him, killing and wounding a number of the men. Suffering 
severely from a flanking fire, the retreat was at last ordered by 
Captain Campbell, and the Eighty-third turned sullenly from 
the field and crossed the river, leaving one-half of the regiment 
dead or wounded. When the war was over, and the Eighty-third 
were marching from the scene of Lee's surrender to Washington, 
they encamped near this historic field. Colonel Rogers, then in 
command of the regiment, raised the bones of Colonel McLane, 
and forwarded them to Erie; and on the 19th of May, 18G5, his 
bereaved widow and children, surrounded by a vast concourse 
of people, followed his remains to the Cemetery on the hill ; the 
volley was fired, — earth to earth, ashes to ashes, — and the soldier 
was at rest. He fell early in the war; but his faithful work 
and perfect discipline lived after him, and produced great and 
glorious fruit. 




CHAPTER II. 



THE KILLED IN BATTLE. 




>EORGE DASHIELL BAYARD, Brigadier-General 
of volunteers, and Colonel of the First Pennsyl- 
vania cavalry, was born on the 18th of December, 
1835, at Seneca Falls, New York. He traced his 
paternal ancestry to the family of the Chevalier 
Bayard, the Good Knight, without fear and with- 
out reproach, and his maternal to the Dashiells, a 
French Huguenot family. At eight years of age 
Pb his father removed to Iowa, where he remained 
,n^ several years. In 1849, the family returned and 
settled in NeAv Jersey, and in 1852, George was 
appointed by Mr. Fillmore a cadet at large in the 
Military Academy at West Point, whence he 
graduated in 1856, standing eleven in a class which originally 
numbered ninety members. On leaving the Academy he chose 
the cavalry arm of the service, and was assigned to duty with 
the First, now the Fourth regiment of regulars, in which he rose 
to the rank of Captain. Soon after entering it his command was 
ordered to the plains, where it had frequent encounters with the 
Indians. In 1860, while engaged with a party of Kiowas, he was 
severely wounded. His father, in his life of Bayard, gives the 
following account of this event : " After a pursuit of more than 
twenty miles, some Indians were seen at a distance. Lieutenant 
Bayard, being mounted on a superior horse, whose speed sur- 
passed that of any in the command, led the way in the chase. 
He soon came up with an Indian warrior, and, presenting his 
revolver, demanded his surrender. The Indian, as Lieutenant 
Bayard rode up to him, had dismounted from his pony for the 
purpose of dodging the shot from the pistol he anticipated, or 

427 



428 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to enable him the better to use his bow and arrow. At this 
moment, while in this attitude, Lieutenant Bayard saw some 
Indians running at a distance, and turned to see if any of his 
men were near enough to receive a signal from him that other 
Indians were in sight, and as he turned again towards the chief 
he had brought to bay, the latter shot him with his arrow. The 
arrow was steel-headed, in shape like a spear-head, and the head 
two and a half inches long. It struck Lieutenant Bayard under 
the cheek-bone, and penetrated the antrim. If the Indian had 
not been so near, he would have drawn his bow more taut, and 
probably killed his enemy." The arrow head was imbedded so 
firmly in the bone, that it could not with safety be removed 
except by superior skill. Though enduring intense suffering, he 
made a journey of 800 miles to St. Louis before he could have 
the operation performed. Its removal gave some relief, but the 
wound did not heal, and he was subject to severe hemorrhage 
which threatened his life. The artery, which had been severed, 
was finally taken up and tied, freeing him from further danger 
from this source, and he was soon after assigned to duty as cav- 
alry instructor at West Point. 

When the war broke out, in 18G1, though his wound was still 
unhealed and very painful, he repeatedly asked to be relieved, 
and allowed to join a regiment of volunteers. In a letter to his 
father of April 13th, he says : " The capital will very soon be the 
object of attack, and I think it the duty of all good Americans to 
march to its defence. My heart is too full to write you anything 
about Sumter. The Southerners have made a great mistake in 
attacking it. All my sympathy with the South is now gone. It 
is now war to the knife." And again, of July 26th, ... "I must 
go to this war. I cannot stay here and rust Avhile gallant men 
are in the field. This Rebellion is a much more serious thing 
than many suppose. I pity the Southern officers in our army. 
They cannot but condemn the madness of their politicians who 
have brought on this war, and yet they feel in honor bound to go 
with their section/' His request to be relieved was steadily 
refused until September 1SG1, when he was made Major of a 
regiment recruited by Colonel Van Allen of New York. On his 
arrival at Washington General McClellan, then Commander-in- 



GEORGE D. BAYARD. 429 

chief, would not consent to his taking this position, and gave him 
the option to take command of a regiment, or to serve as aid 
upon his staff. Bayard chose an independent command, and was 
appointed by Governor Curtin Colonel of the First Pennsylvania 
cavalry, one of the regiments of the Reserve corps. His great- 
grandfather had been Colonel of the First Pennsylvania cavalry, 
in the Revolution. His discipline was exact, and to independent 
yeomanry it seemed arbitrary ; but the real worth and heroism 
of the man soon endeared him to all hearts, and reconciled them 
to his methods. His first speech to his men, delivered, as they 
were about to undertake a hazardous duty, was characteristic : 
" Men ! I will ask you to go in no place but where I lead." 

One who knew him well says of him : " As a soldier, in camp 
and on the field, in bivouac or in the height of an engagement, he 
was a perfect model. He had a quiet but keen eye, detecting and 
correcting what was wrong, and just as quick to discern merit. 
In the field, he participated in all the hardships with the men, 
declining a shelter when they were exposed." 

In the spring of 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier-General, 
and was placed over the First brigade of cavalry in the Army of 
the Potomac. When McClellan went to the Peninsula, Bayard 
remained with the army of observation before Washington. At 
Cross Keys, and all the subsequent operations under General 
Pope, he acquitted himself with great credit. He had been at 
the Academy with J. E. B. Stuart, and at Cedar Mountain they 
met ; first in conflict, and afterwards under flag of truce for the 
burial of the dead, where they conversed in a friendly way. No 
allusion was made to the present war, but they talked of former 
associations. " During the interview," says a Washington paper, 
"a wounded Union soldier lying near was groaning and asked for 
water. ' Here, Jeb,' said Bayard — old time recollections making 
him familiar as he tossed his bridle to the rebel officer — ' hold 
my horse a minute, will you, till I fetch that poor fellow some 
water.' Jeb held the bridle. Bayard went to a stream and 
brought the wounded man some water. As Bayard mounted his 
horse, Jeb remarked that it was the first time he had ' played 
orderly to a Union General.' " Stuart was then a Major-General 
in the Confederate service. The business for which they met 



430 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was soon arranged, and when the bugle sounded the recall they 
shook hands and turned away, mortal enemies again. 

General Bayard, from the midst of war's direful encounters, 
was looking forward with interest to his marriage, which, he 
says in a letter to his mother, of October 26th, 1862, " we have 
intended should take place on the 18th of December, my twenty- 
seventh birthday." In a letter of the 22d of November, to his 
father, he says : " I have been troubled a good deal of late with 
rheumatism, owing to having been thoroughly drenched with 
rain. I ought to be in the hospital. But I must go with this 
army through. I am senior General of cavalry. Honor and glory 
are before me — shame lurks in the rear. It looks as if I should 
not be able to leave at the time appointed for my marriage, but 
will have to postpone it till this campaign is over." 

In the desperate engagement at Fredericksburg, on the 13th 
of December, he had the honor of opening the battle, and hold- 
ing the enemy in check until the infantry could come up, when 
he was withdrawn and posted on the extreme left of the line, his 
left flank abutting upon the river. " There," says the life, " he 
was engaged all the morning of the loth, more or less with the 
enemy's skirmishers and advance. His last directions, before 
leaving his troops to go to the headquarters of General Franklin, 
were given to his artillery officer to change the position of some 
of his guns. A little before two o'clock he rode to headquarters, 
to receive such orders as General Franklin might deem proper to 
give. He found the General in a grove of trees, with some of his 
staff and other General officers. The enemy were then throwing 
their shells at and around this grove. General Bayard, soon 
after he arrived, having dismounted, seated himself at the foot of 
a tree, but with his face towards the quarter from whence the 
shells came. He was warned by a brother officer of his needless 
exposure, and invited to change his position. This he did not 
do, but remained for some time participating in the conversation 
of those around. In a little while, however, he rose from his 
seat, and hardly stood erect, when he was struck by a shell just 
below the hip, shattering his . thigh near the joint." In this 
frightful condition, with mind still clear and active, he lingered 
until noon of the following day, arranging his business and send- 



STRONG VINCENT. 431 

ing messages of love and affection to friends. To his father and 
mother he said : " I have to dictate to you a few words, ere it 
becomes too late. My strength is rapidly wasting away. Good- 
bye, dearest father and mother; give my love to my sisters." 
He did not appear to suffer much pain, and about twenty-four 
hours after he was struck, he sank gradually and quietly to his 
last sleep. " Not one," says Greeley, " died more lamented than 
Major-General George D. Bayard, commanding our cavalry on 
the left, who was struck by a shell and mortally wounded. But 
twenty-seven years old, and on the eve of marriage, his death 
fell like a pall on many loving hearts." 

trong Vincent, Colonel of the Eighty-third regiment, and 
Brigadier-General, son of Bethuel B. and Sarah A. (Strong) 
Vincent, was born in the village of Waterford, Erie county, Penn- 
sylvania, June 17th, 1837. At the age of seventeen, he went to 
Hartford, Connecticut, where he became a student in the Scien- 
tific School. Subsequently he prepared for, and entered Trinity 
College, where he remained two years. At the end of that time, 
he entered Harvard College, and graduated in the class of 1859. 
Vincent did not attain a high rank as a scholar, but was looked 
up to as a leader among his associates, and as possessed of qualities 
which would make him a leader among men. In stature he was 
above the medium height, of well-formed and powerful frame. 
Returning to Erie, he commenced the study of law, and on his 
admission to the bar, at once took a prominent rank. The 
day after the President's call for volunteers, he enlisted as a 
private soldier in the Wayne Guards. At the expiration of the 
three months' service, in which he served as Adjutant of the 
Erie regiment, he took an active part in raising the Eighty-third 
regiment for three years' service, and was elected and commis- 
sioned its Lieutenant-Colonel. The Battle of Hanover Court 
House was his first experience of real conflict, though the regi- 
ment suffered little in this engagement. The malaria of the 
swamps proved more fatal to the soldiers than the bullets of the 
enemy, and he became a victim to its deadly influence. Towards 
the end of June, he was sick almost beyond the hope of recovery. 
At the time of the battle of Gaines' Mill, he was too weak to leave 



432 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

his bed ; but when he learned the disasters which had befallen 
his regiment, — the Colonel and Major dead on the field, and more 
than half its numbers gone down in the battle, — he determined 
to rejoin it. His strength was insufficient to bear up under 
the fatigues of the march, and he was finally carried insensible 
from the field. He was taken in a hospital ship to New York, 
and thence to his home in Erie. On his return, in October, he 
took command of the regiment, having been chosen and commis- 
sioned Colonel during his absence. He participated in the battle 
of Fredericksburg, and while on the advance line in front of the 
enemy, the command of the brigade devolved upon him. He 
was, for several weeks, President of a court-martial, and was ten- 
dered the position of Judge- Advocate-General of the Army of the 
Potomac. But this honor, which many young officers would have 
coveted, he declined, saying : " I enlisted to fight." In the action 
at Ashby's Gap, on the 21st of June, preceding the battle of Get- 
tysburg, in which Vincent commanded a brigade, the enemy 
were routed and a Blakely gun captured. For his skill in this 
affair, he received the formal thanks of General Meade. The 
army was now on its way to Gettysburg. On crossing the Pennsyl- 
vania line, Vincent became much excited, riding up and down the 
column, encouraging the men and reminding them that they were 
now to fight on their own soil. On the 2d of July, the second 
day of the battle, Vincent was ordered to seize Little Round Top, 
and hold the narrow valley between it and Big Round Top. 
After heroically repulsing repeated assaults, while reconnoitring 
the position of the enemy from a huge rock directly fronting the 
Devil's Den, then held by the enemy's sharp-shooters, he fell 
mortally wounded. On the following day, his appointment by 
the President as Brigadier-General, was sent to him. He lingered 
till the 7th, and expired on the field. On entering the service, 
he had written to his young wife : " If I live, we will rejoice over 
our country's success. If I fall, remember you have given your 
husband to the most righteous cause that ever widowed a 
woman," — a sentiment that is worthy to be inscribed upon his 
tomb. 



CHARLES F. TAYLOR. 433 

harles Frederick Taylor, Colonel of the Bucktail regi- 
ment, was born on the 6th of February, 1840, at West 
Chester, Pennsylvania. His boyhood years were spent upon his 
father's farm, near Kennett Square. This is the neighborhood 
of the ground made sacred in the Revolution. Not far away 
is the Quaker church, where, even now, stains upon the floor 
are shown, formed by pools of the life-current from patriot 
wounds ; and near-by, the tree under which Lafayette reclined, 
when weak from loss of blood. The story of that struggle was 
early learned, and inspired his youthful imagination. At the 
age of fifteen, he entered the University of Michigan, at Ann 
Arbor, which he left on the following year, to accompany his 
brother, Bayard Taylor, and two sisters, on a tour through 
Europe. After travelling in Great Britain, France, Germany, 
Switzerland, and Italy, Charles, with his sisters, settled at Lau- 
sanne, while Bayard was making his northern tour through 
Sweden and Lapland. In the spring of 1857, they proceeded to 
Gotha for the purpose of studying the German language ; and 
in June following, returned to America. With renewed vigor. 
Charles again took his place in the University ; but at the end 
of a year, left the institution, to undertake the management of 
his father's farm. His plans for improved culture had scarcely 
been matured, when the tocsin of war was sounded, and he 
instantly abandoned the visions of agricultural triumphs, for 
those on the field of strife. 

Having recruited a company, he moved with it to Harrisburg, 
where it was made a part of the Bucktail regiment, and he was 
commissioned its Captain. Before the opening of the spring 
campaign, this regiment was divided ; six companies, under 
Major Roy Stone, going with McClellan to the Peninsula ; and 
the other four, among which was Captain Taylor's, under Colonel 
Kane, remaining with McDowell in the army of observation. 
At Harrisonburg, on the Gth of June, this handful of Buck tails 
fought an entire brigade of the enemy. They were subjected to 
an enfilading fire, by which Captain Taylor received four bullet 
holes through his clothes. When about to retire, he found that 
his Colonel had fainted from loss of blood, and in the act of 
rendering him assistance, they were surrounded by eight or ten 
28 



434 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

rebels who immediately took them prisoners. They were both 
paroled at Petersburg, and at once sent into the Union lines. 
Their request to be exchanged was not granted, and they re- 
mained prisoners on parole until November, during which time 
Captain Taylor was commandant of Camp Parole, at Annapolis. 
lie was not released until after the battle of Antietam, when — 
Colonel McNeil having been killed, and Colonel Kane having 
been promoted to Brigadier-General — he was advanced to Colonel, 
then but twenty-one, among the youngest who held that com- 
mission in the Union army. In the battle of Fredericksburg, he 
was wounded, the loss in the regiment being very severe. At 
Gettysburg the Bucktails were in the First brigade, commanded 
by Colonel McCandless. At the moment when the fortunes of 
the day on the left of the field seemed utterly lost, brigade after 
brigade, and division after division, having been pushed forward, 
only to be hurled back mangled and bleeding, McCandless was 
ordered to charge and check the impetuous onsets of the foe. In 
two lines he advanced, Taylor having the left of the second line. 
The swamp, formed by Plum Run, presented a serious impedi- 
ment ; but, having passed it in the face of a murderous fire, he 
swept on, and having crossed the stone wall upon the verge 
of the wood, dashed through it to the edge of the Wheatfield 
where, while in the act pf steadying and encouraging his men 
he was shot through the heart by the bullet of a sharp-shooter 
His body was carried back, and taken to his home near Ken 
nett Square, where it was buried with impressive ceremonies 
A tasteful monument rests over his grave — the tribute of sol- 
diers and friends. 

I jjiOHN Riciiter Jones, Colonel of the Fifty-eighth regiment, 
*~f) entered the service from Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, on 
the loth of February, 1862. Many of his men were from the 
forest region, and the pet he chose to accompany his command 
was in keeping with the characteristics of the section he repre- 
sented. It was neither a dog, a cat, a rooster, a coon, nor a fox, 
which were the most commonly adopted ; but a bear from the 
forests of Sullivan. The service which Colonel Jones' command 
performed was, for the most part, rendered in North Carolina, 



JOHN R. JONES— JAMES H CHILDS. 435 

where he was isolated from the great armies operating in the 
field, and where the duty chiefly consisted in holding an enemy's 
country, and fighting detached bodies as they chanced to appear. 
A clause, extracted from the communication of a writer who 
understood well the difficulties and dangers of that service, pub- 
lished in Moore s Rebellion Record, discloses its character. " There 
are thousands," he says, " at the North, who curse the army for 
inaction, who, if they knew half the brave things done by the 
men in the field, would be shamed to silence by their deeds of 
valor. Colonel Jones and his heroes of the Fifty-eighth Pennsyl- 
vania have done some splendid work, and by his vigilance he 
has made the bushwhackers cry ibr quarter." In an action at 
Bachelor's Creek, on the 23d of May, 1863, while in command 
of a brigade, and conducting an important expedition, he was 
shot through the heart and instantly expired. General Foster, 
who commanded in the department, in an order announcing his 
death, said : " Colonel Jones won the admiration of all, by the 
indefatigable, able, and gallant manner with which he filled the 
arduous duties of Commander of the Outposts. He died whilst 
yet enjoying the triumphs of a victory won by his valor and 
counsel." 

fAMES Harvey Childs, Colonel of the Fourth cavalry, was 
born on the 4 th of July, 1834, at Pittsburg. His father 
was Harvey Childs, a native of Massachusetts. His mother, Jane 
Bailey (Lowrie) Childs, was a sister of the Hon. Walter H. 
Lowrie, late Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. He was educated 
at the Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated in 
the class of 1852. In person, he was six feet in height, well pro- 
portioned, and of good general health. He was married on the 
14th of July, 1857, to Mary H. Howe, eldest daughter of the 
Hon. Thomas M. Howe, of Pittsburg. 

He was First Lieutenant of the Pittsburg City Guards, before 
the rebellion. When the call was made for troops in that 
struggle, he was prompt to tender his services, and became First 
Lieutenant of company K, Twelfth regiment. After the conclu- 
sion of the term for which this body was enlisted, he was active 
in recruiting the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was com- 



436 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

missioned Lieutenant-Colonel. Before entering upon field ser- 
vice he was promoted to Colonel. In the campaign upon the 
Peninsula he was on duty with his command, the scouting and 
skirmishing being unusually severe on account of the lack of 
troops in this arm of the service. His regiment opened the battle 
in the first of the seven days' engagements, and at Gaines' Mill 
and Charles City Cross Roads, was actively employed, proving, in 
both those desperate encounters, the sterling qualities of which it 
was composed and the steadfast purpose of its commander. 

On evacuating the Peninsula, the regiment moved to Wash- 
ington, arriving in time to join in the Maryland campaign. At 
Antietam it was attached to Averell's brigade, and on account of 
the sickness of its leader, the command devolved upon Colonel 
Childs. The brigade was assigned to the left of the Union line, 
and after crossing the stone bridge, was posted in support of 
( Ilark's battery, which was warmly engaged. The duty was diffi- 
cult, and the enemy's fire proved very destructive. Colonel Childs 
was upon every part of the field, encouraging his men, and intel- 
ligently directing the movements. He had just completed an 
inspection of the skirmish line and had returned to his head- 
quarters, where he was cheerfully conversing with his staff, when 
he was struck by a cannon-ball on the left hip which threw him 
from his horse, and passed completely through his body. For a 
time his mind was clear, and recognizing at once that his wound 
was mortal, his first care was for his command. He dispatched 
Captain Hughes, one of his aids, to General Pleasanton, Chief 
of cavalry, to apprise him of his fall, and another to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Kerr, to request him to assume command of the brigade. 
He then sent a message to Dr. Marsh, that, "If he was not 
attending to any one whose life could be saved, to come to him, 
as lie was in great pain." Finally, he called to his side his Assis- 
tant Adjutant-General, Captain Henry King, a townsman and 
personal friend, to whom he gave brief messages of affection to 
bis wife and three little children. Of the oldest of the three, a 
boy bearing the name of his maternal grandfather, as if thinking 
in his dying moments only of his country for which he had 
perilled and lost his own life, he said : " Tell Howe to be a good 
boy, and a good man, and true to his country." In twenty 



WASHINGTON BROWN 437 

minutes he became delirious, and shortly after breathed his last, 
joining in the spirit-land his many comrades whose last earthly 
struggle was on the bloody field of Antietam. 

T^rASHiNGTON Bkown, Captain in the One Hundred and Fort}'- 
;£)▼ fifth regiment. Many of the most earnest and faithful 
of the soldiers who went forth to do battle for the preservation 
of the national integrity, were the sons of farmers, who, during 
the period of boyhood and youth, were accustomed to labor; 
and while removed from the privileges of the city, were also 
kept aloof from its corrupting influences, — a condition favoring 
reflection, and inducing to study. 

Of this class was Washington Brown, who was born on the 
22d of October, 1836, in Millcreek township, Erie county, Penn- 
sylvania. His father, Conrad Brown, and his mother, Elizabeth 
Ann (Barr) Brown, were both natives of that county. The son 
was instructed in the common schools of the district during five 
or six months in each year, working upon the farm the remain- 
der of the time, until he had passed the period of boyhood, when 
he was sent to the Erie County Academy, and, subsequently, to 
a commercial school in the city of New York, where he com- 
pleted his academic studies. In his nineteenth year, he taught 
a country school during one term. He attained to a good degree 
of proficiency in mathematics and civil engineering. 

He early exhibited a liking for military training, and became 
a member of the Wayne Guards, a widely-known militia com- 
pany, commanded by that gallant soldier and true patriot, John 
W. McLane. Early in the war, he was active in recruiting a 
company for the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania 
regiment, of which he was chosen Captain. When the subject 
of the "captaincy was under consideration, he was asked what his 
course would be if he were defeated for this position ? His 
answer was prompt and decisive : " I will go into the ranks with 
my musket." The choice of a Captain was not long in doubt. 

The organization of the regiment was completed but a few 
days before the battle of Antietam, and it was hurried away to 
join the grand army. It arrived within sound of the battle, and 
was employed in burying the dead on that gory field. 



438 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In the battle of Fredericksburg, Captain Brown was wounded 
in the right arm, near the shoulder. Calling to one of his men, 
he requested him to tie a handkerchief tightly above the wound, 
and using his knife for a tourniquet, he seized his sword in his 
left hand, and again led on his men, cheering them in the fight, 
until from loss of blood he became too weak to stand, when he 
was carried from the field. He was unable to obtain surgical 
assistance, and for three days the wound remained undressed — a 
fatal and unaccountable delay. When finally it was examined, 
it was found to be past relief. When told by the surgeon that 
he must lose his arm, he cheerfully assented, and it was ampu- 
tated at the shoulder. Three days thereafter, having endured 
great suffering and grief at the separation from friends and 
family, he died. His father was with him through all, and 
ministered to him with paternal care. His last words were : 
" Lord, receive my spirit ! Good-bye. I am gone." Thus 
passed to his rest as brave a man as ever filled a soldier's grave. 

On the 11th of September, 18G1, just one year before his de- 
parture for the front, he was married to Miss Eliza Alexander 
of Covington, Kentucky, who, with an infant daughter, was left 
to mourn his untimely death. In person, he was erect and well- 
proportioned, being five feet ten inches in height, and weighing 
170 pounds. He was possessed of good health, of temperate 
habits, industrious, energetic, of a kind and sympathetic heart. 
He was descended from a line of heroic ancestors. On the day 
that his regiment left for the front, his aged grandmother, more 
than threescore years and ten, in the spirit of the heroine of old 
— who bade her son return with the weapon she gave, or upon it — 
presented him a pistol, as a token of her appreciation of the right- 
eousness of the cause he espoused, and of her faith in its triumph. 
The company having been drawn up, ready to take its place in 
the line, the venerable matron thus addressed him : " My son, 
I send you to war to defend the liberties of our country which 
are menaced by designing and wicked men. My father, your 
great-grandfather, fought in the Revolutionary War to gain our 
independence. My husband, your grandfather, served in the 
War of 1812 to establish our independence, and I wish you to do 
your duty to your country by giving your services, and life itself, 



WILLIAM BO WEN. 439 

if necessary, in defence of those liberties, won and established by 
your fathers. I present you this weapon. Use it if the occasion 
calls, and use it skilfully. Always be obedient to those who are 
placed over you. Be kind to those who are under you, and may 
they treat you with respect and obedience in return. My bles- 
sing shall follow you, and may God bless and preserve you. 
Farewell." 

The Captain briefly said, in response : " I thank you for this 
weapon. I will endeavor to do my duty to my country, and to 
my men." Faithfully was the promise kept ; and when, after 
having fallen upon the field of honor, his lifeless form was borne 
mournfully to his home, a great concourse of sorrowing friends 
and fellow-citizens followed him to his final resting-place, in the 
Cemetery at Erie. It is sad to contemplate the sacrifice of such 
as these; but 

" Who dies in vain 
Upon his country's war-fields, and within 
The shadows of her altars ? " 

X®7"illiam Bo wen, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant of the 
¥cj* Seventy-fifth regiment, was born on the 25th of April, 
1837, at Manchester, England, where his parents were then re- 
siding. He was the son of William Ezra and Elizabeth (Kritley) 
Bowen, the former a native of Philadelphia, the latter of Eng- 
land. While the son was yet in infancy they came to Philadel- 
phia, where, and at Bolmar's Military Institute at Westchester, 
he received a good education. After graduating he was for a 
time in mercantile business, spent a year in Centre county, and 
a year and a half in Ontonagon, Michigan, where his health, 
which had suffered from a rheumatic affection, was much im- 
proved. Pie volunteered at the opening of the war in the Seven- 
teenth regiment, Colonel Patterson, and at the conclusion of its ser- 
vice, entered the Seventy-fifth, General Bohlen, as a Second-Lieu- 
tenant. His regiment was attached to the Second brigade of 
Schurz's division; and in Pope's campaign he was the Acting 
Adjutant. It was a position of great responsibility, and from 
the confidence which he had inspired by his soldierly qualities, 
one of marked influence. In that disastrous retreat he had par- 
ticularly distinguished himself in the work of checking the 



440 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

enemy's advance, and protecting the retiring army. In a des- 
perate charge ordered for this purpose, on the 30th of August, 
while at the head and cheering on his regiment, he received a 
mortal wound, from the effect of which he soon after expired on 
the field. Though in the agonies of death he still thought of his 
command, and with his latest breath asked: "Do the men still 
stand firm?" On being assured that they did, he said : tk It is 
all right then." These were his last words. His remains were 
buried on the field, but were subsequently removed to the family 
grave at Laurel Hill Cemetery. 

»Camuel Croasdale, Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
,S-^ eighth regiment, son of William and Sarah Croasdale, was 
born at Hartsville, Bucks county, on the 23d of August, 1837. 
He was educated at Tenant school in his native town. He 
early evinced talents of a superior order, and a disposition 
thoughtful, studious, and ambitious. His love for, and know- 
ledge of the classics, acquired for him among his fellows the 
sobriquet of Old Cicero. In the mathematics, in which he also 
delighted, he was no less proficient. He chose the law as his 
profession, and at the age of twenty-three was admitted to the 
Bucks county bar, where he practised until the breaking out 
of the war. When troops were needed he was among the first 
to enlist, and went as a private under Colonel W. W. H. Davis, 
in the three months' campaign. He entered the service again 
as Captain, having recruited a company ; was promoted to the 
rank of Colonel, and given the command of the One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment. Before his men had 
been a month in the service, they were incorporated in the 
Army of the Potomac, and put upon the march to meet the 
enemy in Man land. At the battle of Antietam, fought on the 
17th of September, 1862, he was instantly killed, while leading 
his command on the hottest part of that stubbornly contested 
field. In appearance he was tall and commanding, with a fine 
intellectual face, expressive of power and determination, yet 
with a disposition most kind and affectionate. 



SAMUEL CBOASDALE.— HENRY I. ZINN. 441 

SEl ENRY I- Zinn, Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirtieth, 
QzJ* regiment, was born on the 11th of December, 1834, in 
Dover township, York county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of 
John and Anna Mary (Beitzel) Zinn. He received his education 
at the Cumberland Valley Institute, which gave a thorough train- 
ing in the branches of a liberal course, and here he stood among 
the first for readiness of apprehension and soundness of views. 
By nature well endowed, and by taste studious, he was fitted to 
have taken a commanding position among his fellow men in any 
walk or profession. He was, in stature, five feet ten inches, 
stout, robust, and healthy. He was married on the 18th of 
September, 1855, to Miss Mary Ann Clarke. 

He entered the service of the United States on the 23d of 
April, 1862, when he was elected First-Lieutenant of Company H, 
Seventh Pennsylvania Reserve. He was promoted to Captain 
of that company on the 28th of June ; but in August following 
resigned. Re-entering the service as Captain of Company F, 
One Hundred and Thirtieth, on the 9th of August, a few days 
thereafter he was made Colonel of the regiment. He was in 
this position in a sphere fitted to his capabilities, and under his 
moulding hand the regiment rapidly gained a knowledge and 
skill in the practice of military duty. He was posted in the 
fortifications covering the approaches to Washington, during the 
battles of Groveton and Chantilly, and at Antietam took a 
prominent part, his regiment being stationed on the left of the 
right wing of the Union army, losing severely. He was here 
conspicuous for gallantry, and had a horse shot under him. 
After this engagement, Colonel Zinn was posted at Harper's 
Ferry, where his men suffered for want of camp equipage, and 
even for food. But in spite of the many difficulties,- he insti- 
tuted and pursued a regular plan of daily battalion and company 
drills. " He was," says one of his subordinate officers, " one of 
the best drill masters in the corps." 

Captain Joshua W. Sharp, a brave man, who led one of the 
companies in Colonel Zinn's regiment, gives the following graphic 
account of the part it bore in the battle of Fredericksburg, and 
of the heroic death of its leader : " The One Hundred and 
Thirtieth started for Fredericksburg on the 11th of December, 



442 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

crossed the Rappahannock on the following morning, and shared 
in the charge made on Marye's Heights by French's division, 
supported by Howard's, on the long to be remembered loth, 
when, with this portion of the right wing of his army, Burnside 
sought to pierce the rebel centre, defended by lines of rifle pits, 
and a stone wall along the base and sides of the encircling 
heights, and by numerous batteries that covered their summits. 
Over that fearful valley of death the One Hundred and Thirtieth 
advanced at a double-quick, enfiladed on both right and left, 
and with a tremendous fire in front. Twice it was ordered to 
lie down, the second time just in front of the enemy ; and here it is 
believed that some of our own shells from the guns on Stafford 
Hills fell among its ranks. It is certain that some of its men 
were killed by bullets from Federal soldiers in their rear ; for 
the column of attack was from twenty to forty men deep. 
Galled by so many fires, whole regiments of the attacking force 
fell back into Fredericksburg. Meagher's men, with their green 
emblems streaming in the air, had come flying back from their 
bloody charge with numbers sadly reduced. The One Hundred 
and Thirtieth was about to follow, when Colonel Zinn, rising up, 
clasping the banner which had been presented by the State in 
his left hand, and waving his sword with the right, called out : 

" ' Stick to your standard, boys ! The One Hundred and 
Thirtieth never abandons its standard!' 

" Hardly had he uttered the words when he fell, pierced in 
the temple by a Minie ball. But the regiment, now under the 
command of Captain Porter, stuck to its standard, and a portion 
of it did not leave the field until after night-fall." 

Thus fell one of the truest and boldest spirits that went forth 
from the Keystone State to do battle for his country. It was 
not a reckless bravery — a daring without thought — but with 
appreciative heroism, he went with considered step to his death. 

Say not ro ! 
Tis not the grapes of Canaan that repay, 
But tlie high faith that failed not by the way ; 
Virtue treads paths that end not in the grave; 
Iso ban of endless night exiles the brave ; 

And to the saner mind 
We rather seem the dead that staved behind. 




HENRY W. CARRUTHERS. 443 

^Jenry W. Carruthers, Captain in the Ninety-seventh regi- 
ment. In the late war of the Rebellion, some of the 
most gifted of the young men of the nation, before whom there 
seemed opening in civil life a bright career, iter ad astra, were 
untimely cut oft', giving up their lives as sacrifices on the altar of 
their country. Of these Henry W. Carruthers was one. He 
was born at Lawrenceville, Illinois, on the 5th of November, 
1835. His father, George W. Carruthers, a promising young 
lawyer, died while his son was but a child. His mother, Jemima 
P. Carruthers, upon the death of her husband returned to Penn- 
sylvania, her native State. 

At the age of fourteen Henry was apprenticed to his uncle, 
Hon. Henry S. Evans, editor of the Village Record, of West 
Chester, to learn the business of a printer, with whom he 
remained until he became of age, acquiring a good knowledge of 
the art, and manifesting skill and business talent. At the 
expiration of this period he commenced the study of law in the 
office of Joseph Hemphill, Esq., and in 1858 was admitted to 
practice in the courts of Chester and Delaware counties. Well 
read in his profession, and possessed of a graceful and popular 
style of oratory, he at once took a commanding position at the 
bar, and was acquiring a lucrative practice, when the Rebellion 
opened and he rendered a prompt obedience to the call of his 
country in her time of need. 

He had previously been a member of the National Guards, a 
militia company of note, commanded by Henry R. Guss, and 
when the latter recruited his company for the three months' 
service, and again at the end of that period recruited the Ninety- 
seventh regiment for three years, Carruthers followed the fortunes 
of his leader in each, serving in Patterson's army as a private in 
the former, and as Adjutant of the regiment during the greater 
part of the term in the latter. In this capacity he was taken to 
the Department of the South, where he remained until the spring 
of 1864. His legal knowledge and his habits of accuracy in the 
transaction of business prepared^ him to discharge the duties of 
Adjutant with remarkable skill and ability, and made him an 
admirable adviser to his commander. During the siege of Forts 
Warmer and Gresrs; he had charge of the assignment and relief 



444 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of working parties detailed from the brigade, a position of great 
peril and hardship, which he performed with singular success. 

Upon the transfer of the regiment to the Army of the James, 
his ability was even more apparent and his skill in more constant 
requisition. While in the Department of the South he had acted 
at intervals as Assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of Colonel 
Guss. lie was afterwards offered this position on the stall' of 
Colonel Bell; but he steadily declined it, preferring to remain 
with his old companions in arms. On the 6th of June, 1SG4, 
while in front of the enemy's works at Cold Harbor, he received 
his commission as Captain of Company C of his regiment. In 
the battle of Strawberry Plains, on the lGth of August, Captain 
Carruthers received a mortal wound. He was taken to the 
General Hospital at Fortress Monroe, where he had devoted 
attention and surgical aid, but all without avail, and on the 30th 
of the month, in his twenty-ninth year, he expired, deeply 
lamented by his company and by his entire regiment. 

The following resolution, passed by the bar of West Chester, 
shows the esteem in which he was held by his brethren of the 
legal profession : " Resolved, That in the death of our dear friend 
and brother we feel that one of the best and most promising of 
our circle has been taken from us; one who generously gave up 
his young life — so full of vigor and hope — in defence of his 
country. The industry with which he pursued his preparatory 
studies for the bar; the energy with which he applied himself to 
the duties of his profession; his honorable bearing ; the courteous, 
the kind and gentle spirit which always graced his intercourse 
with us; his loyalty, his patriotism, his humanity, his courage, 
and finally, his heroic death, make his brave and beautiful life 
precious to all his friends and brethren. In the manner of his 
death we are reminded that he is the fifth martyr from our 
midst, and we fondly associate his name with the honored 
names of Bell, Roberts, Mclntire, and Nields, and will keep them 
all in affectionate remembrance." 

:TD [Chard Hobson Woolworth, Colonel of the Fourth Reserve 
^rV regiment, was born at Mantuaville, Philadelphia, in 
November, 1824. After receiving a thorough education in the 




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CAPTAIN C O , C . g 7 T - K P . V . 
A. A. A. GENERAL 1= B R I G . 2 s5 D I V . I 0' T -* A R M Y CORPS 



RICHARD H. WOOLWORTH. 445 

schools of the city, he passed a novitiate in business in prominent 
commercial houses. He was afterwards connected with a leadinc: 
house in stock exchange and brokerage, and two years before the 
opening of the war, established in this line a business of his own. 
He had been made Captain of a militia company in 1845, raised 
to protect the city against the riots which at that time threatened 
its peace, and when the call was made for troops to form the 
Reserve Corps, in 1861, he rendered signal service in drilling the 
new levies, and was finally made Captain of a company recruited 
in Germantown. Upon the formation of the Third Reserve, at 
Camp Washington, he was made Major, and subsequently, while 
the division was at Fredericksburg, just previous to its setting- 
out for the Peninsula, he was ordered to the Fourth Reserve, in 
which he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. At Beaver 
Dam Creek and Gaines' Mill he shared the fortunes of the 
Reserves, who were put at the fore front and did severe duty. 
At Charles City Cross Roads Colonel Woolworth was severely 
wounded, and on the day after the battle, while lying in the 
hospital, was taken prisoner and moved to Richmond. He was 
soon after paroled and sent to hospital at David's Island, New 
York, where, thirty days after the battle, portions of his coat were 
extracted from his wounds. While yet lame he rejoined his 
command, and led it in the battle of Fredericksburg, where he 
was struck by a spent ball, from the effect of which he was 
confined to the hospital for two weeks. On the 1st of March, 
1863, he was promoted to Colonel. After the transfer of a 
portion of the Reserves to Harper's Ferry, he had for a time 
command of a brigade. 

In the spring of 1864, General Crook headed a column which 
penetrated West Virginia, of which the Fourth Reserve formed 
part. In the sanguinary battle of Cloyd Mountain, fought on the 
9th of May, 1864, while the Reserves, under General Sickel, 
were charging upon the enemy's position in the face of a fierce 
fire of artillery and small arms, Colonel Woolwcrth, in leading 
on his men with great gallantry, was mortally wounded by a 
grapeshot. He was buried on the field beneath a locust tree, 
upon the bank of the stream across which the brigade was 
charging. 



446 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

From first to last Colonel Woolworth maintained the character 
of exalted patriotism. Towards the close of the year 18G3, a 
gentleman of wealth, Mr. Lewis Cooper, desired to form a 
business partnership with him, and requested the Hon. Charles 
Gilpin, an uncle of the Colonel, to transmit the proposition to 
him, then with his regiment on simple guard duty at Alexan- 
dria. The answer of Woolworth disclosed the conscientious re- 
gard for duty by which he was governed : " Dear Uncle : — I duly 
received thine of the 7th, and am truly grateful to our friend for 
his kind and generous offer. I should feel it my duty to accept 
it under other circumstances ; but as I have voluntarily sworn to 
serve the United States well and truly for three years, I do not 
fee] at liberty to tender my resignation. I think that the officers 
are as much bound by their oath as the enlisted men, particularly 
as many of the latter have enlisted through the example of those 
higher in position. Officers who resign now are not much 
thought of by those who remain in the service. The remaining 
ten months will soon slip around, and then, should I be spared, I 
hope to be with you again. Tell my friend I am very sorry to 
decline his proposal, and hope I may have an opportunity of 
expressing my thanks to him personally." A just sense of honor, 
which would not allow him to lay down his sword while con- 
fronting the enemies of his country, carried him to the fatal field 
of Cloyd Mountain, where his life was sacrificed to the cause of 
freedom and good government. The body of Colonel Woolworth 
was subsequently removed to Philadelphia and buried in the Odd 
Fellows Cemetery, near the city, where a monument was erected 
to his memory. 

jfe^ GORGE Ashworth Cobiiam, Jr., Colonel of the One Hundred 
' v-^ and Eleventh regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was 
horn on the 5th of December, 1825, in Liverpool, England. He 
Mas the second son of Henry Cobham, of Brasinces College, 
Saint Albans Hall, University of Oxford, who died five months 
before the son's birth, and who was descended from Henry, the 
first Baron Cobham, one of the followers of William, in his con- 
quest of Britain. The mother afterwards married the father's 
brother, George A. Cobham, and with him, and her two sons, 



GEORGE A. COBHAM, JR. 447 

Henry and George A., came to this country in 1835, when the 
latter was but ten years of age, and settled five miles from 
Warren, on a tract which they named Cobham Park. Here the 
youth grew up a hardy pioneer, acquiring that athletic develop- 
ment which particularly characterized him to the end of his life, 
being six feet in height, well formed, and muscular. Though 
born in England, and having all his youthful associations there, 
he was, nevertheless, an American in thought and feeling. 

When the cry for help against armed rebellion came from the 
National authorities, he said : " The Government must have 
defenders ; the Rebellion must be put down with a strong hand ; 
somebody must lead these men ; if other and better men do not, 
I will try." When the One Hundred and Eleventh regiment 
was formed, in the summer of 1862, he was made Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and soon after taking the field, was promoted to Colonel. 
At Charlestown, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, 
Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Pine Moun- 
tain, Grier's Hill, Noses Creek, Marietta Cross Roads, Pawnee 
Springs, and Chattahoochie, some of these lasting many days 
together, and numberless minor engagements and skirmishes, 
Colonel Cobham led his command with skill and heroic courage. 
His last battle was at Peach Tree Creek, on the 20th of July, 
18G4, almost the last before the fall of Atlanta, the objective 
of the campaign. " For the first time in the campaign," says 
one who witnessed the fight, and whose account was at the time 
published in an English paper, the Bacup and Rosendale News, 
" a fight took place with neither party behind works. Almost 
the whole of Hooker's corps was struck simultaneously, al- 
though, as the wave of battle rolled from right to left, Ward's 
division was engaged a minute or two sooner than the others. 
Face to face the combatants stood pouring deadly volleys into 
each other's bosoms, at times the lines not being fifteen yards 
apart. On Colonel Cobham's centre the lines met each other so 
furiously that they passed one beyond the other, and changed 
front to renew the conflict. At this juncture a New Jersey 
regiment broke, which was either in or in front of Colonel 
Cobham's brigade, and whilst endeavoring to rally these men, 



448 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Cobham was surrounded by the enemy, and called upon by an 
officer to surrender. With a rare nobility of character, he re- 
fused to yield, and for refusing was shot through the body by 
the rebel who made the demand. The ball entered his shoulder, 
glancing downwards, passed through his left lung, and came out 
under the shoulder blade. Mortally wounded, Cobham turned 
with the calm dignity that always characterized him, and 
ordered a soldier who stood near to shoot that fellow. The 
order was promptly obeyed, and the murderer paid with his life 
the penalty of killing one of the noblest soldiers that an army 
ever contained." This was the battle in which the impetuous 
Hood made his daring attack in hope of sweeping all before 
him, and turning the flank of Sherman's army. But he found 
in his way men equally stubborn and impetuous with himself, 
among whom none was more heroic than Cobham, and Hood 
was in the end routed with a loss of over 7000 of his best 
troops. Colonel Cobham was made Brigadier-General by brevet, 
to date from this battle. This promotion had been long de- 
served ; for he had commanded a brigade nearly two years of 
the three he had been in the army. 

The engagements in which the services of General Cobham 
were most conspicuous, were at Chanccllorsville, where he led 
the advance ; at Gettysburg, where his brigade received the 
weight of Ewell's shock and repulsed it ; at Lookout Mountain 
and Mission Ridge, in both of which his troops were at the 
head of the assaulting party ; and in charging the masked bat- 
teries at Resaca. In a letter addressed to his brother Henry, 
dated July 4th, 18G3, Battle-field of Gettysburg, he says : " Yes- 
terday my brigade was attacked at three o'clock in the morning 
by Jackson's old troops, and from that time until noon Ave kept 
them in check. Our men fired 200 shots each. At noon they 
charged on us in solid column, and we mowed them down like 
grass, defeating them entirely. The slaughter was terrible on 
their side, and we have not all escaped. All around me as I 
write, our men are busy burying the dead. The ground is 
literally covered with them, and the blood is standing in pools. 
It is a sickening sight. Two thousand of the enemy were killed 
and wounded in front of our single division. I think the rebels 



GEORGE A. COBHAM, JR. 449 

will make another stand before long, at some point between here 
and the Potomac." Touching the charge upon the rebel forti- 
fications at Resaca, in a letter to his mother, he says : " I led 
the charge on the rebel fort at Resaca, on the 15th, and cap- 
tured it, with the cannon it contained — four brass twelve- 
pounders, caissons, and ammunition — and held the position, re- 
moving the guns in the night. ... I send you the original 
order I received on the battle-field from Major-Genera], Hooker, 
to take command of all the troops in front of the rebel works, 
which I did. There had been several desperate charges on this 
point during the day, but all failed before I was sent in." 

His admirable qualities as a man, a soldier, and a patriot, 
endeared him to all hearts. " We have seldom known," says a 
writer in the paper above quoted, "a man more unselfish. 
Despising the petty arts by which so many become distinguished 
on paper, he never allowed his doings to be gazetted by army 
correspondents. Duty w r as his guiding star ; to it he bent all 
the powers of a strong body and a stronger will. This took 
him into the service. This kept him where danger was thick- 
est, attending to the details of the march and the battle, and 
performing much of the hard work for which others got credit." 
His place, whether in command of a regiment or brigade, was 
always at the fore front, where perils w T ere greatest, and from 
which an officer of his rank might properly often withhold him- 
self. In one instance his life was miraculously saved by his 
watch, the deadly missile penetrating it and imbedding itself 
completely in its delicate works, leaving it a mass of ruin. But a 
few months before his death, while at home on a short visit, in 
response to a toast offered at a public dinner given him, he said : 
u I appreciate the honor of the occasion and am grateful for the 
kindness you have shown me. I recognize in this not only a 
compliment to my own services, but a just tribute to the bravery 
of the boys whom I have the honor to command. The One 
Hundred and Eleventh has left its blood on every battle-field 
since they were organized. They have endured long marches 
without a murmur, have faced the enemy again and again with- 
out a sign of fear, and stand to-day with a line of bristling 
bayonets, which is a barrier to rebel occupation in East Tcn- 

29 



450 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

nessee. The army is determined that the Rebellion shall be put 
down. I helped to plant the Hag on the rugged top of Lookout 
Mountain, and, if God spares my life, I will help to make it float 
from the Potomac to the Gulf. I will carry back to the boys in 
the field the report of this reception, and there is not one but 
will clench his musket with a firmer grasp, and vow never to 
lay it down until the Rebellion is crushed." 

He passed to his rest while the noise of the battle was yet 
resounding. He knew not of the final triumph of the grand 
army to which he belonged, nor of the complete supremacy 
achieved for the Government of his love; but in trust and 
confidence, he gave long and able service in the field in its 
defence, and finally yielded his life a willing sacrifice. 

V— r- » 

;lj5 ichard Adolpiius Oakford, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
^\ Thirty-second regiment, was born on the 8th of December, 
1820, in the city of Philadelphia. He was the son of Joseph 
Lloyd and Ann (Cox) Oakford. The blood of several nation- 
alities mingled in his veins — English and Welsh on the lather's 
side, and English and Swedish on the mother's — but for three 
generations his ancestors were American-born. He received his 
education at private schools in his native city and at Lafayette 
College. He was a proficient in Latin, French, and German, 
writing and speaking the two latter with case. He was also skilled 
in mathematics. From childhood he exhibited an inquiring mind, 
was fond of reading, and became possessed of a large fund of gen- 
eral knowledge, derived both from books and from personal ob- 
servation, having travelled extensively through the western and 
southwestern States, just previous to the breaking out of the war. 
He never exhibited any predilection for military pursuits 
until the call of his country for his services. In his early years 
he was expert in gardening, and had a taste for mechanics, 
with considerable aptness in the use of tools. After leaving 
school he studied engineering, and was a good draughtsman. 
As he grew towards manhood his health became delicate, and, 
hoping to improve it by country air, he went to the Wyoming 
Valley to learn farming. He finally settled there, and in 1843, 
married Miss Frances C. Slocum. The change of life from the 



RICHARD A. OAKFORD— THOMAS M. HULINGS. 451 

city to the country developed the pale, slender youth into a 
robust man, six feet in height, erect in carriage, courteous and 
gentlemanly in bearing. 

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was residing with his 
family at Scranton, which had been his home for ten years pre- 
vious, where he was exercising the functions of a Justice of the 
Peace, the only civil office which he ever held. He was elected 
Colonel of the Fifteenth regiment, recruited for three months, 
which he commanded throughout the campaign in front of 
Johnston, in the Shenandoah Valley. Here he rapidly developed 
most admirable traits as an officer. He took up the tactics almost 
with the facility of a veteran, and with this, combined those other 
qualities, equally essential to the model soldier, but rarely found 
in the civilian — executive ability and the tact to enforce thorough 
discipline. In August, 18G2, he was commissioned Colonel of the 
One Hundred and Thirty-second, a nine months' regiment, and 
soon after reaching the front was brought into action on the field 
of Antietam. The ground was warmly contested, and the fatal 
cornfield, that has become historic, witnessed the valor with which 
both officers and men of this regiment met the foe. " A glance 
at the position," gays Colonel Kimball, who commanded the 
brigade, " held by the rebels, tells how terrible was the punish- 
ment inflicted on them. The cornfields on the front are strewn 
with their dead and wounded, and in the ditch first occupied by 
them, the bodies are so numerous that they seem to have fallen 
dead in line of battle." In the midst of the conflict, Colonel 
Oakford was struck by a Minie ball and died without a struggle. 
His loss at the very outset of its career was a severe blow to the 
regiment, and by his comrades, he was 

"Mourned as brave men mourn the brave." 

fHOMAS Marcus Hulings, Colonel of the Forty-ninth regiment, 
was born at Lewistown, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of Feb- 
ruary, 1835. He was the son of David and Maria (Patton) 
Hulings, and a nephew of Judge Patton. His paternal grand- 
father was the first white settler on the Juniata river, and his 
ancestors were soldiers of the Revolutionary army. He was fond 



402 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of military life, and when troops were summoned to defend the 
Capital, went us First Lieutenant of the Logan Guards, one of 
the five companies which first reached Washington, having suc- 
i —['ally passed through an infuriated mob at Baltimore. At the 
dose of the three months' service, during which his company 
remained at the Capital, and at Fort Washington twelve miles 
below the city, he returned to Pennsylvania, and was appointed 
Major of the Forty-ninth regiment. With this he went to the 
Peninsula, in McClellan's army, being attached to Hancock's 
brigade, of Smith's division. He was first under fire in a recon- 
noissance made by Smith to Young's Mills, in April, 1862, where 
a sharp skirmish ensued in which Major Hillings exhibited 
remarkable coolness and bravery. At Williamsburg, Hancock 
led a brilliant charge in which Hillings bore himself with such 
gallantry as to win the favor and fast friendship of that able and 
accomplished soldier. He also took part in the actions at Golcl- 
ing's Farm, Savage Station, and White Oak Swamp, " displaying 
throughout those terrible seven days," says Colonel Irwin, "the 
same cool bravery and resolution which on all occasions of danger 
distinguished him." 

He was also at the Second Bull Run, though his regiment was 
not engaged, vicing with the stoutest acts of valor, and subse- 
quently at Crampton's Pass on the 14th of September, and at An- 
tietam on the 17th, having his horse shot under him in the latter 
battle while intrepidly performing his duty. He had previously, 
in February, 18G2, been appointed Captain in the Twelfth United 
States Infantry; but so much was he attached to the men of the 
Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, that he chose to remain with them. 
In October following, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. 
In the second battle of Fredericksburg, which was really a part 
of Chancellorsville, his regiment was one of those selected to cross 
the Rappahannock in boats in face of the enemy, and storm the 
rifle-pits which lined the southern bank of that stream. This 
duty was heroically performed under a galling fire of musketry, 
and here Colonel Hidings was specially distinguished, being 
among the first to spring to the enemy's shore. During the 
passage of the river, some of those who were rowing the boat in 
which he was crossing, became terrified, and commenced backing 



THOMAS M. HULINGS. 453 

water; but, drawing his pistols upon them, he compelled them 
to go forward. His conduct on that occasion was spoken of by 
all who witnessed it, in terms of universal praise. Colonel Irwin 
was severely wounded while leading his men up the bank of the 
river, and Colonel Hulings succeeded to the command of the 
regiment. 

The Gettysburg campaign followed, in which he participated, 
making long and wearisome marches, arriving on the field on 
the afternoon of July 2d, 18G3, and going to the support of 
the Fifth corps and the defence of the left wing of the army, 
which was hard pushed. At Rappahannock Station he led his 
regiment in the storming column, consisting of Russell's division, 
and though the ground was open and swept by the enemy's 
artillery and small arms from an intrenched position, carried the 
works and captured more men than were of the assaulting force. 
When the gallantry of this brigade was described to General 
Hancock, he said : " They never failed in anything they under- 
took." The wounds of Colonel Irwin necessitating his resignation, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Hulings was promoted to the rank of Colonel 
before the opening of the spring campaign of 1864. It was at 
this period that General Hancock wrote of him : " He is a brave 
and faithful officer, and has been twice recommended by myself 
for brevets for good conduct in action." 

With his usual daring he passed unscathed through the terrible 
ordeal of battle in the Wilderness, of the 5th, 6th and 7th of 
May. On the 10th, the brigade to which his regiment was 
attached was ordered to join in an assault on the enemy's works 
in front of Spottsjdvania. An heroic attack was made under a 
terrible and sweeping musketry and artillery fire. Carried 
forward by the chivalrous courage of their leader, his command 
rushed upon the enemy, and after a desperate and bloody contest 
with clubbed muskets, penetrated the enemy's intrenchments and 
drove them out, capturing several pieces of artillery, but losing 
frightfully in the combat, in gallant soldiers and officers ; among 
the latter the brave and lamented Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, who 
fell while advancing up the slope to the attack. Shortly after 
the works were thus stormed, Colonel Hulings received orders to 
withdraw his regiment to the ground held previous to the assault. 



454 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

As soon as this movement commenced, the enemy, perceiving it, 
advanced to recover the intrenchments, opening a scathing fire 
as they came forward. It was at this moment, while standing 
with his hand upon a captured piece of artillery, giving orders to 
the men, and cautioning them, with his accustomed coolness in 
times of great danger, to return without haste or disorder, that 
this intrepid soldier received his death wound from a musket ball 
which pierced his head. He sank instantly into the arms of one 
of his men, and his heroic soul passed from earth. 

" In his fall," says Colonel Irwin, " his country lost one of her 
best and bravest soldiers, and the regiment a Colonel who was 
beloved by every officer and soldier in its ranks. Brave to the 
verge of desperation in action, he set a splendid example of fear- 
less coolness and courage to his command. While on the march 
or in camp, his kindness, gentleness of heart and consideration for 
those under him, gained for him the warm affection of all with 
whom he came in contact. The truest of friends, the best of 
comrades, and among the bravest of soldiers, he fell at the post 
of duty, and it is not too much to say of him that of all the 
gallant spirits who perished during the late terrible war, none 
excelled him in honor, heroic courage, devotion to duty, or in 
love of that country for which he laid down his life." 

'dwin Atlee Glenn, Major of the One Hundred and Ninety- 
eighth regiment, was born on the 4th of July, 1835, at 
Frankford, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Robert and Sarah 
(Thomas) Glenn. In youth he had a fondness for mathematics, 
and an ambition to excel in whatever he undertook. The more 
intricate the subject, the greater his pleasure in mastering it. 
Upon the formation of the Third Reserve regiment, he volun- 
teered as a private, and at the close of his three- years' term was 
mustered out as Lieutenant, participating in all the battles of the 
campaign upon the Peninsula, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, 
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Cloj'd Mountain and New River. 
Returning home he was selected by the Union League of Phila- 
delphia as Major of the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth regiment, 
which they were assisting to recruit. His gallantry in connection 
with this body was conspicuous. The battle of Quaker Road 



EDWIN A. GLENN, 455 

was commenced by several companies under his immediate 
leadership. Early in the fight Colonel Sickel was wounded, 
when the entire command devolved upon him. In the action at 
Gravelly Run, on the 31st of March, he particularly distinguished 
himself. The regiment was ordered to charge across an open 
field where it was much exposed to the enemy's fire. It was 
necessary for the regiment to advance from the swamp and wood 
where it lay into open ground to form. It had no sooner emerged 
than the enemy opened from his works a withering fire. Major 
Glenn saw that it was a most critical moment. He ran down to 
the centre of the regiment, grasped the colors, and started out 
upon the field, crying, " Men, follow me !" They did follow, and, 
sweeping across the field, carried the enemy's works. At Five 
Forks, on the 1st of April, the fighting was renewed with great 
vigor. A portion of the Union troops had been beaten back, 
when General Chamberlain came riding up to Major Glenn, and 
cried out, " Major, if you can take those works," pointing to the 
place whence the Union troops had been driven, " and keep them. 
I will promote you on the field." " Boys ! " exclaimed Glenn, 
ik will you follow me ? " With a wild shout they responded their 
assent, and the frowning works were taken. After having driven 
the enemy, the Major was the first to enter. Waving his sword 
and shouting to the men under his command to cease firing, he 
advanced and seized the colors of the enemy, and when the}- 
were just fairly within his grasp, a shot fired by one of his own 
men struck him in the abdomen, and he fell mortally w r ounded. 
He died four days afterward. A companion in arms says of him : 
" He was a military student in active service ; for he was always 
studying. A thorough tactician, a strict disciplinarian, a pure 
patriot, a brave soldier, and a kind-hearted and genial com- 
panion, in whom his command had the most implicit confidence ; 
by his death the country lost the services of one worthy the 
cause he died to defend." The Union League, under whose 
auspices he last went to the field, united in an appreciative 
tribute to his memory, and asked the privilege of erecting a 
monument over his remains. 



456 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

yO iv II. Watkins, Lieutenant-Colonel of the one Hundred 
r ^— * and Forty-first regiment, was born in Bradford county, 

Pennsylvania. He was active in recruiting company 13, and 
was its Captain. When the regimental organization was effected, 
he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. In the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg this regiment was with Franklin's grand division, 
where it sustained some loss. At Chancellorsville it formed 
part of Graham's division, Sickles' corps, and when the enemy 
attacked the Twelfth corps, Graham was sent to its support. 
As the regiment came under fire, Colonel Watkins, while in 
the act of mounting, and when one foot was already in the 
stirrup, had his hor.se killed by a cannon shot. In the midst of 
the fierce fighting in which the Third corps was involved on 
the following morning, he was severely wounded and fell into 
the enemy's hands. After his exchange, and before his wounds 
were sufficiently healed to take the field, he was nominated by 
President Lincoln as Paymaster in the army, and the nomination 
was promptly confirmed by the Senate ; but he declined the honor, 
preferring to lead and share the fortunes of his men. At the 
opening of the spring campaign of 18G4, he took the field, and 
in all of the desperate fighting of the Wilderness campaign, and 
until the army had arrived before Petersburg, he escaped un- 
harmed ; but while leading his regiment in a charge upon the 
enemy's works, on the 18th of June, he was instantly killed. 
He was characterized as among "the bravest of the brave." 

X®7illiam Lovering Curry, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Xv* Sixth regiment, was born in the city of Philadelphia, 
on the 29th of January, 1833. His father, William Curry, was 
a native of Pennsylvania. His mother, Mary (Lent) Curry, was 
born at Croton, New York. During boyhood he was engaged in 
the manufacture of paper-hangings with his father. He was 
educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, and graduated 
in due course from the Central High School. He is re] (resented 
as having had a military turn of mind, and he early enlisted in 
a regiment known as the Philadelphia Light Guard, which, upon 
the breaking out of the Rebellion, became the Twenty-second in 
the three months' service, and in which he served as Lieu- 



GUY II. WATKISS.— WILLLUI L. CURRY. 457 

tenant-Colonel. He was nearly six feet in height, stoutly built, 
was possessed of good health, and of well-formed and temperate 
habits. 

Upon the formation of the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsyl- 
vania regiment for three years, he entered it as Lieutenant- 
Colonel, many of the officers and men of the Twent}*-second 
remaining the same in this. This regiment was a part of the 
brigade commanded by Colonel E. D. Baker, and at the battle 
of Ball's Bluff, where that ill-fated officer fell, the men were com- 
pelled to stand, mute spectators of the slaughter which a superior 
force of the enemy was inflicting, without the ability to render 
aid for want of transportation. He was a favorite with Baker, 
and was more than once sent out to command the advance guard, 
with these minute instructions : " Beport by messenger any 
change observed across the river. Let the report be full and 
carefully digested before sent. Be assured of the reliability of 
information ; make no movement of your troops without orders, 
unless attacked, and then only in holding your position." At 
the battle of Fair Oaks, the One Hundred and Sixth was in the 
command of the gallant General Sumner, who, hearing the sound 
of battle and knowing he was wanted, put his columns in motion 
without orders, crossed the swollen Chickahominy on a frail 
bridge, and arrived in time to save the day. Here Colonel Curry 
had ample scope for the exercise of his military talent, and 
gallantly did he acquit himself; hurling back the foe at the 
point of the bayonet in repeated desperate charges, and preserv- 
ing intact his own lines, and the guns he supported, which were 
the special object of rebel spite. Ten days later, while visiting 
the picket line at early dawn, not knowing that the pickets had 
fallen back, he walked into the enemy's lines and was taken 
prisoner. He was immediately marched to Richmond, thence to 
Petersburg, and finally to Salisbury, where he was the subject 
of harsh usage, but after three months, was exchanged and 
returned to duty. 

In the battle of Fredericksburg his regiment was among the 
first to cross the river at the town, and was engaged in driving 
out the enemy, fighting from street to street. On the 13th, it 
delivered a charge in the face of two lines of hostile forces 



458 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

securely posted behind works, and held an advanced position 
in the face of a most destructive fire. The duty here was only 
equalled in severity by that at Gettysburg, where Colonel Curry 
again led his regiment in a daring assault upon the advancing 
enemy, and achieved a well-earned triumph. It was on the 
extreme right of Sickles' line where the foe was flanking him. 
" Our regiment," says Colonel Curry, " opened fire, and charged 
so determinedly along with others, that we drove the enemy to 
their original lines, and would have spiked a six-gun battery had 
we not been ordered back. The carnage was terrible, the ground 
being covered with the dead and wounded. It was in this 
charge that Adjutant Pleis fell, being struck in the thigh by a 
piece of shell. I have fully made up for my capture (in June, 
18G2), as the regiment took a Colonel, two Majors, a number of 
Captains and Lieutenants, and at least 200 privates prisoners. 
We had more swords than we could use. I have one in 
place of the one taken from me at Richmond, and also a 
silver-mounted pistol." 

When General Grant opened his campaign in the spring of 
18G4, Colonel Curry was the only field officer with the regiment. 
In the fierce fighting in front of Spotts3'lvania, on the 11th of 
May, he received a mortal wound. It was from a Minie ball, 
which struck him in the leg too near the groin to admit of ampu- 
tation. He was taken to the Douglas Hospital at Washington, 
where he received every attention which medical skill and 
careful nursing could afford; but in vain, and on the 7th of 
July he breathed his last. 

" We welcome back our bravest and our best ; — 
Ab, me ! not all ! some come not with the rest, 
Who went forth brave and bright as any here ! " 

jlteODWiN Sciiall, Colonel of the Fifty-first regiment, was born at 
qm-^ the Green Lane Iron Works, Montgomery county, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 15th of February, 1835. He was the son of 
General William Schall. He received a good English and 
classical education at Elmwood Institute, in Norristown. He 
afterwards spent several years in the military school of Captain 
Partridge, at Norwich, Vermont, at Pembroke, Brand vwine Springs, 



EDWIN SCHALL. 459 

and Bristol, and finally entered upon the study of the law in the 
office of B. M. Boyer, at Norristown. He subsequently became 
a student of the Law School at Poughkeepsie, New York, and 
also in the Ohio State Law School, under the charge of Judge 
Hayden. After graduating here, and being admitted to the bar, 
he turned his face westward and for a time practised his profes- 
sion in Iowa. But returning- to Pennsylvania, he opened a law 
office at Norristown, and not long after became the editor of the 
National Defender, and finally its proprietor, which he continued 
to be to the day of his death. 

At the first call of the President for volunteers, he abandoned" 
his occupation, and, in company with four brothers, joined the 
ranks of the Fourth regiment. It may here be stated as a 
circumstance somewhat remarkable, that there were from this 
family eight brothers in the service in various Pennsylvania 
organizations : Edwin, Edward, Reuben T., David, Calvin, George, 
William P., and Alexander. He was elected Major, and his twin 
brother Edward Lieutenant-Colonel of this regiment, his brother 
Reuben commanding one of its companies. At the conclusion of 
his first term of service he assisted in recruiting the Fifty-first 
regiment for three years, of which he was made Major. He went 
with his command to North Carolina, in the column of Burnside, 
and bore a conspicuous part in the battles of Roanoke Island, 
Newbern, and Camden. On the return of Burnside north, his 
corps was hastened forward to the support of Pope, and the 
Fifty-first was hotly engaged at the Second Bull Run and 
Chantilly. In the campaign in Maryland it was again brought 
to close conflict at South Mountain, and at the famous Stone 
Bridge, at Antietam, it was selected to lead in the assault, which 
finally carried the ground and won the crossing. In all these 
engagements Major Schall was at the post of duty, and acquitted 
himself with marked gallantry. In the last-named struggle 
Lieutenant-Colonel Bell was killed, and he was promoted to fill 
the vacancy. 

At Sulphur Springs, and in the desperate work of the Ninth 
corps at Fredericksburg, he was with his regiment in the place of 
peril and of honor. In the spring of 1863, the corps was sent 
West, and Colonel Hartranft having been given the leadership 



460 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of a brigade, the command of the regiment devolved upon him. 
The debilitating and wearing campaign against Vicksburg, and 
the subsequent movement to Jackson followed, in which the most 
important service was rendered to General Grant in the reduction 
of the great stronghold upon the Mississippi, and at its conclusion 
the corps was hurried back to Kentucky, and hence upon a 
wearisome march across the mountains to Knoxville, East Ten- 
nessee. General Hartranft was here entrusted with a division, 
and Colonel Schall with a brigade. "Afterwards transferred to 
East Tennessee," says the Rev. George D. Wolk, in his commemo- 
rative discourse, " he was in the battle at Campbell's Station, and 
the heroic defence of Knoxville ; enduring patiently and bravely 
with his men the great privations and dangers connected with 
that campaign — sometimes subsisting on unground and unshelled 
corn — encouraging his worn-out men wdiose three years' term of 
service was about expiring, to re-enlist, and himself setting them 
the example, and on the very day of re-enlistment, it is said, receiv- 
ing as rations two ears of corn for officer and man, thus sharing 
subsistence with their artillery horses and baggage mules.'' 

Returning with the corps to the Army of the Potomac for the 
spring campaign of 18G4, he had passed unharmed through the 
terrible battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and the North 
Anna, and had entered upon that at Cold Harbor, when he was 
struck by the fire of a sharp-shooter, and instantly killed, while 
leading on his regiment in a daring charge against the hostile 
works. In acknowledging the reception of a flag presented at 
his home in Norristown, before setting out for the front, he said : 
" We will return with this flag in honor, or fall in its defence." 
That promise he redeemed, laying down his life a sacrifice to 
that glorious standard; and he who had withstood the hardships 
of the service and the bullets of the foe for three full years of 
active duty, was instantly cut off in the very prime of manhood, 
and at an hour of greatest promise. It seems that he had a 
presentiment that he was to fall, and had given all needful direc- 
tions what to do in case his forebodings should be verified. At 
the moment the fatal shaft was speeding on its death-dealing 
way, an incident occurred in a far-off hospital, connected with 
this event, most strange and marvellous. Captain Bisbing of 



JOSEPH S. CHANDLER. 461 

this regiment had been mortally wounded in the battle of the 
Wilderness, and was at the time lying in the hospital at George- 
town, District of Columbia. He had been quiet upon his cot for 
some time, when he suddenly started up and cried out in a clear 
voice, " Lieutenant, Lieutenant," the title by which Lieutenant- 
Colonel Schall had been known in the regiment, meaning thereby 
Lieutenant-Colonel, Hartranft having but recently been confirmed 
Brigadier-General. A wounded Lieutenant lying near him re- 
sponded, inquiring what was wanted, when Captain Bisbing said, 
" I do not want you, but Lieutenant-Colonel Schall, for I have 
seen him fall and I want to know whether he is dead or -not." 
The Captain himself died on the 5th. Whence he had gained 
this prophetic vision is perhaps beyond the comprehension of 
mortals. 

The body of Colonel Schall was with difficulty rescued, and 
was returned to his home, where it was buried amid tributes of 
heartfelt grief rarely witnessed. He had been commissioned 
Colonel of his regiment but a few days before his fall. In 
stature he was of medium height, well formed, and capable of 
great endurance. He was of a deeply religious nature, and 
suffered not the wild disorders incident to warfare and the de- 
moralizing influences of the camp to contaminate the purity of 
his life. " As a soldier," says the Norristown Republican, " by a 
tried bravery, by a valor tested in all the battles of the Fifty-first, 
Colonel Schall merits, and must receive the admiration, not only 
of the brave men whom he led, but of us, who have not assumed 
the hardships of a soldier's life, and whose lives have been pro- 
tected by such devotion as this dying hero displayed." And the 
Herald and Free P)-ess observed : " When he fell, his loss was 
deeply felt in his regiment, where his many acts of kindness, his 
forbearing and generous spirit, and his noble deeds of bravery, 
endeared him to all." 

^ Joseph Spencer Chandler, Major of the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth regiment, was born in Philadelphia, on the 26th 
of October, 1834. He was the son of Joseph R. and Maria 
(Holton) Chandler. His father was a native of Plymouth county, 
Massachusetts,, and became a prominent citizen of Philadelphia 



4G2 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and of his adopted State. The son received a liberal education, 
first in his native city, and afterwards in New York. His taste 
was more gratified with the duties of the camp than with those 
of business, in which he became engaged after finishing his studies, 
and he joined, in 1857, an artillery corps, the Washington Grays, 
of the local militia. When the call for troops was made in April, 
1861, he was among the first to offer himself as a private in 
Company A, but was immediately appointed a First Sergeant in 
Company F, First Pennsylvania Artillery, subsequently known 
as the Seventeenth three months' regiment, with which he served 
in the Rockville expedition under General Charles P. Stone, 
afterwards merged in Patterson's army, faithfully performing all 
the duties of his position. 

After his discharge from this service he received the appoint- 
ment of First Lieutenant in the Seventy-fifth, Colonel Henry 
Bohlen, and was shortly afterwards promoted to Captain. When 
Bohlen was appointed a Brigadier-General, he selected Captain 
Chandler as his Aide-de-camp. The brigade which Bohlen com- 
manded was of the German division, led by General Blenker. 
The service rendered by this division was of the most exhaust- 
ing character. It marched over rough roads and swollen streams 
to the very heart of West Virginia, and again returning ' by 
forced marches, drove Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley, and 
fought him at Cross Keys ; crossing into the valley of Virginia, 
it was immediately engaged in Pope's disastrous campaign, and 
while heroically battling with the enemy at Freeman's Ford, 
to hold him in check, for the rest of the army to recross 
the Rappahannock and gain a position favorable for battle, 
General Bohlen, commanding the rear guard, was killed. The 
General fell just as night was closing in, and at a moment 
when all his aids were absent carrying his orders. To Cap- 
tain Chandler had been intrusted the duty of directing the 
falling back of the brigade across the river. Not until all were 
over was the General missed. Upon inquiry, he could no- 
where be found. It was finally reported that he had fallen. 
Captain Chandler immediately started, and taking with him a 
few trusty soldiers who volunteered to go, recrossed the river, 
and after devoted search, found him in a dying condition. They 



JOSEPH S. CHANDLER. 463 

immediately took him up, and bearing him across, brought him 
to his own tent, where he soon after expired. The feeling which 
prompted Captain Chandler to recross a wide and rapid river, 
enter the enemy's lines, and in the midst of the darkness, search 
for, and find his wounded and dying leader, strikingly illustrates 
his heroism and his valor, and the strength of his attachment. 
None other than a brave man, and a devoted friend, would have 
done so much. 

Shortly after General Bohlen's death, Captain Chandler was 
offered and accepted the position of Major of the One Hundred 
and Fourteenth regiment, Zouaves d'Afrique. He was here 
thrown among old friends and acquaintances, over whom, by the 
force of his discipline and example, he soon acquired a command- 
ing influence. In all the hard service of Kearny's old brigade, 
to which this regiment was attached, Major Chandler partici- 
pated, gaining day by day more and more the confidence and 
affection of his command. At Chancellorsville, on the morning 
of the 3d of May, the regiment was early in action. At dusk, 
on the evening before, Stonewall Jackson had fallen, and now 
the battle was being renewed on the very ground where he had 
got his mortal hurt. On that field Major Chandler was con- 
spicuous, now reforming the ranks of this company, and now 
steadying and directing the fire of that. Perfectly cool and col- 
lected himself, he did much towards keeping the regiment steady 
after the first repulse, and when the lines were reformed in front 
of the Chancellor House, charged the enemy and drove him 
before them into the woods and beyond a temporary breast- 
work of logs and earth, behind which he had taken shelter. 
Turning defiantly, disputing their farther advance, a terrific, 
almost hand-to-hand conflict took place. " Here," says an officer, 
fearless like himself, " Chandler, by his magnificent appearance, 
heightened by the conspicuous uniform of his regiment, became 
a target for the enemy. At the height of the conflict he noticed 
a Confederate flag flaunted defiantly almost directly in front 
of him. Determined, if possible, to possess it, he called to an 
officer near him to seize it when its bearer should fall, and drew 
his revolver; but at that instant, and before he had time to 
raise his weapon, he fell mortally wounded, shot through the 



4G4 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

head by a rifle ball. At this time, pressed on all sides, our lines 
broken, and our corps unsupported, we fell back to the position 
occupied in the morning, leaving our dead and wounded in the 
hands of the enemy. After the battle was over, and we had 
retired to our old camps, a chosen party returned, under flag of 
truce, to find the body of their dead commander; but though the 
ground was diligently searched by men who had stood in the 
ranks on that fatal day, no trace could be discovered of it, or 
even the place where either it or any of the regiment's dead had 
been buried/' 

Major Chandler had a presentiment of his impending doom. 
Knowing that the battle would soon take place, and presuming 
that his own regiment would be called to bear a conspicuous part, 
he was oppressed with gloomy forebodings. Doubtless the recol- 
lection of dear ones, whom he would never more meet, saddened 
him, and he said to his companion, whose words are quoted 
above : " I feel that I shall not come out of this battle alive." 
But, save to his intimate friend, he concealed his feelings so com- 
pletely, that his men were even inspired by his cheerful and 
confident bearing. 

In person, Major Chandler was nearly six feet in height, and 
had always enjoyed excellent health. He w T as married in August, 
18G1, to Miss Maraquita Mason of Philadelphia. When he 
volunteered at the opening of the war, he went with the full 
realization of the magnitude of the struggle upon which the 
nation was about to enter, and of the sacrifices he was making. 
The following testimony of Captain Thomas P. Parry, a friend 
of the family, illustrates this consciousness, as well as the tender- 
ness of his heart : (t As an evidence of his kindly feeling and 
affection for his mother, I would also say, that, at his earnest 
solicitation, 1 induced the mustering officer, Major (now General) 
Ruff, to reject his brother William, who was desirous of entering 
the service ; for, as he said, his mother was much excited, and 
one son should remain with her, but that he was not to be that 
son ; he was ready to offer his own life to save his country, but 
desired to save his mother from the affliction of another sacrifice." 



THOMAS S. BRENHOLTZ. 465 

tHOMAS Severn Brenholtz, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fif- 
tieth regiment, was born on the 29th of November, 
1834, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of 
Isaac and Catharine (Phillips) Brenholtz. In early childhood his 
parents removed to the city of Reading, in the public schools of 
which he was educated. He had a special liking for military 
service, and was placed in the military establishment of Colonel 
Batchelder, who has since made for himself a wide reputation as 
the illustrator of the Battle of Gettysburg. After leaving this, 
he became principal of a grammar school, and always manifested 
a keen relish for study. When the call was made for troops, 
at the opening of the Rebellion, he volunteered as a private, 
but was induced to accept the position of Lieutenant in the 
Fifth (three months' ) regiment. Before the close of the term, he 
was promoted to Captain, and, immediately on his return, entered 
with great activity upon recruiting a three years' organization, 
which was designated the Fiftieth, and of which he was made 
Lieutenant-Colonel. He accompanied Sherman's expedition to 
Port Royal in November, 1SG1, and participated in the early 
operations undertaken in the Department of the South. During 
this time he received a furlough of thirty days that he might 
visit his family ; but learning before he was ready to depart that 
the enemy was threatening the Union position, he promptly 
pocketed his furlough and remained on duty with his men. Such 
acts of self-devotion, and his unremitting attention to duty, won 
him the favor and confidence of all who knew him. He was 
engaged in the action at Coosaw Ferry on the 1st of January. 
1862, and at Pocataligo on the 29th of May following, and in 
both evinced fine soldierly qualities. 

In July of this year the regiment was called to Virginia, and 
was attached to the Ninth corps. Colonel Christ, its commander, 
having been placed over a brigade, to Lieutenant-Colonel Bren- 
holtz fell the duty of leading the regiment. In Pope's cam- 
paign, which immediately followed, the service was exhausting 
and the fighting desperate. At the Second Bull Run, and at 
Chantilly, the regiment was hard pressed, and in the latter battle, 
after having held its position until the last cartridge had been 
fired, the men fixed their bayonets and awaited the word to 

30 



4QQ MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

charge. They came out of the bloody struggle in good order, 
bringing with them their dead and wounded. The service in 
this campaign told fearfully upon Colonel Brenholtz's health, and 
on reaching Washington he was obliged to yield to the disease 
that was preying upon him. For several weeks he was very ill ; 
but as soon as he was again able he rejoined his regiment and 
was at its head in the battle of Fredericksburg, though not 
actively engaged. The corps was subsequently sent West, and a 
part of it, including the Fiftieth regiment, went to the support of 
General Grant at Vicksburg. After the fill of that stronghold, 
with the column of Sherman, Colonel Brenholtz moved at the 
head of his regiment to Jackson, and while employed in the 
operations before that place in posting his men upon a very 
exposed part of the skirmish line, he was hit by an enemy's 
sharp-shooter, and borne fainting from the field. The ball had 
apparently entered his lung. After the effect of the first shock 
had passed, it was hoped he might recover ; but while on the 
steamer which was bearing him to Cincinnati, whither his wife 
had come to meet and care for him, he sank under the effects of 
the wound and breathed his last before reaching his destination. 
" A nobler spirit," says one who knew him well, " has not been 
offered a sacrifice upon the altar of his country. He leaves many 
warm friends in this city, who will ever cherish his memory with 
a sincere and genuine affection. His mortal remains are with us, 
to be interred in the home of his youth, and among the friends 
he loved. He was talented and brave. Let him sleep in the 
proud grave of an American Soldier." In person Colonel Bren- 
holtz was above the medium height and robust. He was married 
in 1859 to Miss Clara Arnold of Reading. 





CHAPTER III 

THE KILLED IN BATTLE. 

'OHN FULTON REYNOLDS, Major-General of 

volunteers, was born on the 21st of September, 
1820, in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 
He was the son of John and Lydia (Moore) 
Reynolds. He received his elementary education 
in the schools of that city, at Litiz Academy, and 
Green Academy, Maryland, and in 1837, was 
appointed a cadet at West Point, where he gracl- 
{ jfo uated, in 1841, with distinction. Immediately 
thereafter he was made brevet Second Lieutenant 
in the Third artillery, and was sent to Fort 
Mcllenry, near Baltimore, where a few months 
later he was commissioned a full Second Lieuten- 
ant. In 1843 he was sent to Florida, and at the expiration of a 
year was ordered to Fort Moultrie. In 1845 he was trans- 
ferred to Corpus Christi, and subsequently to Fort Brown. 
In June, 1846, he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and accom- 
panied General Taylor's column on its advance into Mexico. On 
the 23d of September, 1846, he distinguished himself in the 
battle of Monterey by his coolness and courage, and was brevetted 
Captain. At Buena Vista, on the 23d of February, 1847, he 
again displayed the most undaunted heroism and gallantry, and 
was brevetted Major. At the conclusion of the Mexican War, he 
was ordered to duty in forts on the New England coast, where 
he remained four years. He was then placed upon the staff of 
General Twiggs, whom he accompanied to New Orleans. After a 
year he returned North, and was stationed at Fort Lafayette. 
He was soon afterwards sent on an expedition across the plains 
to Utah, arriving at Salt Lake City in August, 1854. In March, 
1855, he was promoted to Captain and was ordered to Cali- 

467 



438 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

fornia. He engaged the Indians at several points on the 
Pacific coast, especially distinguishing himself in an action with 
them near the Rogue River, Oregon. lie also served upon a 
board of officers designated to examine applicants for entrance to 
the regular army from civil life. In December, 1856, he arrived 
at Fortress Monroe, and for nearly two years remained on duty 
on the Atlantic coast. In April, 1858, he was placed in com- 
mand of Company C of the Third United States, and with it was 
ordered to again cross the plains to Utah, where he arrived in 
September, 1858. In September, 1SG0, he was assigned to duty 
as commandant of cadets at West Point, and in May, 1801, he 
was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourteenth regular infantry, 
and was ordered to New London, Connecticut, to recruit his 
regiment. 

In this brief outline of the life of Reynolds previous to the 
Rebellion, an idea is conveyed of the school in which he was 
trained and tempered for the arena on which he was destined 
afterwards prominently to figure. It is a record of a man who, in 
whatever position he was placed, executed with fidelity the task 
assigned him. In Mexico he won promotion as often as an 
opportunity was given him to meet the enemy, and when twice 
ordered to march across the continent with his command, and to 
beard the wily savage in his lair, he shrunk not from this severe 
duty. To be a soldier in time of peace is far more irksome and 
oftentimes more disagreeable than in time of war. But his was 
a nature in which the iron predominated, and he had only to be 
shown the path of duty to follow it. 

In August, 1861, he was promoted to Brigadier-General of 
volunteers, and was ordered to take command at Fort Hatteras. 
But troops were now being rapidly put into the field, and skilled 
soldiers were required to command them. The Reserve corps 
had just been organized, and at the earnest solicitation of Gov- 
ernor Curtin, General Reynolds was assigned to the First brigade 
of that body. It was composed of the First, Second, Fifth and 
Eighth regiments of infantry, and the First cavalry. The pros- 
pect of a severe and protracted struggle was plainly discernable 
to his penetrating mind, and he earnestly gave himself to the 
duty of making his brigade a model of soldierly qualities. The 





JOHN B MILLS. 

Lieut. Co] 



SAMUEL M ZUL: 




' i_ R R I C K . 
- 



EDWAR 






JOHN F. REYNOLDS. 4(39 

first of the seven days' battles on the Peninsula was a handsome 
triumph to the Union arms. It was principally fought by the 
Pennsylvania Reserves, and Reynolds' brigade played a promi- 
nent part. The position was skilfully chosen on Beaver Dam 
Creek, and the rifle-pits and lunettes for the guns were wisely 
disposed. When Lee came with his legions, he no doubt antici- 
pated an easy triumph and a rapid advance. But he had scarcely 
started in his onward march before he met, on the two roads 
running across the creek, the little division of Reserves, present- 
ing a firm front. The rebel leader at once wheeled his guns into 
position and opened fire. The guns of the Reserves answered. 
The rebel infantry were speedily drawn out in battle line, with 
powerful supports, and made determined assaults along the whole 
front ; but bleeding and torn they were hurled back by the Re- 
serves, who yielded not one inch of ground. Again and again the 
enemy returned to the assault with fresh troops, but with no bet- 
ter success. His dead and wounded covered all the field, and the 
sod was slippery with gore. Until long after sunset the contest 
was continued ; but where Reynolds had planted his guns on the 
morning of that day, and established his infantry lines, there were 
they when darkness closed in upon them; scourged, it is true, but 
filled with pride at their achievements, and eager to renew the 
battle. The following incident of the fight is related by Major 
Woodward in "Our Campaigns": "General Reynolds, whose ever- 
watchful eye was upon the regiments of his brigade, several times 
rode down to our position, at one time exclaiming, as he pointed 
with his sword : ' Look at them, boys, in the swamp there ; they 
are as thick as flies on a gingerbread; fire low, fire low.'" The 
victory was complete, and every preparation was being made to 
continue the contest on the following morning, when an order 
came for the division to retire to Gaines' Mill. It was received 
with astonishment by the soldiers. They could not be made to 
understand why a victorious army should retreat before the con- 
quered, and many a resolute man indulged in loud denunciation 
as the order was enforced. But their vision was circumscribed, 
and they were unable to see that their small force was being 
flanked, and would be subject to inevitable capture if the}' 
remained. The skill displayed by General Reynolds in this 



470 mIbTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

battle attracted the attention of his superiors and the whole 
country, and marked him for distinction. 

On the following day the Reserves were held in a second line 
of battle, ready to go to the support of any part of the front 
which should be overpowered. They had not long to wait, and 
soon found themselves hurried forward to fill the breach that the 
rebel onsets had made. Unlike the position they had abandoned, 
this field had not been fortified, and the masses of the foe, precip- 
itated upon exposed portions of the line, soon broke through. The 
ground was contested with fiery energy till nightfall, General 
Reynolds moving in the thickest of the fight, and always where 
the danger was most imminent, bringing aid at the opportune 
moment, and maintaining the contest with unexampled courage. 
But the fragment of the Union army engaged was vastly outnum- 
bered, and was finally obliged to yield. It was just at the close of 
the day, and the fight was almost over, when General Reynolds, 
while returning from the right of the line where he had been 
directing the Fifth and Bucktail regiments, heard the sound of 
desperate encounter where the Eleventh and a New Jersey 
regiment were posted. He had scarcely reached the line, and 
was seeking support to relieve them, when a brigade of regulars 
on their flank gave way, and before they were aware of the situa- 
tion, the greater portion of them, including General Reynolds 
and his Adjutant, Colonel Kingsbury, were surrounded and every 
way of escape was cut off. The General, his Adjutant, and 
an orderly, concealed themselves during the night, and in the 
morning, while attempting to escape, were confronted by a rebel 
patrolling party, who took them prisoners of war. For several 
weeks the General was confined in a Richmond prison. 

Before General Reynolds had been released. General McCall, 
the commander of the Reserve corps, resigned. Who so com- 
petent to succeed him as the leader of the First brigade, who 
had borne himself so gallantly in the first two engagements ? To 
him the position was accorded by the consenting voice of the 
Government and the army. He came forth from Libby prison on 
the 8th of August, 1862, in exchange for the rebel General Barks- 
dale, going at once to his new command. On the battle-field of 
Bull Run, at the moment when the need was greatest and the 



JOHN F. REYNOLDS. * 471 

danger pressing, General Reynolds and his trusty division were 
at the threatened point ready to stem the tide of disaster. Mr. 
Sypher, in his history of the Reserves, gives a graphic account 
of Reynolds' heroic action here. " General Reynolds," he says, 
" with the instinct of a thorough soldier, discovered that the 
enemy was aiming to seize the Warrenton pike in the rear of 
broken masses of troops that were now flowing back from the 
front. He at once determined to throw his division into the 
breach, and save the army, or perish in the attempt. The plan 
of the enemy was to break the centre and seize the roads between 
the two wings of the army, and thus ensure its destruction. 
The heroic General, fully conscious of its desperate situation, 
galloped along his line and called upon his men to charge upon 
and hurl back the advancing foe. The Reserves saw by the ardor 
of their General that the whole Union force was in imminent 
danger ; in a moment they were up and charging with a cheer 
and a yell across an open field ; they encountered the enemy at 
the brow of a declivity, up which the rebels struggled in vast 
numbers, and with unwearying pertinacity. Fortunately the 
Reserves were aligned upon a country road, which, having been 
somewhat worn by use, afforded partial protection. The contest 
became hot and desperate. Greatly outnumbered by the rebels, 
they were only enabled to hold them in check by rapid and un- 
ceasing firing. The field officers, who rode upon the ground above 
the road, were much exposed and suffered severely. At one 
moment all seemed to be lost. The First and Second regiments 
were engaged in an almost hand-to-hand encounter; the left was 
pressed back, and to the consternation of the mounted officers, 
who from their positions had a view of the field, the troops on 
the right of the Reserves gave way in utter confusion. At this 
critical moment, the gallant Reynolds, observing that the flagstaff 
of the Second regiment had been pierced by a bullet and broken, 
seized the flag from the color-bearer, and dashing to the right, 
rode twice up and down his entire division line, waving the flag 
about his head and cheering on his men. The rebel sharp- 
shooters rained fierce showers of bullets around the ensign thus 
borne aloft, but in vain did the missiles of death fill the atmos- 
phere in which it moved. The effect upon the division was 



[-■2 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

electrical. The men, inspired by the intrepidity of their leader, 
rent the air with cheers, plied their tremendous musket fire with 
renewed energy and vigor, and in a few moments the thinned 
ranks of the rebel regiments gave way before the steady and 
unrelenting volleys poured upon them. Night came on and put 
an end to the contest; but the famous Stone Bridge over Bull 
Run was, by the genius and heroic daring of General Reynolds, 
and the valor of the brave men he commanded, preserved for the 
use of the National army. The army thus beaten back, retired 
beyond the range of the loyal guns, appalled at the havoc they 
witnessed in their ranks, and confounded b}^ their failure to 
reach the turnpike. The sun was now setting, and the battle 
had ended." 

After the Union army had been beaten on the plains of 
Manassas, and the foe defiantly began to move northward, deep 
solicitude filled the mind of the North. Especially was there 
anxiety in Pennsylvania, which lay in the natural course of 
invasion, The feeling of insecurity was then more universal 
than in the following year, when the foot of the invader was 
actually on Pennsylvania soil. The necessity for an uprising of 
the people to beat back the advancing enemy was recognized, and 
Governor Curtin made instant and earnest appeals. But what 
could citizen soldiery dc without a leader to organize and mar- 
shal them ? The need of the very best talent which the Union 
army possessed was felt, and in searching its ranks none seemed 
so fit in such an hour of peril as General Reynolds, and he was 
accordingly detailed to proceed to Harrisburg and prepare the 
fast-gathering militia for duty. With a master hand that work 
was done, and with incredible celerity and skill the fresh levies 
were prepared and put into the Cumberland Valley. Already 
was an army marshalled, and he was preparing to put himself at 
its head and lead it in the bloody encounter, when the foe was 
repulsed on the field of Antietam, and further need of its ser- 
vices was at an end. 

Returning to the Army of the Potomac, Reynolds was pro- 
moted to the command of the First corps, which embraced the 
Reserves, and to the head of which General Meade was advanced, 
and in November he was made Major-General of volunteers. In 



JOHN F. REYNOLDS. ' 473 

the battle of Fredericksburg, on the loth of December, 18G2, to 
the First corps was given the advance of Franklin's grand 
division, on the extreme left. The orders of Franklin were 
faithfully executed, and that devoted corps was launched with 
terrible force upon the frowning heights, where the enemy was 
intrenched, breaking and crushing through his line. But sup- 
ports failing to come forward as they should have done, if the 
dear-bought advantage was to be maintained, Reynolds was 
obliged to withdraw his forces when victory seemed fairly 
within his grasp. 

The First corps was held in front of Fredericksburg threaten- 
ing to cross during the preliminary stages of the Chancellorsville 
campaign, in May, 18G3, and when Hooker had crossed above, 
and gained a secure lodgement on the south side of the river, this 
corps hastened to join him there. Before it had arrived, Stone- 
wall Jackson had made his famous flank movement, and had 
routed the right wing of Hookers army. Reynolds put his corps 
into position on that flank in place of the discomfited Eleventh, 
and held the ground in defiance of a triumphant foe. Reynolds, 
after getting his troops into line and securely posted, and having 
learned the extent of the disasters that had fallen, seemed to 
have entertained a strong disgust for the management of the 
battle. He betook himself to his couch and paid little heed to 
the staff officers who came to report to him during the night. 
He was a trained soldier and allowed no criticism of the conduct 
of his superiors to pass his lips ; but his actions plainly spoke 
his condemnation of the conduct of that disastrous field. 

But whatever may have been the silent feeling of Reynolds, it 
in no way affected his devotion to the interests of the army and 
the success of its leader ; and when about to set out on the Get- 
tysburg campaign, Hooker placed him in a position the highest in 
the whole army next himself, giving him command of the right 
wing, embracing the First, Third and Eleventh corps, and of all 
the cavalry, nearly a half of the entire force. When Meade suc- 
ceeded Hooker, Reynolds was continued in this elevated position, 
and exercised a great influence in the movements preliminary to 
the battle. The sight of his native State overrun by an insolent 
enemy, ravaging and despoiling its fair domain unchecked, made 



474 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

him impatient of delay, and eager to get at the invaders. His 
cavalry, under Buford, reached Gettysburg on the 30th of June, 
and on the morning of the 1st of July the battle opened. He 
had encamped with the First corps on the night of the 30th, four 
miles back, and in the morning had hastened forward with the 
leading division to the cavalry's support. He had scarcely led 
this into action, when, in a little tongue of wood which reaches 
up from Willoughby Run towards the Seminary, where he had 
just led a regiment forward and was turning to look for supports, 
he was struck in the back of the neck and never spoke more. 
Only three persons were with him at this time — Captains Mitchell 
and Baird of his staff, and Charles II. Veil, his orderly. Captain 
Baird says : " After throwing the first troops forward into the 
woods, and turning to come out of them, the enemy opened a most 
terrific fusilade, and an accidental shot, not from a sharp-shooter 
as has been stated, struck him. just as he was getting clear of the 
timber. As he fell from his horse his foot hung in the stirrup 
and he was dragged ten feet or so before it was loosened. I at 
once jumped from my horse, and opened his clothes, but in an 
instant saw that there was no hope for his recovery. I obtained 
a canteen of water from one of our infantry who was behind a 
tree on the edge of the woods, and raising his head, gave him 
a mouthful, but he could not swallow. In a few moments I got 
some of our men, who put him in a blanket and carried him off 
the field. He made no exclamation at all when he was hit, and 
none at any time afterwards." Substantially in accord with 
this, is the statement given by Veil : " This regiment," he says, 
" charged into the woods nobly, but the enemy were too strong, 
and it had to give way to the right. The enemy still pushed 
on, and were not more than sixty yards from where the General 
was. Minie balls were flying thick. The General turned to 
look towards the Seminary. As he did so, a Minie ball struck 
him in the back of the neck, and he fell from his horse dead. 
He never spoke a word after he was struck. I have seen many 
killed in action, but never saw a ball do its work so instantly as 
did the ball which struck General Reynolds, a man who knew not 
what fear or danger was. The last words he spoke were, 'For- 
ward, men, forward, for God's sake, and drive those fellows out 



JOHN F. REYNOLDS. 475 

of the woods ! ' meaning the enemy. When he fell, we sprang 
from our horses. He fell on his left side. I turned him on his 
back and glanced over him, but could see no wound, except a 
bruise above his left eye. We Avere under the impression that he 
was only stunned." He was carried from the wood a short dis- 
tance, when the two Aides left to convey the intelligence to the 
officers next in command. The body was borne back by the help 
of other orderlies who soon came up, and as they went, the Gen- 
eral gasped, and they thought he was recovering from the stun 
which they supposed he had received. Whereupon they laid 
him gently down and Veil attempted to give him some water 
from a canteen; but he could not drink. This was his last 
struggle. He was borne on to the Seminary, and now for the 
first time was discovered the bullet wound, beneath his hair, 
which had caused his death. No coffin could be procured, and 
in a rude marble-cutter's box the body of the hero was trans- 
ported to Westminster, and thence by way of Baltimore and 
Philadelphia, to Lancaster, where it was consigned to the grave. 
Among those who were eminent in the late war for martial 
ability, General Reynolds stands in the first rank. His life had 
been devoted to the profession of arms from his youth, and when 
the noise of battle sounded in his ears, his soul, instinct with the 
warlike custom, was aroused to deeds of heroism. In all the 
actions in which he was engaged, up to the moment of his death, 
he displayed unsurpassed devotion and bravery. If he had any 
fault, it was one which must ever excite the admiration and 
quicken the pulse of him who contemplates it — that of too much 
exposing himself in the hour of battle. At Beaver Dam Creek, 
at Gaines' Mill, where he was captured, and at the Second Bull 
Run, he was in the thickest of the fray, in the very fore front of 
his troops. Little less than a miracle had thus far preserved him. 
But at Gettysburg he was in a more exalted position, having the 
command of nearly half of the army, and a due regard to its 
preservation and safety demanded that he should exercise care 
of his person. His own safety, however, was the least of his 
cares. He knew that the two armies were rapidly approaching 
each other, and collision could not long be avoided. The choice 
of the field and the initiative of the battle was in his eyes 



476 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVAXLL 

all-important, and lie determined to push to the front and decide 
everything from personal observation; and who will say that he 
did not do right ? He gave his life ; but he gave it that victory 
might be assured. He lived not to hear its glad shout; but 
the example of heroism which at its outset he gave, inspired his 
soldiers and nerved them to make the good fight which assured it. 
" He was," says Sypher, "one of America's greatest soldiers. The 
men he commanded loved him. He shared with them the hard- 
ships, toil, and danger of the camp, the march, and the field. 
Devoted to his profession, he was guided by those great principles 
which can alone prepare a soldier to become the defender of the 
liberties of a free people. He fell valiantly fighting for his 
country. Still more, he died in the defence of the homes of his 
neighbors and kinsmen. No treason-breeding soil drank his 
blood, but all of him that was mortal is buried in the bosom of 
his own native State." 

In his personal intercourse in the field he was exceedingly re- 
served. " On the night before the battle," says Captain Baird, 
" General Reynolds retired to his room about midnight, and rose 
early, as was his usual practice. On the march from our head- 
quarters at the Red Tavern, he was very reticent and uncom- 
municative to all around him, as was his wont. He was, in this 
respect, an entirely different man from any other general officer 
with whom I served during the war, having very little, if any- 
thing, to say to any one, other than to communicate to them such 
orders as he desired executed. He would, while he was upon 
the march, ride miles without having any conversation with any 
one. Our ride to Gettysburg formed no exception to this rule. 
From this 3-ou can see that no conclusion could be arrived at as 
to what his feelings and presentiments were upon that day. I 
consider him one of the finest and most thorough soldiers which 
the Civil War brought before the country." 

T_T KNiiY Bohlen,* Colonel of the Seventy-fifth regiment and 
ot_^ Brigadier-General of volunteers, was the youngest son of 
the late Bohl Bohlen, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, who 

* The sketch here given of General Bohlen is printed, with the omission of some irrele- 
vant matter, as it was published in the Philadelphia Commercial List and Price Current of 
March 31st, 1866. 



HENRY BOHLEN. 477 

was the founder of the house of B. and J. Bohlen, for many years 
extensively engaged in the Holland and East India trade. Gen- 
eral Bohlen was born in the city of Bremen, on the 22d of 
October, 1810, while his parents were travelling in Europe for 
pleasure ; his father being a naturalized citizen of the United 
States, and domiciled in Philadelphia, placed him in the same 
position as to birth, by the laws of our country, as if he had been 
born on the soil of the United States. At an early day he 
evinced so decided a taste for martial pursuits that his father 
determined to give him an education suitable to his disposition, 
and at the proper age he was placed in one of the first military 
colleges in Germany ; but before lie had completed his studies he 
was called home to the United States upon some family matters, 
and he did not return to close his collegiate course in Europe. 

In 1830 he was again upon the Continent, and in 1831 was 
brought to the favorable notice of the illustrious Marquis de 
Lafayette, a name that will ever be venerated in this country. 
Through the influence of Lafayette, young Bohlen obtained a 
position as Aide-de-camp on the staff of General Gerard, and with 
that distinguished officer he took part in the memorable siege 
of Antwerp. For his able services in this campaign he received 
honorable mention. In the year 1832 he returned to Philadel- 
phia, and married the eldest daughter of the late J. J. Borie, a 
much-respected merchant of this city, and in the same year he 
established himself in the French and West India trade. On 
the death of his uncle, John Bohlen, which took place in March, 
1851 (his father died in 183G), he succeeded the old house of 
B. and J. Bohlen, and at the time of his death he was the senior 
partner of the well-known house of Henry Bohlen and Co., gene- 
ral importers. 

On the breaking out of the war with Mexico, he was eager to 
be once more amid the clash of arms. He restrained himself for 
some months, but finally yielded to the desire to enter the army, 
and on the 31st of October, 1846, he left the quiet pursuits of 
mercantile life, to again follow the uncertain fortunes of Avar. He 
accepted a position on the staff of his cherished friend and com- 
panion, the late lamented General Worth, as a volunteer Aide-de- 
camp, defraying all his own expenses, and receiving nothing 



478 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

whatever from the Government. He participated in all the 
battles with his chief up to the triumphal entry of the American 
army, under Major-General Scott, into the ancient Capital of the 
Montezumas. On the restoration of peace, he again sheathed his 
sword, and resigned, apparently forever, his favorite occupation. 

In 1850, the delicate health of a favorite son caused him to 
embark once more for Europe, with all his family, trusting that 
the more genial climate of the interior of France would restore 
his boy to health ; but as the experiment was only partially suc- 
cessful, he determined, for a few years at least, to make Europe 
his permanent place of abode ; never forgetting, however, for a 
moment, the allegiance and love he owed to the United States, 
being ever proud to be called an American. 

On the breaking out of the Crimean War he entered the ser- 
vice of the allies, on the French staff, and shared in many of 
the severe conflicts of that well-remembered struggle. He was 
active during the siege, and up to the time of the storming and 
the final surrender of Sebastopol. After the Crimean War, he for 
some time resided quietly in Holland, in the society of a fond, a 
devoted wife, affectionate children, and many friends, surrounded 
by all that could make life agreeable and attractive, when news 
reached him of the revolt in the Cotton States, and of the firing 
on and surrender of Fort Sumter. The insult to his old flacr 

o 

roused all his patriotic fire, and caused him to bid adieu to his 
family, to return to the country so dear to him, where he deter- 
mined to draw his sword in defence of the Government. He 
came with all haste, and arrived in Philadelphia in June, 1861. 
He immediately applied for a position on the staff of some gen- 
eral officer, but finding no vacancy, he made application to the 
War Department for permission to recruit a regiment, which was 
at once granted. He immediately set about organizing a regi- 
ment, to be composed entirely of Germans, and he succeeded in 
the effort. He left with his regiment, 800 strong, on the night 
of the 27th of September, 1861, for Washington. Two compa- 
nies were yet to be recruited ; these were completed, and they 
joined him some time after. All the expenses of recruiting 
were borne by himself, nor would he allow his officers to con- 
tribute any portion. In the following October, he was advanced 



HENRY BOHLEN. 479 

to the position of Colonel, commanding the Third brigade of 
General Blenker's division. His brigade was noted for its disci- 
pline, celerity in evolutions of the line, and proficiency in the 
manual of arms. In March, 1862, his brigade had the advance 
in the terrible march from Warrenton, up the Valley of Virginia, 
to Winchester. For days his soldiers were almost without food, 
badly clothed, barefoot, and without tents, bivouacking at night 
in fields covered with water, and suffering as few other armies 
have ever suffered, and enduring hardships almost equal to those 
endured by the rear of the Grand Army of Napoleon in its dis- 
astrous retreat from Russia. 

In the early part of April, 18G2, President Lincoln appointed 
him a Brigadier-General of volunteers, and in about two weeks 
he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. In the battle of 
Cross Keys, in May of the same year, he acted with distin- 
guished bravery, and he was the subject of much favorable criti- 
cism for the skill with which he manoeuvred his men. The 
battle near the Rappahannock closed his earthly career. On 
the morning of the 22d of August, 1862, General Sigel ordered 
General Bohlen to cross that stream with his brigade to recon- 
noitre. The Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania crossed first to feel the 
enemy, and immediately after the Sixty-first Ohio and the 
Eighth Virginia followed, in order to support the Seventy-fourth, 
in case of an attack. In moving up the road, their advance was 
checked by four regiments of rebel infantry, who poured upon 
them a murderous fire. It was in personally leading a charge of 
the Eighth Virginia, for the fourth time, that this gallant soldier 
fell, pierced by a rifle ball in the region of the heart, and expired 
immediately. 

Thus passed away another of Pennsylvania's most distin- 
guished sons. The country lost a faithful officer and a true 
soldier, his family a fond and affectionate father, society a bril- 
liant ornament, and the poor a kind, a generous benefactor. He 
left a wife and three children to mourn his untimely end. 

The remains of General Bohlen were brought to Philadelphia, 
where they were interred, September 12th, 1862, with becoming 
honors. His funeral oration was delivered by the Rev. Joseph 
A. Seiss, D. D., of St. John's Lutheran Church. The reverend 



480 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PESXSYLVAXIA. 

gentleman truthfully sketched the character of the departed 
soldier, and fairly depicted the gloom of the times that made the 
patriotic example of the deceased so brilliant in its dark setting, 
when he said: 

" Never was purer patriotism extinguished at a time when it 
was more needed, or more generous bravery destroyed at a junc- 
ture when its presence was more demanded, or more self-sacri- 
ficing services cut short at a period when more required, than 
that which ceased when General Bohlen fell ! 

" The deceased was eminently a man of the class which the 
country most needs in these lowering times. And he was just 
in that position in which he was rendering the services most 
demanded by the emergencies which have arisen. But, at the 
very post and moment when about to be most useful, the 
summons of God reached him, and his friends and country have 
nothing left of him but these remains which we are about to 
lower into the dark bosom of the earth ! 

" Not, therefore, with the outpouring of the natural sympathies 
of the human heart over the fall of a fellow mortal merely; nor 
yet only with those outpourings swollen with the tears of be- 
reaved friendship and the regrets of a disrupted Christian fellow- 
ship ; but also, with a lively sense of national and public loss, at 
a moment of peculiar peril and necessity, that we here this day 
surround this covered bier. It is patriotism, quite as much as 
sorrowing personal affection, that seeks to utter its grief, and to 
express its sense of bereavement, by this solemn pageant. And 
when we bethink ourselves how sorely our country is pressed at 
this dark hour — how in need of disciplined soldiers and brave 
and experienced commanders — how the calls and cries from all 
sides are appealing to us for men to defend our own firesides — 
and how the dark thunder-clouds of rebel invasion are threaten- 
ing to break upon us with all the dreadful doings of rampant 
ruin — to find ourselves appointed by Providence to the sad work 
of committing our Generals to their graves, our faith would stag- 
ger were we not otherwise so unmistakably assured of the 
wisdom and righteousness of that Almighty God, who taketh 
away, and none can hinder. 



HUGH W. McNEIL. 481 

" There may be such a thing as a Christian soldier. And such 
was Henry Bohlen. He was a praying man. Incidents have 
not been wanting to show that his Bible and his devotions were 
not neglected, even amid the hinderances and diverting causes 
which pressed upon him amid the duties of the field. Nor shall 
I soon forget the devout and feeling manner in which he com- 
mitted himself and his cause to God, when he last stood where 
his remains now lie. Grasping my hand, with tears in his eyes, 
he said : ' God only knows whether I shall ever return to you 
again ; but whether I return or not, my trust is in Him who 
alone can help. The cause in which I have embarked is one 
which He must approve, and for it I am willing to meet what- 
ever His good providence may appoint.' With this spirit he 
went upon the field. With this spirit he served to the last. 
With this spirit he has fallen, a willing sacrifice for the good of 
his country. And with this spirit I cannot but believe he has 
met his God in peace." 

jjPJuGH Watson McNeil, a Colonel of the Bucktail regiment 



<^J- was born in 1830, at Chvasco, Cayuga county, New York. 
He was the son of the Rev. Archibald McNeil, and was educated 
at Yale College. Immediately after graduating, finding the 
Northern winters too severe for his health, which was deli- 
cate, he went to Washington, where he taught in the Union 
Academy for a year, at the end of which, he accepted a place in 
the office of the Coast Survey, under Dr. Bache. He resigned 
after a few months, and received an appointment to a position 
in the Treasury Department, where he remained for six years. 
He, in the meantime, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. 
After leaving the Treasury, he entered the law office of Blach- 
ford and Seward, in New York city. After the lapse of a few 
months, a pulmonary attack, with which he had before been 
afflicted, reduced him to the verge of the grave ; but he finally 
regained his strength, and removed to Warren, Pennsylvania, 
where he became Cashier of a bank in 1860. When, upon the 
opening of hostilities, in 1861, Roy Stone formed his company of 
Bucktail Riflemen, McNeil enlisted as a private, and was elected 
First Lieutenant. At the formation of the Bucktail regiment 

31 



482 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

he was promoted to Captain of Stone's company, the latter hav- 
ing been made Major. After the battle of Dranesville, where he 
acted with great gallantry, he was elected Colonel. While the 
Reserves were at Fredericksburg, upon the eve of departing to 
the Peninsula, he was attacked with disease, and was obliged 
to return to his home. He did not recover so as to resume com- 
mand until after the close of the Peninsula campaign. When 
he came to meet his men at Harrison's Landing, and saw, in 
place of that stalwart body, only a few, begrimed by battle, 
who had survived the terrible ordeal of that destructive cam- 
paign, he was moved to tears by the spectacle, and exclaimed : 
L ' My God ! where are my Bucktails ? Would that I had died 
with them ! " 

In the Maryland campaign he displayed the best qualities of 
the soldier. At South Mountain, General Meade ordered him 
to advance, with his regiment deployed as skirmishers, boldly up 
the face of the mountain and find the foe. Nobly was the com- 
mand executed, and before the enemy was aware of their presence, 
he began to feel the effect of their trusty rifles. Again, at Antie- 
tam, McNeil was ordered to deploy his men, and lead the column. 
At a wood in front of the little Dunkard church, the enemy was 
found, sheltered behind a fence. A charge was ordered, and 
McNeil went forward at a run in the face of a perfect torrent of 
artillery and musketry missiles. The first line of the foe was 
routed and driven ; but in advancing upon a second line, many 
of his men fell, and among them Colonel McNeil himself, who 
expired on the field. His last commands were, " Forward, 
Bucktails ! Forward ! " " These were his last commands," says 
Captain C. Cornforth ; " I heard them. It was quite dark, and I 
did not see him, though he was but a short distance off. I helped 
carry him back to the rear, after firing had ceased. I did not 
know he was killed till silence and darkness reigned. One of 
the soldiers said his last words were, ' Take me to the rear. 
Don't let me fall into the enemy's hands.' " General Meade, in 
his report of the battle, says : " I feel it also due to the memory 
of a gallant soldier and accomplished gentleman, to express here 
my sense of the loss to the public service in the fall of Colonel 
Hugh W. McNeil, of the First Pennsylvania Rifles, who fell 



JOHN M. GRIES. 483 

mortally wounded while in the front rank, bravely leading on 
and encouraging his men, on the afternoon of the 16th." Colonel 
McNeil was a ripe scholar, a tried and true soldier, and died 
deeply lamented by his men and the entire Reserve corps. 

fOHN Myers Gries, Major of the One Hundred and Fourth 
regiment, was born at Womelsdorf, Berks county, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 2 2d of March, 1828. His father was a physician, 
and a son of John Dieter Gries, who came to this country from 
near Manheim, Germany. His mother, Maria Priscilla, was the 
daughter of John Myers, whose father was the proprietor of 
Myerstown, Lebanon county. He was educated at the Womels- 
dorf and Reading Academies, and served an apprenticeship to a 
carpenter preparatory to becoming an architect, for which he had 
native talent and disposition. He was self-instructed in his pro- 
fession, but became skilled, the designs of Christ Church Hospital, 
Philadelphia Bank, and Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, among 
many others, being monuments of his talent. His natural genius 
had been cultivated by a careful study of European masterpieces, 
which he had made during a visit a few years before the Re- 
bellion. His only military training was as a member of a volun- 
teer organization, under Colonel Chapman Bicldle, formed soon 
after the outbreak of the war. 

He was appointed Major of the Ringgold regiment, the One 
Hundred and Fourth of the line, which he was active in recruit- 
ing, until he took command of the camp at Doylestown under 
Colonel Davis. On taking the field, Major Gries moved with 
his regiment to the Peninsula, and though often worn out with 
fatigue and depressed by sickness, yet he would never yield, but 
kept at the post of duty through wearisome marches. At Savage 
Station, a week before the battle of Fair Oaks, he was in com- 
mand of the skirmishers in advance of the whole army, and 
skilfully directed' the fire of the artillery, by signals from the 
extreme front, so accurately that the rebels were forced to fall 
back. At Fair Oaks, while in the thickest of the fight and in the 
intelligent discharge of his duty, he received a mortal wound. 
It was inflicted while he was in the act of securing the flag which 
was in danger of being lost, as the regiment was falling back 



484 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

from a charge which had just been made. He was brought off 
the field, and with other wounded was taken to the general hos- 
pital at Philadelphia. He refused the invitations of friends to 
their homes, and insisted upon going with his comrades. The 
ball with which he was wounded lodged in the bone of the 
pelvis. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by surgeons 
at different times to remove it, and it is probable that he died, 
more from the effects of these persistent and inexcusable trials, 
than from the wound itself, though his system had been much 
reduced by hard labor, his command having had the advance 
after leaving Bottom's Bridge, which involved ceaseless care and 
multiplied responsibility on the part of the officers. He endured 
the pain of the surgical operations without flinching and with a 
stoicism that excited the wonder of every beholder. He expired 
on the 13th of June, after having borne great suffering for the 
space of nearly two weeks. 

By the commander of his brigade, General Naglee, he was held 
in high esteem, on account of his promptness and courage as an 
officer, and good judgment as an engineer. In a letter to Adju- 
tant-General Williams, that officer said : " Again should mention 
be made of the cool daring and gallant manner in which Major 
John M. Gries sustained his regiment, when charging in the very 
face of the enemy. The Major died from wounds then and there 
received, and will long be remembered by all who knew him." 

. T. ames Miller, Colonel of the Eighty-first regiment, was a vol- 
^z) unteer soldier in two wars. When hostilities with Mexico 
opened, he promptly recruited troops, and Avon distinction as a 
brave and efficient officer throughout the campaign, serving in 
one of the regiments which followed General Scott, and at its 
close was commissioned Captain for meritorious services. At the 
opening of the War of Rebellion he again volunteered, and was 
instrumental in organizing and bringing to a state of efficiency 
the Eighty-first regiment, of which he was made Colonel. He 
went to the Peninsula with McClellan, and, when arrived before 
Richmond, was put upon the front. His command was active in 
the construction of the famous Sumner bridge across the Chicka- 
hominy, and when completed, passed over and jiarticipated in 



JAMES MILLER.— JAMES CROWTHER — JOSEPH A. McLEAN. 485 

the severe skirmish at Golding's Farm. In the battle of Fair 
Oaks, fought on the 30th of May, the troops of Sumner were 
hastened to the relief of the hard-pressed forces of Casey, who was 
first to feel the attack, and were successful in checking the foe. 
On the following morning, the fighting was renewed. The left 
flank of his regiment was exposed. In the progress of the battle 
a regiment of the enemy approached, from the open side, which 
Colonel Miller mistook for a Union force, and called out to it. 
The answer was a volley at close range, under which he fell, shot 
through the heart, and expired upon the field manfully battling 
to the last. 

f:AMES Crowther, Colonel of the One Hundred and Tenth regi- 
ment, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, on the 16 th 
of January, 1818. He was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel 
on the 23d of December, 1861, and at once took the field with 
his command. He was engaged in the campaign of 1862, in 
West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, under Lander, 
Shields, and Banks. When General Pope took command of all 
the forces before Washington, Ricketts' division, to which this 
regiment was attached, was sent to Thoroughfare Gap, where 
a stubborn resistance was made to Longstreet's advance, and 
afterwards upon the plains of Manassas it fought with deter- 
mined courage against vastly superior numbers. Soon after the 
battle of Fredericksburg, Lieutenant-Colonel Crowther was pro- 
moted to Colonel. In the disastrous battle of Chancellors vi lie, 
while he was leading his regiment in the fierce fighting which 
heralded in the morning of the 3d of May, 1863, he was killed, 
and nearly half of his regiment was stricken down by his side. 

fosEPH A. McLean, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighty-eighth 
regiment, was born in the city of Philadelphia on the 22d 
of May, 1823. He was the son of William and Sarah (Douglass) 
McLean, natives of Scotland, and was the youngest son of a 
family of twelve, two girls and ten boys. He gave early promise 
of mental ability, and it was the purpose of his parents to give 
him a liberal education ; but their designs were frustrated by mis- 
fortune, and he was early put to a trade, first as a glass-blower, 



486 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and finally as a fancy and ornamental painter. In June, 1843, 
lie married Miss Elizabeth Doyle, of Richmond, Virginia. He 
was an active member of the Franklin Debating Society, and 
became its President. In the riots of 1844, which resulted in 
bloodshed, he was among the most active in quelling them, 
►Sliiffler, one of the victims, falling by his side, and another near 
him having his jaw shot away. He enlisted for the Mexican 
War; but through the intervention of friends was prevented from 
serving. In 1848, he removed with his family to the city of 
Reading, where he soon identified himself with the interests of 
the place, organizing a Lyceum, advocating the building of the 
Lebanon Valley Railroad, and was finally elected a member of 
the City Council, and subsequently its President. He was also a 
member of the Public School Board. In politics he was an 
American, and a firm advocate of the abolition of slavery, stump- 
ing the country for Lincoln in 1800, speaking about sixty times, 
among other places, in Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Har- 
risburg and Pottsville. He was prompt in recruiting troops when 
the President made his call for men, and was appointed Adjutant 
of the Fourteenth regiment, in the three months' campaign under 
Patterson. With his brother, Colonel George P. McLean, he 
was active in recruiting the Eighty-eighth, three year regiment, 
of which he was made Lieutenant-Colonel. He was exceedingly 
popular with his men, whose hardships he shared, and whose 
burdens he did what he could to lighten. He received frequent 
tokens of regard, among others a beautiful sword, sash and belt. 
In the battle of Cedar Mountain, his command was actively 
engaged, and also in the manoeuvring and skirmishing of Pope's 
army, preceding the second battle of Bull Run. In the midst of 
that disastrous engagement, while supporting a battery that was 
being fiercely assailed, he was struck by a musket ball in the hip 
and mortally wounded. Confusion had already seized upon the 
Union army, and he was ordered with his regiment, of which he 
was at the time in command, to assist a battery in holding the 
enemy in check while the army was retiring. Three times he 
had rallied his men under a fierce fire ; but while bringing them 
up for the fourth time he was stricken and left upon the field. 
Lieutenant W. J. Rannells, of the Seventh Ohio regiment, hap- 



FRANK A. ELLIOT. 487 

pened at the moment to be near him, and, in a letter subsequently 
addressed to Colonel McLean's wife, gave the following account of 
his death : " Madam : I have just arrived home from Richmond. 
I was taken prisoner while attending to 3'our husband's wounds. 
It is my painful duty to inform you that he is dead. He fell near 
me, while doing all that a brave man could do to hold his men to 
the support of a battery. He fell from his horse with his foot fast 
in the stirrup. His horse was about to run with him in this situ- 
ation, but I caught him, and, disentangling his foot, laid him 
upon the ground. I found that he had been wounded high up on 
the thigh, the ball having ruptured the main artery. With a 
strap that he gave me, I succeeded in stopping the hemorrhage, 
and, with the assistance of three of his men, was about to carry 
him to a hospital. When the Colonel saw the charging foe, he 
said : ' Boys, drop me and save yourselves; for I must die.' The 
three men became excited, and, dropping him, disappeared. This 
caused the strap to slip below the wound, and allowed the hem- 
orrhage to recommence. I replaced the strap, and was in the act 
of tightening it, when I observed that the enemy had charged 
past our battery, and were soon upon us. They fought over us 
about fifteen minutes, in which time your poor husband was 
wounded again in the same leg, below the knee. They would 
not help me take him to a surgeon, but made me leave him, 
when he said : ' Tell my wife she will never blush to be my 
widow. I die for my country and the old flag.' One of my men, 
who was detailed to bury the dead, reports having buried Colonel 
Joseph A. McLean of the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania. I sym- 
pathize deeply with you in your loss, and pray God will bless 
and aid you." 



[F^rank Andrew Elliot, Captain in the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth regiment, was born in Washington, D. C, on 
the 8th of August, 1825. His parents, William G. and Margaret 
(Dawes) Elliot, were natives of Boston, Massachusetts. Through- 
out his boyhood he was remarkably fearless and upright, fond 
of adventure, and desired to enter the navy ; but in deference 
to the wishes of his father, he prepared for College with the Rev. 
S. G. Bulfinch, pastor of the Unitarian Church at Washington. 



488 .MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Not wishing to enter college, lie commenced mercantile life in 
Boston. Of delicate physique, his health, though good, was 
never robust. His habits of life were singularly temperate, and 
in all respects irreproachable. In September, 1854, he married 
Mary Jane Whipple, niece and adopted daughter of Professor 
W. R. Johnson of Washington. In the purest spirit of patriotism, 
he left a successful business, in which he was engaged in Phila- 
delphia, and devoted himself to the service of his country, enter- 
ing the One Hundred and Fourteenth regiment as Captain of 
Company F. He did gallant service at the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg ; and subsequently, at Chancellorsville, was mortally 
wounded, and died in the hands of the enemy. 

T^riLLiAM Speer Kirkwood, Colonel of the Sixty-third regi- 
)^y ment, was born on the 4th of July, 1835, at Fairview, 
Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His father was Archibald 
Kirkwood, a native of Ireland ; his mother, Elizabeth (Sterrars) 
Kirkwood. He was, in boyhood, a farmer and ferryman, early 
developing a liking for naval life. He received a fair English 
education in the public schools of his native place, but had no 
military training. From youth he was steady and industrious ; 
and it is remembered as a somewhat notable circumstance, that 
he never saw Pittsburg until after he was fifteen years old. In 
person, he was nearly six feet in height, and stoutly built. 

He recruited a company for the Sixty-third regiment, of which 
lie was elected Captain. During McClellan's campaign, Captain 
Kirkwood was constant at the post of duty, sharing with the 
humblest subaltern the privations and sufferings incident to a 
life in camp amid the bogs and swamps before Yorktown and 
upon the Chickahominy ; and in the battle of Fair Oaks, where 
the regiment was closely engaged, bore himself with great gal- 
lantry, and fortunately, where so many of his comrades went 
down, he was preserved unscathed. Soon after that battle he 
was promoted to Major. At Bull Run the regiment was again 
subjected to a fiery ordeal. Kearny's division, to which it be- 
longed, was drawn up in line of battle near Groveton. Robin- 
son's brigade was ordered to advance upon an old railroad bed, 
behind which the enemy's skirmishers had taken shelter. Before 



WILLIAM S. KIRKWOOD. 489 

reaching it, two picked men from each company were sent for- 
ward to drive out these troublesome marksmen. The left of the 
line was already warmly engaged, when General Kearny rode up 
to Colonel Hays and ordered him to charge, saying, as he gave 
the order, " I will support you handsomely." No troops could 
have obeyed the order more gallantly, but as the line approached 
the embankment, it received, unexpectedly, a deadly fire from 
the concealed foe, which threw it into some confusion. Rallying, 
it again went forward, and again was it saluted by a fatally- 
aimed volley, by which Colonel Hays was wounded. Major 
Kirkwood promptly assumed command, and led his regiment on ; 
but he had scarcely done so, when he also was severely wounded 
in the left leg, being twice struck. He was carried from the field, 
and his hurts found to be of a serious character. In September, 
1862, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and, in the April 
following, Colonel. 

When it became apparent, near the close of this month, that 
Hooker was about to lead his army to meet the enemy, Colonel 
Kirkwood manifested great impatience to lead his regiment, 
though his wounds were still open. His surgeon remonstrated 
with him, but he declared that he must see his command fight 
and be with it. So crippled was he, when the army set out for 
Chancellorsville, that he had to be lifted upon his horse, and no 
representations of injury to his wounds by the surgeon could 
induce him to remain in camp. On the afternoon of the 2d, a 
few hours before the Eleventh corps was struck by " Stonewall " 
Jackson, Birney's division was pushed out nearly two miles in 
front of the main line of the army, where it was engaged with 
Jackson's rear guard, and when Jackson attacked, Birney was 
isolated and in danger of being cut off. But the rout of the 
Eleventh corps having been stayed, Birney moved back, and, after 
a midnight struggle, gained his place in line. On Sunday the 
battle was renewed, and though the Union troops fought with 
their accustomed heroism, they contended at a great disadvan- 
tage. The Sixty-third, standing on the left of the brigade, found 
its left flank exposed and over-reached by the enemy. A galling 
fire was poured in upon it, and many of the brave fellows were 
laid low. Colonel Kirkwood, while conducting the fight and 



490 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

leading his men with unsurpassed bravery and skill, was stricken 
down, receiving wounds which proved mortal. He survived 
until the 28th of June, subject to intense suffering, when he 
expired, deeply lamented by his entire command. 

f;OHN W. Moore, Colonel of the Two Hundred and Third regi- 
ment, was born at Philadelphia. He enlisted in Company 
G, of the Sixty-sixth regiment, in July, 18G1, of which he was 
commissioned Captain. This organization, unfortunately, had 
but a brief existence, and in March, 1862, he was transferred 
with his company to the Ninety-ninth. In Pope's campaign be- 
fore Washington, in McClellan's operations in Maryland, and in 
Burnside's attack upon the enemy at Fredericksburg, he partici- 
pated in much severe fighting. In February, 18G3, he was pro- 
moted to Major, and was with his command in the desperate 
conflict of the Third corps with the enemy, on the morning of 
the 3d of May, at Chancellorsville. The regiment was brought 
upon the Gettysburg field at a critical point, both in time and 
place. It was just as the Union left was about to be struck with 
terrific force by Longstreet's corps, and at the extreme of that 
tlank, where the enemy was intent on breaking through. Major 
Moore was in command of the regiment ; but before he had his 
line of battle fully formed, he was severely wounded, and was 
taken from the field. Previous to the opening of the spring cam- 
paign of 18G4, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and in 
the progress of the desperate struggles which ensued, was a por- 
tion of the time in command of the Seventeenth Maine. Early 
in June, he was prostrated by sickness, and was sent to hospital. 
Several new regiments for one year's service were being recruited 
at this period, and of one of these — the Two Hundred and Third 
— he was appointed Colonel. His new regiment was intended for 
duty in General Birney's corps as sharp-shooters; but the Gen- 
eral dying soon afterwards, it was employed as a simple infantry 
regiment ; though from its being led by veteran officers, it was 
regarded as among the most reliable in the army. It was one 
of those employed in the expedition undertaken for the reduc- 
tion of Fort Fisher ; and here, while engaged in a hand-to-hand 
encounter over the traverses of the fort, Colonel Moore was 



JOHN W. MOORE.— GUSTAVUS W. TOWN. 491 

killed. "A footing was gained, though at a heavy cost. Colonel 
Pennypacker had fallen, and was reported mortally hurt, but 
there was no cessation in the fight. Traverse after traverse, 
seventeen in all, still remained to be overcome. Colonel Moore, 
with the flag in one hand and his sword in the other, led gal- 
lantly on until three of the traverses were carried, and the fourth 
was being charged, when he fell plead, still grasping the flag-staff, 
the banner riddled with bullets and more than half shot away." 
Thus perished one of the bravest soldiers which the Republic 
offered upon its altars. 

#ustavus Washington - Town, Colonel of the Ninety-fifth 
regiment, was born at Philadelphia on the 28th of August, 
1839. He was descended from a family who had been printers 
and publishers of that city through three generations. He was 
himself bred to that business, and was actively engaged in it up 
to the time of entering the military service. He was educated in 
the public schools, and graduated at the High School. Fondness 
for military life was early developed, and at the age of sixteen he 
joined the Washington Blues, a volunteer organization. When 
this regiment was recruited for the field, he was made First Lieu- 
tenant of Company A, this organization being known as the 
Eighteenth Pennsylvania. At the expiration of the term of 
service, he returned and assisted in recruiting the Ninety-fifth 
(Zouave) regiment for the war, and was commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel. In the midst of the fierce fighting in the bloody battle 
of Gaines' Mill, the commander of the regiment, Colonel Gosline, 
was killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Town was promoted to succeed 
him. Being the senior Colonel of the brigade to which his regi- 
ment was attached, he acted as Brigadier-General, and for nearly 
a y ear, ably and efficiently commanded it; the officers of the 
brigade, to a man, asking for his promotion to the rank in which 
he was acting. In the second battle of Fredericksburg, which 
was coincident with that of Chancellorsville, his brigade formed 
part of the Sixth corps, General Sedgwick. At Salem Church, 
where the advance of the corps was met by the enemy, and 
where the fighting was of unusual severity, he was shot through 
the heart and instantly killed, while heroically leading on his 



492 .MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

men, and encouraging them to stand firm, though pressed by 
superior numbers. 

" In these brave ranks I only see the gaps, 
Thinking of dear ones whom the dumb turf wraps." 

He had participated in every battle in which the Army of the 
Potomac had been engaged, and was esteemed a gallant and 
reliable officer. In person he was six feet and three inches in 
height. He was married but a short time before his death, but 
left no issue. 

ABRETT Nowlen, Major of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
regiment, was born in Philadelphia, on the Gth of March, 
1835. lie was the son of Edward and Julia (McCarthy) Nowlen. 
He received a liberal education at the Philadelphia Central High 
School. In person he was above the medium height, slender and 
delicate, of a studious turn, regular and simple in habits, and of a 
generous and self-sacrificing spirit. He entered the army as Second 
Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment, 
in August, 18G2. At the battle of Fredericksburg, where he com- 
manded Company C, he exhibited cool courage and was severely 
wounded, being struck in the hip joint by a musket ball, which 
fractured the bone. His ability displayed in this battle was 
recognized, and he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and made 
Adjutant of the regiment, At Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, 
Auburn, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, North Anna, Pamunky, Cold 
Harbor, Petersburg, and Williams' Farm, he was constant at the 
post of duty. In the engagement at Ream's Station, on the 25th 
of August, while acting in the most gallant manner, he was shot 
through the breast by a musket ball. As he was struck, he fell 
backward and, extending his hand towards the men of his own 
company, exclaimed : "Good-bye, boys," and immediately expired. 
He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, on the banks of the 
Schuylkill. General Mulholland sa}'s of him: "He was the 
bravest and most honorable of men, and no purer patriot ever 
offered his life a sacrifice on the altar of freedom and justice." 

" Faithful unto his country's weal, and private friendship's claim, 
He bore unsullied to his grave a noble, honored name; 
A watchword for his comrade's lips, and history's page will tell, 
If not that name, the battle-fields where he fought long and well." 



GARRETT NOWLEN— ABRAHAM H SNYDER. 493 

braham H. Snyder, Major of the One Hundred and Thirty- 
^J^ ninth regiment, was born on the 17th of April, 1821, in 
Mercer county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Andrew and 
Mary (Sylvis) Snyder. His boyhood was passed upon a farm, 
and he was educated at the Mercer and Beaver Academies. He 
was of medium height and stoutly built. He was married on the 
6th of May, 1852, to Miss Margaret Stewart, 

He was made Captain of Company A, One Hundred and 
Thirty-ninth regiment, in August, 1862, and in all its campaigns 
he bore a part, being engaged at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem 
Heights, Gettysburg, Mine Run and in several minor battles. On 
the 5th of May, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness, while 
acting as Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, he received his 
death wound. He was at the time on horseback, leading on his 
men with undaunted courage, when he was struck directly in 
the forehead, and died without a struggle. As the regiment was 
obliged to fall back soon after, his body fell into the enemy's 
hands, and was never recovered. Adjutant A. M. Harper, who 
was his intimate companion in arms, says of him : " His conduct 
was universally that of a brave man, who went into the army 
from a sense of duty, and carried himself throughout in strict 
accordance with that laudable purpose. By nature of too mild 
and amiable a disposition for an arbitrary disciplinarian, it 
always grieved him to order punishment for soldiers of his com- 
mand who deserved it. In all the inconveniences and hardships 
incident to the service, so much harder to bear by one who had 
arrived at the middle age of life, he was ever patient and uncom- 
plaining. Sensitive to the sufferings of others, and apparently 
unmindful of his own, on the long marches he often dismounted, 
that some weary soldier might have temporary relief by riding 
his horse. In short, he was a true and patriotic American 
soldier, such an one as the army stood most in need of." 

v J.ohn Blanchard Miles, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty- 
*$*) ninth regiment, was born on the 20th of September, 1827, 
at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John G. and 
Julia (McConnell) Miles. His father was a lawyer of note, and 
his uncle, John Blanchard, for whom he was named, was a 



494 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

member of Congress from the Centre District. A paternal ances- 
tor, Richard Miles, emigrated from Wales in 1701, and settled 
upon the Delaware a few miles below Philadelphia. Two of his 
descendants, brothers, Richard and Samuel, were active in the 
Revolutionary War — Samuel as a Colonel, and Richard, the 
great-grandfather of John B., as a Captain — and at a later period 
were the founders of the town of Milesburg, Centre county. The 
paternal grandfather, Mathew McConnell, was a Major in 
the patriot army, and had a leg broken by a musket ball in 
the battle of Brandywine. 

Descended from Revolutionary sires on the part of both 
father and mother, it is not strange that he should develop heroic 
traits when brought to the battle-field. He received a good 
English education, with some knowledge of Latin, in the schools 
of his native town, and manifested a taste for mechanics. After 
leaving school he was employed at the Rebecca Furnace, in Blair 
county, owned by Dr. Peter Shoenberger, first as clerk, and sub- 
sequently as assistant manager. At the end of two years he 
went to Philadelphia, where he was employed as salesman in a 
wholesale hardware store, where he remained two 3'ears more. 
He then went to Peoria, Illinois, where an elder brother lived, 
and subsequently to Chicago, in both places being engaged in 
mercantile business ; but the financial crash of 1857 brought dis- 
aster, and he returned to his home in Huntingdon, where he 
devoted himself to the manufacture and sale of lumber until the 
opening of the war. Impelled by a sense of patriotic duty, he 
recruited a company T of which he was commissioned Captain, 
which became part of the Forty-ninth regiment. With the Army 
of the Potomac he went to the Peninsula, and in the affairs at 
Lee's Mills and Yorktown, and in the battle of Williamsburg, he 
led with gallantry, evincing from the first heroic valor. He 
received honorable mention in the report of his superior in the 
latter, and attracted the attention of General Hancock, whose 
lasting personal friendship he won. Like courage and skill were 
displayed at Golding's Farm, and in all the subsequent battles of 
the campaign, which ended in the last of the noted seven days at 
Malvern Hill. 

The battles of South Mountain and Antietam followed close 



JOHN B. MILES. 495 

upon the disasters of Pope, and at their conclusion, Captain Miles 
was promoted to Major, an advancement won by faithful and 
unremitting duty. He crossed the river with Franklin's column in 
the first Fredericksburg, where his regiment was held in support 
of the troops assigned to make the assault. In the Chancellors- 
ville campaign, Major Miles had a more daring part to perform. 
To the Forty-ninth was assigned the task of crossing the Rappa- 
hannock in boats under a withering musketry fire, and driving 
the rebel forces from their intrenchments so as to prepare the 
way for laying the pontoons. In that desperate undertaking, 
where large numbers of both officers and men fell, none were more 
conspicuous for nerve and unflinching courage than the Major of 
the regiment. The task was heroically executed and the enemy 
routed. At Salem Church, on the 3d and 4th of May, the foe 
made fierce assaults upon the Sixth corps, and by superior num- 
bers compelled it to fall back, the Forty-ninth being hard pressed, 
but successfully repulsing every attack. The campaign to Get- 
tysburg followed, involving the demonstration at Fredericksburg 
on the 9 th of June, the battle at Gettysburg on the 1st, 2d, and 
3d of July, at Fairview on the 5th, and at Funkstown on the 
12th — a campaign rarely paralleled for rapid and fatiguing 
marches, severe fighting, and glorious achievements, in all of 
which Major Miles never faltered. But the most marked of his 
exploits was the part he bore in the assault and capture of the 
enemy's works at Rappahannock Station. The charge had to 
be made in the face of a fire of infantry and artillery from behind 
breastworks. It was made by Russell's division, and resulted in a 
complete victory ; and the conduct of Major Miles is represented 
as having been " conspicuous for daring." With Locust Grove 
and Mine Run his active campaignings for 1863 ended. 

Though the three years of his service had been years of trial 
and carnage almost beyond precedent, yet that which was to 
follow was even more trying and terrible. Before entering upon 
the campaign of 1864, under Grant, he was promoted to Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, and in the three days of fighting in the Wilderness 
he was involved. The 10th of May brought the Sixth corps in 
front of Spottsylvania Court-House, where, at six o'clock in the 
evening, Eustis' brigade was formed to charge the enemy's works, 



496 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Forty-ninth occupying the left of the second line. When the 
soldiers looked upon the task before them, they at once realized 
that few would ever come out of that movement alive. It was 
made. It was successful. Guns and standards were captured. 
But failing of support, and the enemy rallying in force, the 
advantage was lost. In that assault, while charging up the 
slope, and inspiring his men by his own dauntless heroism, the 
brave Colonel Miles perished. Of his bearing here, and of his 
character as a soldier, W. G. Mitchell, who had served by his 
side and knew him intimately, bears the following testimony : 
"Blanch," the name by which Colonel Miles was familiarly known, 
a contraction of Blanchard, " was with his regiment in the Wil- 
derness, and I have been told by many officers and men, that in 
the desperate assault in which he and Colonel Hulings fell, on the 
10th of May, he was more than ever conspicuous for heroic cour- 
age, and was killed while leading the men up the slope and into 
the enemy's works. I know that he bore the reputation, in the 
Sixth corps, of being among the bravest and most dutiful officers 
in its ranks, and I have often noticed his extreme gallantry, and 
heard it spoken of by our brother officers. I have frequently heard 
General Hancock speak of Blanch's courage and good conduct. 
. . . While I served with the Forty-ninth and with Hancock's 
brigade, Blanch was one of those with whom I associated most 
constantly ; and among all the officers whom I have ever known, 
he was distinguished for bravery, devotion to duty and generosity 
of heart. I made many long marches by his side, and have seen 
him on many occasions of danger and trial, but never knew him, 
for one instant, to fail in the performance of his duty as a gal- 
lant and noble gentleman. Had he not been struck down at 
Spottsylvania, he could not have failed in rising to high rank in 
the army, for the terrible campaign of 18G4 was one in which 
men of his stamp were certain of obtaining rank and distinction 
by their gallant bearing, and the influence they exerted in times 
of peril. I lamented his death, and that of Colonel Hulings, as 
if they had been my own brothers." " His letters," says the 
Preshyterian, " written shortly before his death, showed that he 
had a presentiment of his fate, and that he had made his peace 
with his God. He was endeared to a large circle of friends by 



JOHN B. MILES. 497 

many estimable qualities, prominent among which were an un- 
selfish nature and remarkable kindness of heart. He has nobly 
fought life's great battle, and we trust has received his reward." 
We know by the testimony of General Lessig, who was with him, 
that just before going into the charge, he gave away many of his 
valuables to his servants, evidently believing that he would not 
survive the struggle. Of the unselfish trait in his character, the 
evidence of its prominence is abundant. So long as he had any- 
thing, he was ready to share with his comrades. Colonel Miles 
had no military education, but he so quickly and so thoroughly 
mastered his profession as to excite the admiration of his supe- 
riors. Colonel Irwin, an experienced and exacting soldier, thus 
wrote of him, on the 20th of March, 18G2 : " Yesterday, he being 
the senior Captain on duty, it was his turn to manoeuvre the 
battalion. There are ten companies, accustomed to all the pre- 
cision and rigor of my handling ; but, to my extreme satisfaction 
and greatly to his credit, Captain Miles alone, at the head of my 
regiment, directed the entire drill with perfect self-possession, 
and without committing one error of any consequence." Colonel 
Miles was once asked how he felt when in the midst of battle, 
with the deadly missiles flying thick about him ? His answer 
was : " I always feel somewhat nervous in the commencement 
of a battle, but I usually find so much to do, that I soon lose 
sight of the danger to myself." 

Colonel Miles was married, on the 29th of February, 18G4, to 
Miss Belle Creigh, daughter of Hon. John Creigh of California. 
She accompanied her husband to the front, but an order from 
the General in command obliged her, in common with all other 
ladies, to leave the army at the end of ten days. He never 
saw her but once afterwards, and then but for a day or two, 
while on a brief furlough, immediately preceding the moving 
of the army. 

None of the dead were brought off the field where Colonel 
Miles fell, and though strenuous efforts were made to recover his 
body, it could not be found. He did not die instantly, as he is 
said to have made the request, after he was struck, that his 
sword should be sent to his wife. His father caused a monument 
with a military device to be erected in the cemetery at Hunting- 

32 



498 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

don, to his memory, on which is inscribed the fact that his body 
occupies an unknown grave on the battle-field. 

arry A. Purviance, Lieutenant^Colonel of the Eighty-fifth 
c4*v^ regiment, entered the service as Captain of Company E, 
on the 12th of November, 1861, and was promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel on the 15th of May, 1862. He participated in the Penin- 
sula campaign, his command suffering severely in the battle of 
Fair Oaks, where it had the extreme advance when the enemy 
came upon it unawares, and before the rifle-pits and works which 
had been ordered could be completed. In North Carolina, with 
General Foster, and in South Carolina, under Hunter and Gilmore, 
he was employed in arduous duty, having command of his regi- 
ment the greater portion of the time. On the 30th of August, 
1863, while on the front traverse, prosecuting the works for the 
reduction of Fort Wagner, he was shot and instantly killed. For 
several days previous, three regiments, of which his was one, 
had been detailed to occupy the advance trenches, each in turn 
twenty-four hours. The nights were damp and cold, and during 
the day, upon these low, flat, # sandy islands, the thermometer 
stood at 100° in the shade. It was in the midst of this arduous 
duty, where the losses were four or five killed, and from ten to 
twenty wounded daily, that Colonel Purviance was cut off. Fort 
Wagner fell a few days after. 

{TV 

'/"Charles Izard Maceuen, Major of the One Hundred and 
T^ Ninety-eighth regiment, was born in Philadelphia, on the 
1st of October, 1833. His paternal great-grandfather, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Caleb Parry, was killed in an action on Long Island, in 
the Revolution. His grandfather, with two brothers, served also 
in that war, the former having been elected Colonel of a regiment 
even at a time when he was confined to his bed with sickness. 
His father, the late Thomas McEnen, M. D., was noted as a 
scientist, having been a prominent member of important scientific 
and philosophical societies in the city; was President of the Penn- 
sylvania Society of the Cincinnati, and Secretary of the general 
society; was one of the original mem hers of the Union League, 
in whose patriotic enterprises he deeply sympathized, and was 








^ayicy( y(y(Ctc 






HARRY A. PURVIAXCE.— CHARLES I. MACEUEN. 499 

assiduous in his attentions to sick and wounded soldiers in hos- 
pitals. His maternal great-grandfather was Ralph Izard, of South 
Carolina, who, during the Revolution, pledged his estate for the 
purchase of frigates with which to defend the flag — purchases 
which could not be made on the credit of the State of South 
Carolina — was President of the United States Senate in 1794, 
and was a friend and confidant of Washington. A son, by the 
same name, was one of the midshipmen who climbed up the side 
of the frigate " Philadelphia," in the harbor of Tripoli, and de- 
stroyed it, under the guns of the fortress. His daughter, Anne 
Middleton Izard, was the mother of Charles, and died in 1850, 
deeply lamented. Owing to a delicacy of constitution, the son 
could not pursue his education in the city, and was placed at 
school in the country, and finally went to live in the family of 
Charles E. Heister, who cultivated a farm on the banks of the 
Susquehanna, in Dauphin county, where he remained three 
years, and where his physical vigor was established. After two 
years more spent in agricultural pursuits in Chester county, with 
two young friends, he established himself in Williamson county, 
Texas, as a ranchero. Here he found, to use his own words, 
" all that the heart of man could desire," with the promise of 
rapid fortune. But, as the sun of his prosperity was rising, came 
the Rebellion, and he found this no place for a loyal man. Foiled 
in an attempt to escape through the Indian country, he was 
obliged, in order to get away with his friends, to give his parole 
not to take up arms against the State of Texas or its confederates. 
On reaching home, he found himself precluded from military 
service by his sense of the inviolability of his oath. He first 
devoted himself to the care of the sick and wounded soldiers, 
with tender assiduity. On the establishment of the Union League, 
he entered with ardor into the measures it adopted for the sup- 
port of the Government, becoming the energetic Secretary of its 
Publication Committee, and issuing appeals to the misguided 
Southerners — whose state he had come to know by personal ex- 
perience — which deserve to be rescued from oblivion, as embody- 
ing, in few and telling words, the very core of the matter at issue 
between those who sought to maintain the rights of the many, 
and those who strove to perpetuate the privileges of the few. 



500 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

None were more earnest in the support of the principles of the 
League than he. 

He was unceasing in his efforts to be absolved from his parole, 
and when that was at last effected, he seized the first opportunity 
to enlist, receiving his commission and appointment as Adjutant 
of the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth — Ninth Union League — 
regiment, on the 15th of August, 1804. His duties from the 
outset were unusually severe ; but he persisted in performing all, 
though suffering from the intense application imposed, until at- 
tacked by a typhoid fever, when he was obliged to allow himself 
to be placed in the hospital at City Point. He was transferred 
to his home in Philadelphia, and after long sickness and a slow 
convalescence, he returned again to the front, and was commis- 
sioned Major on the 20th of March, 1865. In less than a week 
he fell, shot through the heart, his face to the foe, in the battle 
of Quaker Road, which, beginning as a skirmish, resulted in one 
of the hottest musketry struggles of the war, and was the first of 
that series of battles which resulted in the downfall of the Con- 
federacy. He was buried with military honors from his father's 
residence in Philadelphia. A committee of the Union League 
asked permission to have a portrait painted of him for a place 
in their house. He was specially commended for gallant bear- 
ing under fire at the battle of Poplar Grove Church, on the 30th 
of September, 18G4. 

, T J J Boyd McKeen, Colonel of the Eighty-first regiment, was 
(4e,-*-«J> commissioned Lieutenant and Adjutant of this body on 
the 27th of October, 18G1 ; was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 
on the 1st of July, 18G2, and to Colonel on the 24th of November 
following. A singular fatality attended him, which witnesses to 
his intrepidity. He was wounded in the action at Malvern Hill 
on the 1st of July, 18G2, again at Fredericksburg on the loth of 
December, and at Chancellors ville on the 3d of May, 18G3. At 
the opening of the campaign in the Wilderness, Colonel McKeen 
was placed in command of a brigade. At Cold Harbor, it was 
selected to lead in the attack upon the enemy's works. With 
great gallantry the assault was delivered, but Colonel McKeen, 
while leading in the desperate attempt, was killed. 



H. B. McKEEN.— OLIVER H. RIPPEY. 501 

liver Hazzard Rippey,- Colonel of the Sixty-first regiment. 
,<Jjs£ was born on the 19th of August, 1825, at Pittsburg. He 
was the son of John Rippey, a native of Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania, and Eliza (Leckey) Rippey, of Baltimore, Marx- 
land. He was educated at the Western University, and at 
Allegheny College, graduating at the latter institution, under the 
presidency of Homer J. Clark. The Mexican War drew many 
of the most talented and promising of the young men of the 
country from the civil to the military service, and Rippey was 
of the number, serving in the First Pennsylvania regiment, com- 
manded by Colonel Wynkoop, throughout the entire period of 
conflict ; taking part in the battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, 
Perote La Hoya, Siege of Puebla, and was with Lieutenant Rhett, 
as commissary's clerk, after the surrender of the city of Mexico. 

Upon his return, he entered the office of Reade Washing- 
ton, as a student at law, and was admitted to practice at the 
Pittsburg bar, in November, 1850. So impressed were his ex- 
aminers with his proficiency and professional intelligence, that 
they instructed their chairman to make honorable mention of it 
in open court, who, in his remarks, said : " If ever a case had yet 
arisen in which such testimonial was called for, this was the 
case." At the first call for troops, in 1861, he recruited a com- 
pany which became part of the Seventh regiment, of which he 
was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. At the expiration of its term, 
he recruited the Sixty-first, and was appointed its Colonel. He 
participated in the campaign of the Peninsula until the battle of 
Fair Oaks, where, while bravely leading his men against the 
repeated onsets of the foe, he was stricken down and instantly 
killed. The division of Casey had been attacked, while holding 
an advanced and isolated position, by overpowering numbers of 
the enemy, and to stay their mad advance until supports could 
come, Abercrombie's brigade, in which was the Sixty-first, was 
thrown forward as a forlorn hope. The stubbornness with which 
they fought is shown by the numbers of their dead and their 
wounded — the Sixty-first alone losing seventy killed, one hun- 
dred and fifty-five wounded, and forty-seven missing. That they 
should stand until so many were cut down, and should hold the 
ground through critical hours of expectancy and doubt, against 



502 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the myriads of the enemy hurled against them, until help could 
come, and thus save the day, could only have been the result of 
their implicit confidence in the dauntless courage of their leaders. 
Indeed, the spirit which filled the bosom of Colonel Rippey is well 
illustrated by an incident which occurred just as he was going 
into battle. General Abercrombie had ordered the brigade at 
double-quick to the front. Colonel Rippey, understanding the 
urgency of the command, and having his men well in hand, was 
about to take the lead, when he was confronted by Colonel Neil, 
who, as senior Colonel, claimed the precedence. The two had 
had a similar question in the affair at Yorktown. Colonel Rip- 
pey was nettled at the prospect of delay in the movement of the 
whole brigade, by this petty question of etiquette, raised amid 
the screeching of shells and singing of bullets, and impatiently 
exclaimed, " Oh ! go to the Devil ! Forward, Sixty-first ! Close 
up ! Double-quick ! " And putting spurs to his horse, soon drew 
elear of the questioning Colonel, and had his command in action 
in less time than the matter of precedence could have been 
settled. In less than one half hour from giving the order, to 
advance, he had fallen. 

Of Colonel Rippey's courage and ability as a soldier, those who 
knew him best, and were best capable of judging, bore ample 
testimony. He was as constant and unwavering in his obedience 
to orders, and in his patriotism, as the needle to the pole. The 
chief question with him was, What will most advance the 
interests of the cause for which I fight? and when that was 
settled, neither hardship nor the fear of death could deter him. 
In person, Colonel Rippey was nearly six feet in height, and 
stoutly built. He was married, on the 12th of April, 1854, to 
Miss Caroline Curling, of Pittsburg. 

/O eorge Dare, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifth Reserve regi- 
V--* ment, entered the service in June, 18G1, as Major. In 
the actions of the Seven Days on the Peninsula, at Bull Run, 
South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, he 
rendered efficient and faithful service. In the battle of the Wil- 
derness, on the 5th of May, 18G4, where the enemy was making 
his fiercest assaults, in the flush of his strength, the Reserves 



GEORGE DARE.— ELI T. CONNER.— FRANCIS MAHLER. 503 

were unfortunately broken, a small portion falling into the enemy's 
hands. The Fifth, however, escaped without loss ; but on the 
following day, while engaged in beating back the fierce onsets of 
the foe, Colonel Dare, who was then in command of the regiment, 
was mortally wounded, and died that night. He was a good 
officer, and a much esteemed man. 

'Li T. Conner, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighty-first regi- 
ment, was commissioned Major of that body on the 1st of 
October, 1861, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on the 
1st of June, 1862. The first severe fighting was at Fair Oaks, on 
the 30th of May, 1862, where it suffered severe losses, Colonel 
Miller being of the number of the killed. At Savage Station and 
White Oak Swamp the struggle was maintained, and at Charles 
City Cross Roads, whither it was marched to the support of sorely- 
tried lines, it went into position at six p. m., and until ten the 
battle raged upon its front with great fury, the men being guided 
in their aim by the flash of the enemy's guns. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Conner, who had command, is represented as acting throughout 
with great gallantry and courage. Retiring during the night 
to Malvern Hill, the regiment was held in readiness for battle 
on the following day. When the engagement opened, the 
brigade to which it was attached was hurried forward to the 
relief of the hard-pressed troops, and was soon brought to close 
conflict with the forces of the fiery Magruder. Here, while lead- 
ing his command with great coolness and bravery, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Conner was killed. 

tJ^eancis Maiilee, Colonel of the Seventy-fifth regiment, was 
JyQ killed at Gettysburg on the 1st of July, 1863, while lead- 
ing his command on that disastrous part of the field whence 
General Howard was forced to fall back before greatly superior 
numbers. He was a native of Baden and was an officer in the 
Baden Revolution. Having come to this country previous to the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was, at the formation of the 
Seventy-fifth regiment, made Lieutenant-Colonel, and upon the 
promotion of Colonel Bohlen to Brigadier-General, was made 
Colonel. The first campaign was a severe one, involving endless 



504 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVAMA. 

marching over mountains and across swollen streams, the division 
to which it was attached having been sent from before Washing- 
ton to report to General Fremont in West Virginia ; but was 
almost immediately recalled to the support of Banks against 
Stonewall Jackson. In the hard-fought battle of Bull Run, 
Colonel Mahler was wounded and General Bohlen was killed. 
To reach Gettysburg in time to be of service, it was necessary 
for the Eleventh corps to make forced marches, and as soon as 
the regiment reached the battle-ground, it was hurried forward 
to confront the lines of the enemy, who had had ample time to 
post his men and prepare for the contest. It was hardly in posi- 
tion, to the right of the Carlisle road, when it was attacked. 
The loss here was severe, being two officers and twenty-six men 
killed, and six officers and ninety-four wounded. Colonel Mahler 
was one of the severely wounded, receiving a musket ball in the 
leg, and his horse, which received a wound from the same missile, 
fell upon him. Extricating himself, he hastened to the left of the 
regiment, though suffering severely, but had scarcely reached it, 
and was engaged in bravely cheering on his men and charging 
them to stand firm against the advancing rebel lines, when he 
was again wounded, and now mortally. He was immediately 
removed to the corps field hospital, where he died on the morn- 
ing of the 5th. He was a trustworthy man and an able officer. 

.0l2s) lisi-ia Hall, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ninety-fifth regiment, 
r £j£i was commissioned Captain of Company C on the 17th of 
September, 18G1, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on the 
28th of June, 1862. In the disastrous battle of Gaines' Mill, 
where Colonel Gosline and Major Hubbs were killed, and many 
brave men lost, the regiment did eminent service. At Cramp- 
ton's Gap, in the Antietam campaign, it captured a piece of 
artillery complete, with limber, caisson, and horses, from the 
noted Cobb Legion of Georgia. Upon the limber of the piece 
captured was painted: " Jenny — presented by the patriot ladies 
of Georgia to the State Artillery." In the campaign of Chancel- 
lorsville, to the Sixth corps was assigned the duty of carrying 
Mane's Heights and moving on the ilank of the rebel army. At 
Salem Church, on the 3d of May, 18G3, it was met by superior 



ELISHA HALL.— EDWARD CARROLL.— RICHARD P. ROBERTS. 505 

numbers. The Ninety-fifth was at the fore-front, and, while 
battling with great constancy and courage, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Hall was killed. Colonel Town was killed at the same point, 
and large numbers of his men. Few regiments suffered so great 
loss in any battle — the record " Killed at Salem Church" being 
profusely scattered through all its rolls. 

'dward Carroll, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ninety-fifth regi- 
ment, was commissioned Captain of Company F on the 27th 
of September, 1861, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 
the 10th of May, 18G3. At Gaines' Mill, where the regiment 
suffered severe loss, Captain Carroll was badly wounded. The 
remaining battles of the Peninsula, the Second Bull Run, Chan- 
tilly, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, 
Gettysburg, and Mine Run, followed in rapid succession. The 
spring of 1864 opened tardily, but early in May the Potomac 
army moved on its campaign under Grant. An officer's diary 
contains the following entry : " Marched on the 5th, at six A. m., 
and advancing in line of battle through the Wilderness, effected 
a junction with the Fifth corps on its right, and encountered the 
enemy. Became immediately engaged, and drove him steadily 
back, the two right companies attaining a strong position in the 
advance, which they maintained during the day and until 
relieved. In the early part of the day, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Edward Carroll was killed." Colonel Carroll was a valuable 
officer, and fell sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends. 

§j|D ichard Petit Roberts, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
^j\ Fortieth regiment, was born in June, 1820, near Frank- 
fort Springs, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. His father, John 
Roberts, was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia, where his 
ancestors had resided from an early period in the settlement of 
the country. His grandfather was a soldier in the Colonial army 
during the Revolution. His mother was Ruth Dungan, daughter 
of Levi Dungan, one of the early settlers of Beaver county, who 
was active in quelling Indian outbreaks upon the frontier. Soon 
after their marriage, his parents removed from West Virginia, 
whither the family had emigrated, and settled at Frankfort 



506 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Springs, where they were among the most influential and re- 
spected of the inhabitants. During his boyhood, the son was 
engaged in form labor. He was educated at the Frankfort Acad- 
emy, under the charge of the Rev. James Sloan and Thomas 
Nicholson, and studied law in the office of N. P. Fetterman, 
having, in the meantime, taught school for several terms with 
great acceptance. One Avho knew him at this period, thus speaks 
of him : " Possessed of a high order of intellect — clear, quick, and 
comprehensive — a good practical education, to which were added 
the qualities of independence, courage and candor, and being of 
regular and temperate habits and unblemished character, he 
soon acquired a large practice and a prominent position at the 
bar. Few men, in so short a time, have gained the confidence 
of their fellow-men to so great an extent, or wielded a greater 
influence upon all matters affecting the public welfare." 

During the administration of Governor Johnston, he was 
appointed, by Attorney-General Darrah, his deputy for Beaver 
county ; and when the office became elective, he was chosen 
District Attorney by a majority of over six hundred, though the 
county was politically opposed to him. On the 1st of May, 1851, 
he was married to Miss Caroline Henry, youngest daughter of the 
late Hon. Thomas Henry, of Beaver. She died in February, 
1862, after a lingering illness of nearly four years, during which 
time the husband manifested the most untiring devotion and 
attachment. From the opening of the Rebellion, he was active 
in support of the Government, helping to raise men, and to 
defend its action with his tongue and his pen. In the summer 
of 18G2, seeing that the war was likely to be protracted, and 
that there was urgent need of troops, he determined to take the 
field, and by his active exertions was instrumental in securing 
the enlistment of over 300 men. As Captain of one of the com- 
panies, he proceeded to the camp of rendezvous at Harrisburg, 
where, on the 8th of September, he was commissioned Colonel 
of the One Hundred and Fortieth regiment. He reported to 
General Wool at Baltimore, and during Lee's first invasion of 
Maryland, was detailed to guard the Northern Central Railway. 
In December, a few days after the battle of Fredericksburg, he 
joined the Army of the Potomac, and throughout the four days 



RICHARD P. ROBERTS. 507 

of the fighting at Chancellorsville, led his regiment, now attached 
to the Second corps. His men had never been under fire, and 
he was very solicitous that they should acquit themselves gal- 
lantly, at the same time that they should be skilfully handled 
and properly protected. Throughout this trying occasion, he 
bore himself with the courage and heroism of a veteran officer ; 
but the strain upon his nervous system, together with the ex- 
posure and privation of the camp, caused a prostration which re- 
sulted in a low malarial fever, from which he suffered for several 
weeks. When it was known that the enemy was moving toward 
the Potomac with the intention of invading the North, Colonel 
Roberts, who had returned to his home, became impatient of 
delay, and though scarcely able to travel, resolutely determined 
to join his regiment, and share with his men the fortunes of the 
terrible encounter which he knew must soon come. He succeeded 
in reaching Philadelphia, but was obliged to rest for a day or two 
to regain strength to proceed. On arriving at Washington, he 
was so utterly prostrated as to be unable to go farther, and was 
forbidden by the surgeon in charge to make the attempt. After 
remaining a few days, observing that the manoeuvres of the two 
armies were becoming daily more exciting, and Lee's purpose of 
invasion unmistakable, he could no longer be restrained, and, in 
spite of the entreaties of friends and the remonstrances of sur- 
geons, he started to find his regiment. In the last letter he ever 
wrote, dated on the 30th of June, 1863, addressed to his relative 
and law partner, Henry Hice, he saj-s : " On the morning after 
you left — Friday, 26th — I went to Alexandria; found that the 
arm}" had moved, that Fairfax and Thoroughfare Gap were in 
possession of the enemy ; and returned to Washington. I started 
next morning on a canal boat for Edward's Ferry, a distance of 
thirty miles, arriving there at half past nine at night. I learned 
that our corps had gone forward, and followed it on foot till 
within two miles of Frederick City, a distance of thirty miles, 
where I overtook it, myself greatly exhausted. Yesterday morn- 
ing we started, and marched twenty-eight miles — one of the 
greatest marches on record. The men fell down by hundreds. 
We had a good many fall out ; but most of them came in during 
the night. We are now moving in the direction of Emmittsburg, 



508 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and I think not far from it. Of course we shall soon meet the 
enemy. I am quite well, better than I have been for weeks, as 
you may know by what I have come through the last few days." 
While leading his regiment upon the field of Gettysburg, towards 
the close of the second day of the battle, he fell, pierced through 
the heart by a Minie ball. The following extract from the 
Beaver Argus, portrays, in a striking manner, the circumstances 
of his death: "On that fearful day, July 2d, 18G3, upon the 
plains of Gettysburg, the grandest panorama of modern times is 
passing — two hundred thousand foemen in fierce array ! Five 
hundred cannon make the earth reel and tremble. The dead, 
the dying, and the wounded strew the plain. The One Hundred 
and Fortieth regiment is flanked. The Colonel steps forward to 
the front. ' My brave boys,' he cries, ' remember you are upon 
your native soil, your own Pennsylvania. Drive back the rebel 
invaders ! ' He faces the foe, while deadly missiles fall like hail. 
The fatal Minie rends his breast. He dies on the field of honor 
and of glory ; but the invader is repulsed. No braver, truer, or 
better man fell upon that bloody plain than Colonel Richard 
P. Roberts." 

Colonel Roberts w r as a rising man, fairly marked for promotion. 
The gallant General Zook was killed on the same day, only a 
few moments before, and Colonel Roberts would doubtless have 
succeeded to the command of the brigade in his place. Had he 
lived to return to civil life, the highest honors would have been 
open before him. His loss to his county, and, indeed, to the 
State, was one much to be lamented. Generous and appreciative, 
his kindness found many subjects, and drew to him many faithful 
friends. There are those yet living who remember, with grate- 
ful recollections, his helping hand and friendly offices. 




CHAPTER IV. 



THE KILLED IN BATTLE. 




LEXANDER HAYS, first Colonel of the Sixty-third 
regiment, and Brevet Major-General of volunteers. 
The war of Rebellion drew from the State of Penn- 
sylvania many costly sacrifices ; few more so than 
the subject of this sketch. Reynolds, who fell at 
Gettysburg, entered the volunteer service as a 
general officer, and was consequently more in the 
public eye, and had attained a higher rank in 
the army. It is no disparagement of Reynolds 
to be compared with Hays, though beneath him 
in rank ; for in all that constitutes a great soldier 
he was endowed with kindred qualities, and was 
of a brotherhood of heroes — wise in council, cool 
in the midst of clangers, fearless in battle, and merciful as a 
victor. 

He was born at Franklin, Venango county, on the 8th of July, 
1819. He was the son of General Samuel Hays, a native of 
Ireland, and Agnes (Broadfoot) Hays. After acquiring a primary 
education in the schools of his native place, he entered Allegheny 
College, at Meadville ; and subsequently, in 1840, was appointed 
a Cadet in the Military Academy at West Point, where he gradu- 
ated in 1844, and where, for three years, he was a fellow student 
with President Grant. He was assigned to duty, with the rank 
of Brevet Second Lieutenant, in the Fourth Infantry, to which 
Grant also belonged, then constituting part of the Army of Ob- 
servation, stationed in Louisiana. His regiment was among the 
first to advance upon the enemy's territory in the Mexican War, 
and in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma ex- 
hibited undaunted heroism, capturing, in connection with Lieu- 
tenant Woods, likewise a Pennsylvanian, the first gun that was 

509 



510 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

wrested from the enemy. In the latter engagement, he received 
a -wound in the leg. In recognition of his gallantry in these 
actions, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, and 
was transferred to the Eighth Infantry. 

Before entering upon another active campaign, his wound 
unfitting him for arduous duty, he was sent on recruiting service 
to western Pennsylvania, where he soon enlisted a company of 200 
men from among the hardy pioneers of that region, and rejoined 
the army at Vera Cruz. " About this time," says Colonel Oliphant 
in his sketch of Hays, " General Joe Lane was ready to start on 
a more northern line of operations to the City of Mexico, with 
an expedition against Urrera and the guerillas infesting that 
part of the country. Lieutenant Hays was appointed Assistant 
Adjutant-General of the expedition. It had frequent encounters 
with the enemy, inflicting severe punishment. Lieutenant Hays 
gathered fresh laurels, and was the head and heart and soul 
of the command — making a military reputation for his chief 
which afterwards sent him to the United States Senate from 
Oregon." " His record in the whole Mexican War," says the 
Rev. Dr. Paxton, in his funeral discourse, " was that of a brave 
and skilful soldier, whose courage could be trusted in any 
emergency, and whose ability to execute was equal to his will 
to dare." 

A year previous he had married Annie, daughter of John B. 
McFadden, a prominent citizen of Pittsburg ; and on his return 
from Mexico, tiring of the dull monotony of army life in " piping 
times of peace," he resigned his commission, and engaged in the 
manufacture of iron in that city. A stagnation in this business 
occurred at about that time, and the venture proved a failure. 
He was accustomed to say, that " that furnace was the only 
thing that ever licked him so badly that he was afraid to tackle 
it again." His education at West Point had made him a skilful 
engineer, and the country just then waking up to the importance 
of railroad construction, had need of such talent. He first found 
employment in California, but subsequently in western Penn- 
sylvania, and was engaged in making tire drafts of an iron bridge 
for the Allegheny Railroad, when the Rebellion was initiated. 
Without waiting to finish his draft even, he laid it aside, saying 





FRANKLIN A.STRATTON, 
Col.ll^PaCavX 
Brvt Brig. Gen. 



JOHN W. M c LANE 
Col.83 d Reg t 





GIDEON CLARK 
Late Col HQ^Reg 1 : 




SENECA C. WILLAUER, 
r] 116*Reg fc 



CHARLES A.KNODERER 
Col 167* I- 






ALEXANDER HAYS. 511 

to his wife as he did so : " That kind of work is now ended ; my 
country has called, and I must hasten to the field." 

He enlisted in a militia company in Pittsburg, known as the 
City Guard, of which he was at once chosen Captain. This com- 
pany became part of a regiment raised at that place for the three 
months' service, and he was commissioned, by Governor Curtin, 
Major. Not long before, Floyd of Virginia, then Secretary of 
War, had ordered a number of heavy guns from the Allegheny 
Arsenal, and a large amount of ordnance stores, to some mythical 
fort near the mouth of the Mississippi river. Hays was one of 
those who resisted their removal, plainly foreseeing the use to 
which they would be put; and, by assuming a bold front and a 
determined spirit to prevent it, the guns were ordered back to 
the Arsenal. 

In the summer of 18G1, he was appointed Captain in the Six- 
teenth United States Infantry ; but he declined this honor, and, 
at the close of the term of service of the Twelfth — which he had 
largely contributed to make a skilled and efficient body of men — 
he returned home, and at once set about recruiting a regiment 
for the war. His companions of the City Guard, whom he had 
converted into real soldiers, followed him, and his regiment was 
designated the Sixty-third Pennsylvania — he being commissioned 
Colonel. After thorough drill at Camp Wilkins, he led it to the 
field. " Its history," says Colonel Oliphant, in the article above 
quoted, "is bright with laurels, and red with the blood of its 
decimated ranks. Its commander was the friend, comrade, and 
fighting Colonel of a fighting General — brave old Phil. Kearny. 
Kearny was so superlatively brave himself, that unless the bear- 
ing of another was akin to his own death-defying courage, it 
failed to attract his notice. Colonel Hays is the only one of his 
officers that he is known to have complimented for this virtue, 
except in an official report. • After the battle of Fair Oaks, con- 
versing with a group of officers, he referred to the gallant conduct 
of Colonel Hays. One of the officers present ventured the sugges- 
tion, that he was ' rash and reckless.' ' No sir ! No !' says Kearny ; 
'you are mistaken. Although he storms like a fury on the field, 
his purpose is as clear, and his brain as cool as on drill or parade ; 
and his battle tactics are superb.' " 



512 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Colonel Hays was kept upon the front line, facing Richmond, 
during that sultry month which intervened between Fair Oaks 
and the Seven Days' battle, and had frequent hot skirmishing 
with the enemy. When the retreat to the James began, he 
moved out, the last to quit his intrenchments ; and when, at 
Charles City Cross Roads, the enemy attacked with terrible 
earnestness, he was ready, with his well-ordered regiment, to 
meet them. How well he fought, that intrepid soldier, Kearny, 
whose pen was no less keen and incisive than his sword, has told 
in simple and glowing periods. After relating how the enemy 
had " come on in such masses as I had never witnessed," and 
had been cut down and swept back by the rapid fire of the artil- 
lery, yet " increased masses came up, and the wave bore on," 
he says, " It was then that Colonel Hays, with the Sixty-third 
Pennsylvania and half of the Thirty-seventh New York Volun- 
teers, was moved forward to the line of the guns. I have here to 
call to the attention of my superior chiefs this most heroic action 
on the part of Colonel Hays and his regiment. The Sixty-third 
has won for Pennsylvania the laurels of fame. That which grape 
and canister failed in effecting, was accomplished by the deter- 
mined charge and rapid volleys of this foot. The enemy, at the 
muzzles of our guns, for the first time retired fighting. Subse- 
quently, ground having been gained, the Sixty-third was ordered 
to 'lie low,' and the battery once more reopened its ceaseless 
work of destruction. This battle saw three renewed onsets, with 
similar vicissitudes. If there was one man in this attack, there 
must have been ten thousand, and their loss by artillery, although 
borne with such fortitude, must have been immense." The gal- 
lantry and steadiness of Colonel Hays in this desperate fighting 
is confirmed by another, himself a hero, who laid down his life 
gallantly at Chancellorsville. General Berry, in a note to Colonel 
Hays, says : " I was ordered by General Kearny to have myself 
and command ready at all times to render aid to the First and 
Second brigades. This being so, I watched the movements of the 
enemy and our own men with the most intense interest. You, sir, 
and your brave men, were placed near to and ordered to support 
Thompson's battery. Never was task better done or battery better 
supported, and it is a great pleasure to me to have to say, and 



ALEXANDER HAYS. 513 

it is also my duty to say it, that I have not, in my career in 
military life, seen better fighting and work better done. I should 
fear to try to do better with any troops I have ever seen. 'Tis 
enough to say, your fight was a perfect success." 

The next severe encounter was at the Second Bull Run battle, 
Colonel Hays being put into the engagement in the neighborhood 
of Groveton. " Here," says Kearny, " the Sixty-third Pennsyl- 
vania and the Fortieth New York suffered the most. The 
gallant Hays is badly wounded." It was while leading his men 
up to an embankment occupied by the enemy, that he was struck 
in the ankle, and his limb badly shattered. Though suffering 
the most excruciating pain, as he was carried from the field, he 
still preserved his equanimity, and jocularly commanded his 
servant Pomp, in the most positive tones and manner, " to bring 
a cork and stop the hole in his leg, or he would bleed to death." 

His services in this action, and his eminent ability exhibited 
upon the Peninsula, did not pass without recognition from the 
Government. He was appointed and confirmed Brigadier-General 
of volunteers, and Lieutenant-Colonel in the Regular Army. 

"About the 1st of January, 1863," says Colonel Oliphant, 
"before he had entirely recovered from the Groveton wound, 
General Hays was assigned to the command of the Third brigade 
of Casey's division, Heintzelman's corps, then, and for some time 
afterwards, in charge of the defences before and around Wash- 
ington. This is the same brigade that was demoralized, surren- 
dered and disgraced, at Harper's Ferry, just before the battle 
of Antietam. They wanted a General in a double sense. They 
had no General, and they required one who would be so in fact, 
as well as commission and rank. Quaint and grim old Heintzel- 
man knew and picked the man for them. We will see if they 
got what they wanted, when ' Sandy Hays ' first drew his sword 
over them in command. The General now devoted all his time, 
talents and energy to bring order and discipline out of the con- 
fusion in which he found his brigade, and to put fight into it. 
He drilled, punished, rewarded, coaxed, scolded, and stormed 
at it — once nearly ' with shot and shell.' He was preparing -it 
for the eventful first days of July, '63, when the Fourth of '76 
was re-endeared to our hearts' affections in a new baptism of 
33 



514 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

blood and tears. ... On the 3d day of the month, and the third 
of the battle of Gettysburg, General Hays, commanding the Third 
division of the Second army corps, finds himself opposed to 
General A. P. Hill, with whom is General George E. Pickett, and 
others of his old class-mates and comrades of the Mexican War, 
on the road leading to Emmittsburg. Hill has been cannonading 
the opposing line for some time, without effect ; then moves his 
troops across the field, thinking, no doubt, that his veterans will 
drive these raw militia like chaff before the storm. But they meet 
General Hays and his veterans; he has put fight into them. 
Behind the shelter of a stone fence, he restrains himself and his 
men until the enemy is at close quarters. Then, like Wellington 
at Waterloo, the word is, ' Up, and at them ! ' His rapid, well- 
directed volleys send the head of Hill's column, reeling in con- 
fusion, back upon its centre and rear. A hurricane, charged 
with lead and fire and death, consumes them. 

"The battle was won. This was the decisive charge; and 
General Hays was a hero among heroes at Gettysburg! He takes 
from the enemy, that day, twenty banners and battle-flags, three 
thousand stand of arms, and kills and captures about twice the 
number of his command. Out of twenty mounted orderlies he 
has but six left. He has lost all his Colonels; Lieutenant-Colonels 
command brigades; Lieutenants command regiments. Two of 
his five horses are killed under him. His whole staff is unhorsed. 
Their steeds lie dead where they fell, or are in their last agonies. 
Gathering around their chief to congratulate him, reeking with 
the dust, and sweat, and fumes, and weary with the toil of the 
battle, they receive the commendation they deserve. How proud 
they are of their chief! How proud he is of his 'boys!' The 
battle-cloud has passed away from his brow, and the hard-set 
lea tares of a few moments before relax into his kind, familiar 
smile of love and affection. George P. Corts, Captain and 
Assistant Adjutant-General, reliable and efficient, often under fire 
with him before, wants to follow up the success while the game 
is in view and the trail is fresh. The General takes young Dave 
Shields, his boy Lieutenant and Aide-de-camp — not yet twenty 
years old and can count nearly as many battles — in his arms, 
imprinting a kiss upon his cheek, while his boyish face is yet 



ALEXANDER HAYS. 515 

aglow with the flush and his bright eye sparkling with the fire of 
victory. What youth in the land would not be prouder of 
that kiss of honor from his General, than of a hundred from the 
lips of the fairest maiden ? " 

A correspondent of the Buffalo Commercial, himself a soldier, 
and who was upon that fatal hill when the battle was at its 
height, beholding the deeds of valor of this brave leader, and his 
fearlessness when the very air seemed freighted with danger, thus 
describes him: "I have spoken of our General Hays. I wish 
you could have seen a picture just at the close of Saturday's bat- 
tle, on the left of our centre, of which his splendid figure formed 
a prominent part. Our brigade, which had been lying on Cemetery 
Hill, was ordered over to the position which was so valiantly but 
unsuccessfully charged by Pickett's rebel division. We moved 
through a storm of shot and shell, but only arrived in time to 
see the grand finale, at the close of the drama. The enemy's 
batteries were still playing briskly, and their sharp-shooters kept 
up a lively fire; but the infantry, wearied and routed, were pour- 
ing into our lines throughout their whole extent. Then entered 
General Alexander Hays, the brave American soldier. Six feet 
or more in height, erect, smiling, lightly holding well in hand his 
horse — the third within a half hour— a noble animal, his flanks 
bespattered with blood, he dashes along our lines, now rushing 
into the open field, a mark for a hundred sharp-shooters, but 
untouched ; now quietly cantering back to our lines to be wel- 
comed by a storm of cheers. I reckon him the grandest view — 
I bar not Niagara. It was the arch-spirit of glorious victory 
wildly triumphing over the fallen foe." After recounting the 
ceaseless care and solicitude of General Hays during the long- 
weary hours of the night which succeeded the battle, in looking 
after and caring for the wounded and worn-out soldiers of his com- 
mand, the same writer continues : "It is not my good fortune to 
be personally acquainted with General Hays, but I wish every one, 
so far as I can effect it, to know him as the bravest of soldiers, 
and love him as the best-hearted of men." It seems miraculous 
that General Hays escaped unharmed. His division stood upon 
the broad, open field, joining upon the left Owen's Philadelphia 
Brigade, now Webb's, and only shielded from the death-storm 



516 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

which swept its ranks by a slight stone wall perched upon the 
brow of a shelving ledge, but which could be no protection to an 
officer on horseback. That powerful rebel division of Pickett, 
strengthened by picked troops on flanks and rear, struck the 
l"i lion front, half overlapping Hays' command. The latter con- 
sequently got the full strength and power of the blow ; but stead- 
fast in his purpose, though all had been stricken down he would 
stand alone, he had inspired all with his own heroism; and though 
death held high carnival, the surviving moved not. It was a 
trial of the spirit which he manifested in a letter acknowledg- 
ing the receipt of a magnificent sword presented him by the 
citizens of Pittsburg a few months after this battle, in which he 
says: "When the Rebellion broke upon us like a tornado, in the 
desecration of our flag at Sumter, I took an oath never to sheathe 
my sword until honorable peace should restore us to one glorious 
Union." He shared the fortunes of the army in all its weary 
marches and fighting till he came upon the intricate mazes of the 
Wilderness. It was his last battle. On the very day that the 
march commenced he had written, as if impressed with a pre- 
sentiment of his impending fate : 
"This morning was beautiful, for 

Lightly and brightly shone the sun, 
As if the morn was a jocund one. 

Although we were anticipating to march at eight o'clock, it might 
have been an appropriate harbinger of the day of the regener- 
ation of mankind; but it only brought to remembrance, through 
the throats of many bugles, that duty enjoined upon each one, 
perhaps before the setting sun, to lay down a life for his country." 
Longstreet had already arrived upon the Union front, and Han- 
cock, having gone beyond the field and been summoned back, 
had counter-marched, and was advancing in line through the 
wilds of that labyrinthian ground, when he suddenly came upon 
the foe. The battle had been raging for half an hour, when, Gen- 
eral Hays having ridden along his whole front, and returning, had 
paused at the head of his old regiment, the Sixty- third, a rifle ball 
struck him just above the cord of his hat, and penetrating the 
brain, he fell without an utterance to the ground. He breathed 
scarcely three hours, when, without consciousness, he expired. 



ALEXANDER HAYS.— JOHN B. KOHLER. 51 7 

His remains were carried by his sorrowing comrades — while the 
roar of battle still sounded — to the rear, and they were thence 
taken to his home in Pittsburg. The day of his burial was a day 
of sadness throughout that great city. Everywhere were the 
emblems of mourning and the aspects of grief. A public calamity 
had indeed fallen — a calamity not bounded by a single city, or 
a single State, but which had touched the nation alike. Five 
swords were laid upon his coffin — the tokens of the respect and 
confidence of his fellow-citizens. One was the gift of his early 
associates in his native town of Franklin, as the memorial of his 
gallantry at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Another the free 
offering of his old companions in arms, the Texan Rangers, who 
knew well how to measure a brave man. A third was presented 
by his own City Guards, through the lamented Colonel Childs, 
signalizing a mark of filial affection. The fourth — a costly piece of 
workmanship, as if to typify the greatness of his service — was 
from his fellow-citizens of Pittsburg. The fifth was his battle- 
sword, which he grasped in death. He went to his grave, having 
filled a full measure of usefulness. Few had devoted more signal 
ability to the service of the country. It is a proud satisfaction 
to take leave of him with that consciousness. 

Soldier, rest ! thy warfare o'er, 

Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking ; 

Dream of battle-fields no more ; 
Da) r s of danger, nights of waking. 

fiOHN B. Koiiler, Lieutenan1>Colonel of the Ninety-eighth regi- 
ment, was born in Philadelphia. He entered the service 
as Captain of Company A, on the 17th of August, 1861; was pro- 
moted to Major on the 26th of November, 1862, and to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel on the 2d of July, 1863. In the Peninsula cam- 
paign, his command was warmly engaged at Williamsburg and 
Malvern Hill, in the latter battle severe loss having been sus- 
tained. It formed part of Wheatons brigade, in the Sixth corps, 
in the Chancellorsville campaign, and at Salem Church the 
fighting was terrific, this regiment exhibiting the most heroic 
bearing. During the first days of the Wilderness, commencing 
on the 5th of May, 1864, it was steadily engaged, and in the 
progress of the battle, Colonel Ballier having assumed command 



518 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Kohler received that of the 
regiment. At four o'clock on the morning of the 11th, he was 
ordered to take his command upon the picket line in front of 
Spottsylvania Court-House, where the firing was incessant and 
the loss considerable. Until the command reached the front 
before Petersburg the fighting was of the most fearful character, 
in which it resolutely participated, losing heavily upon almost 
every field. Soon after crossing the James, the Sixth corps was 
sent to Washington to meet a heavy detachment of the rebel 
army -under General Early. On its arrival at the capital it was 
placed immediately in Fort Stevens, where it was ordered to 
move out in front of the fort, in face of the enemy, and establish 
a picket line. The duty was a perilous one, but it was executed 
gallantly, though with severe loss, both Colonel Ballier and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Kohler being w r ounded. From Washington the 
Sixth corps went to the Shenandoah Valley, where, under Sheri- 
dan, it participated in the brilliant campaign which followed. At 
Cedar Creek, on the 19th of October, near the close of that cam- 
paign, Colonel Kohler, while visiting the picket line as officer 
of the day, was killed. 



^iiarles August Knoderer, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Sixty-eighth regiment, was born in the town of Emmen- 
dingen, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. He was first sent to a 
fyceum, and afterwards entered the Polytechnic School of Carls- 
ruhe, one of the most eminent of the schools of Europe, where 
he graduated with the first honors of his class. He was educated 
especially for a civil engineer, and immediately after completing 
his course, entered the service of his Government, by which he 
Mas employed in the correction of the channel of the River 
Rhine, and in constructing Government roads through the Black 
Forest. He was, however, an enthusiastic student of military 
science, and, while he was engaged in civil employments, so 
applied himself to its mastery in the intervals of labor as to be 
prepared to pass the examination required for an officer. He 
had likewise familiarized himself with the military history of 
modern Europe. In 1849 the revolutionary spirit was rife in 
Germany, and, abandoning his connection with the Government 



CHARLES A. KXODEBER. 51 9 

as an engineer, and his prospects as an officer in the service of 
the Grand Duke, he joined the patriots in their struggle for con- 
stitutional liberty, and served with Sigel in the short but unfor- 
tunate campaign in which their hopes were frustrated. With 
hundreds of others, who had taken part in the attempted revolu- 
tion, he fled from Europe and found in America a home and 
a country. 

He came to Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1849, and in the follow- 
ing year was employed by the Schuylkill Navigation Company 
as Assistant Engineer, where he remained until September, 1861. 
At this time the Rebellion had attained to formidable proportions, 
and, desirous of aiding his adopted country in suppressing it, he 
entered the service as a Captain of Engineers, and during the brief 
campaign of General Fremont in Missouri, acted on the staff of 
General Sigel. At its close, he returned to Reading, and resumed 
his place in the employ of the Navigation Company. In the 
early part of 1862, still desirous of devoting himself to the 
national cause, he became actively engaged in raising companies 
for a regiment in process of formation at Pittsburg, for service 
with General Sigel. He had a fair prospect of having his ranks 
filled, when the part of the enterprise being executed in Pitts- 
burg failed, and he was obliged to abandon it altogether. 

When the enemy, soon after the battle of Second Bull Run, 
threatened to invade Pennsylvania, he responded to the call of 
the Governor for troops by enlisting as a private, and proceeded 
to Harrisburg, where he was elected Colonel of the Eleventh 
militia regiment, called out for the emergency. His knowledge 
and ability as a soldier were in constant requisition in drilling 
and organizing the raw recruits. The admirable manner in 
which he acquitted himself won the respect and confidence of 
all. The exigency having passed, the militia were disbanded, 
and Colonel Knoderer again returned to private life. But the 
value of his services to the country had been discovered, and 
when the camp was established at Reading for drafted men, 
Governor Curtin commissioned him Colonel, and placed him in 
command. Here, too, his superior knowledge and skill as a 
soldier were of great use, and when the One Hundred and Sixty- 
seventh regiment was organized he was chosen Colonel. He was 



520 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ordered to Suffolk, Virginia, which was at this time threatened 
by a formidable force. Upon his arrival, he was actively 
employed with his men in perfecting the fortifications, and 
placing it in the very best possible condition for defence. His 
judgment in military matters, and his skill in executing such 
works as were intrusted to him, soon attracted the attention of 
his superiors, and he was early recognized by them as a military 
engineer of talent. 

The routine of camp and garrison duty was not disturbed at 
Suffolk until the night of the 29th of January, 18G3, when, upon 
a report that the rebel General Pryorwas advancing with a large 
force, and had crossed the Blackwater, Colonel Knoderer's 
regiment, with others, was ordered to march out to intercept 
him. They left their camp at midnight, and at three o'clock on 
the morning of the 30th found themselves in front of the enemy, 
at about GOO }^ards distance, and subjected to a severe fire from 
his batteries. Colonel Knoderer had directed his men to lie 
down, to protect them from the shells, while he remained stand- 
ing. Subsecpientty, as he was mounting his horse, he was struck 
in the left hip by a piece of shell, from the effects of which, 
after two weeks of great suffering, he expired. Upon the occasion 
of his death, Brigadier-General Terry issued the following order : 
" The General commanding this brigade announces with sorrow 
the death of Colonel Charles A. Knoderer. He died at the 
regimental hospital this day, at twelve o'clock M., of a wound 
received in the late action of the Deserted House, near the 
Blackwater river, Virginia, on the 30th ultimo. In the death of 
Colonel Knoderer, the officers and men of this command have 
lost a good officer and a worthy man, and the country is again 
called to mourn the death of a soldier and a patriot. Let his 
sacrifice be an occasion for every soldier to renew his vows of 
fidelity to the Constitution and the Union, and an incentive to 
sustain with new vigor the Old Flag wherever it may be borne." 

Mr. Z. C. Gait, a friend and intimate acquaintance, delineates 
the character of Colonel Knoderer in the following manner, no 
more appreciative than just: "Colonel Knoderer was a man of rare 
attainments. His education as a civil engineer had been com- 
plete and thorough, and his experience large, and from habits of 



ROBERT B. HAMPTON. 521 

close observation and constant study, he had added greatly to the 
store of professional knowledge acquired in the excellent German 
schools. In military science he was an enthusiast, and in its study 
constant ; and few men were so well acquainted with the military 
history of the world as he. As soon as the Rebellion took the 
shape of war at Sumter, he was only anxious to find his place 
among the loyal defenders of his loved, adopted country, and he 
has laid down his life in its service, after but a few months of 
active duty in the field. Had he lived he doubtless would have 
made himself a name, by deeds, for which his country would have 
been grateful ; but Providence had otherwise ordered, and we can 
only remember the patriotism which prompted his actions, and 
regret that the country should have lost his valuable services at 
so early a period of his career. He had, by long residence among 
us, endeared himself to all who knew him by his amiable man- 
ners, his gentle bearing, and his unsullied purity of character. 
He died the death he coveted." 

obert B. Hampton, Captain of Independent Battery F, was 
born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He entered the service 
of the United States, on the 17th of October, 1861, as Captain 
of this battery. He was with Banks in the Shenandoah Valley, 
and subsequently with the army of General Pope before Washing- 
ton. He advanced with General McClellan in the Maryland cam- 
paign, and his guns rendered efficient service in the passage of 
South Mountain, and in the battle of Antietam. At the conclu- 
sion of this, the Twelfth corps was organized, which remained as 
a corps of observation at the mouth of the Shenandoah Vallej', 
while the rest of the army pushed on to Fredericksburg. In the 
battle of Chancellorsville, this corps had the centre of the Union 
line, and when, on the morning of the 3d of May, 1863, the rebel 
forces began to press upon it — the Eleventh corps having sus- 
tained disaster on the previous evening — the action became 
warm, the artillery fire on both sides being terrific. Captain 
Hampton handled his guns with great skill, and did efficient 
service ; but in the midst of the hottest of the fire, and while he 
was directing the movement of his pieces, he was struck by a 
fragment of shell and instantly killed. 



522 MARTIAL DEEDS, OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

fiiOMAS Sloan Bell, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifty-first regi- 
ment, was born at West Chester, Pennsylvania, on the 12th 
of May, 1838. He was the third son of the Hon. Thomas S. Bell, 
for several years President Judge of the Chester district, and 
subsequently an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the 
State. He was a descendant of Captain Joseph McClellan, dis- 
tinguished in the Revolutionary War as a brave, active, and 
vigilant officer, who, during a long life, was held in high estima- 
tion. His education was chiefly acquired at the West Chester 
Academy, where he early gave promise of genius, and developed 
the power of graceful oratory for which his father was dis- 
tinguished. He studied law under the direction of his father, 
and was admitted to the bar of Chester county, in April, 1859. 
One of his examiners, on that occasion, says : " He sustained a 
most creditable examination, evincing that he had read diligently 
and possessed a legal mind." 

In March, 1858, he was commissioned Aide-de-camp to the 
Major-General of the Third division of the Uniformed Militia, 
and, in October following, was appointed paymaster of that 
division, with the rank of Major. On the 20th of May, 1859, 
he was appointed Notary Public for Chester county, and at the 
general election, in 18G0, w r as one of the candidates of the Demo- 
cratic party for the State Legislature. When troops were called 
for the defence of the Union, he was among the foremost to 
respond, going as Lieutenant of the first company that marched 
from his native town, and was appointed Adjutant of the Ninth 
regiment, in which position he served in the three months' 
campaign. 

On his return, after this service, he immediately re-entered 
with new recruits for three years, and was appointed Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, led by Colonel Hartranft. 
This regiment was of Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, 
forming part of Reno's brigade. In the voyage, Colonel Bell, 
with four companies, was on board the transport " Scout," which 
became separated from the rest of the fleet in a storm, and 
drifted far out of its course. It was given up for lost, but finally 
came safely to port. In this trying voyage the bearing of Colonel 
Bell is represented as being heroic. 



THOMAS S. BELL. 523 

In the engagement on Roanoke Island his conduct was bold 
and fearless, and inspired confidence and like courage in the 
breasts of his men. At Newbern he had command of the left 
wing of his regiment. He was ordered to charge upon the 
enemy's batteries, which were carried, and he was the first man 
to mount and take possession of the captured pieces. At Camden 
he commanded the brigade, composed of his own and the Twenty- 
first Massachusetts ; and here, as throughout this entire cam- 
paign, he distinguished himself by his skill and bravery. In the 
severe conflicts about Manassas, in Pope's campaign, to Reno's 
command is justly attributed the credit of having been largely 
instrumental in saving the Union army from utter annihilation. 
When the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth regiment was formed, 
chiefly recruited in the neighborhood of Colonel Bell's home, he 
was selected to lead it. Governor Cur tin expressed his desire 
to appoint him. But a regulation of the National Government, 
relative to the transfer of officers from one regiment to another, 
prevented his acceptance of this position. 

He was at South Mountain, where Reno routed the enemy, 
and in the act fell mortally wounded — one of the most deeply 
lamented of the Union Generals. At the storming of the bridge 
on Burnside's front, in the battle of Antietam, Hartranft's regi- 
ment was selected to lead, and Colonel Bell heroically moved 
with the command, which carried that impregnable position at 
the point of the bayonet. A lodgment had already been gained 
on the thither bank, when Colonel Bell, ever solicitous for the 
assurance of victory, having gone out to bring his forces into 
more favorable position, was struck b}^ an enemy's missile, and 
soon after expired. " After crossing the bridge," says General 
Hartranft, " I took the regiment to the right and halted. Colonel 
Bell here came up to me, saying that more troops should be sent 
over. I replied, ' Well, go and see about it.' He went ; but no far- 
ther than the bridge, and soon I saw him coming back on the bed 
of the road (which was now clear of troops) a few feet from the 
edge nearest the water. When about thirty yards from the bridge, 
I saw him struck on the left temple, as I at that time thought, 
and now believe, by a canister shot. He fell backward and off 
the road to within six feet of the water. He spoke freely, say- 



524 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ing : ' Never say die, boys ! Stand by the colors ! Take care of 
my sword.' He was immediately taken back to the barn hospital 
and examined by a surgeon, who pronounced his wound not 
dangerous. Bleeding soon stopped. I directed Sergeant-Major 
Stoneroad to remain with him and take charge of his effects. I 
was under orders at this time to move forward, and could not 
leave the regiment. In little less than an hour afterwards, I 
received permission to go back to the hospital to see the Colonel. 
I saw him, but he did not recognize me. In an hour after, he 
passed off calmly." 

An officer who was with him, says : " There was the same 
goodness in his last hours as had marked his life." He had won 
the attachment of his superior officers and of his regiment, and 
his loss was deeply felt. His remains were brought to his home 
at West Chester, and interred by the side of his mother in the 
Oakland Cemetery, where it was his expressed wish he should be 
buried. He was possessed of a fine form and features, and had the 
mark and bearing of a soldier. His disposition was amiable, and 
he was, in the highest sense of the term, a Christian. Chaplain 
Mallory says of him : " While at the College in Annapolis, we 
occupied the same room. Here I first saw him reading the Bible 
and kneeling at his bedside night and morning — a practice which 
he continued in the midst of abounding wickedness until his 
death. He invariably refused to taste intoxicating drinks, 
and mourned, as I did, the prevailing profanity in the army. 
Especially during our last march through Maryland, when we 
were thrown more in contact with the men, he expressed to me 
and to others a longing to escape from the hateful sounds." He 
was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 

A short time before his death, he was addressed upon the sub- 
ject of allowing his name to be used as a candidate for Congress. 
He replied emphatically, " No," that he had volunteered to serve 
his country in aiding to put down rebellion ; that he could accept 
of no civil office until the war was over ; that he intended to 
stick to the Union army for weal or for woe. And at his post, 
like a faithful sentinel, he stood to the last. 



FRANCIS A. LANCASTER— CALVIN A. CRAIG. 525 

Francis A. Lancaster, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fif- 
teenth regiment, was born in Philadelphia. He entered 
the service as Major of this regiment on the 26th of June, 1862 ; 
and was immediately sent with his command to the Peninsula, to 
the succor of McClellan. In Pope's campaign before Washington it 
was put to severe duty, and in the initial action at Bristoe Station 
with the redoubtable Stonewall Jackson, Major Lancaster was 
severely wounded in the left arm. It was not until the following 
April that he was able to rejoin his regiment, having in the 
meantime been promoted to Colonel. In the fierce fighting on 
the morning of the 3d of May, 1863, at Chancellorsville, when 
the enemy was coming down with overpowering force upon 
Sickles' corps, Colonel Lancaster, while leading forward his 
troops in the most resolute manner, fell, pierced through the 
temple by a Minie ball. He had shown himself an heroic officer, 
and his regiment had come to be regarded as one of the best dis- 
ciplined in the army. 



c/^alvin A. Craig, second Colonel of the One Hundred and 
i§k! Fifth regiment. This regiment retired from the disastrous 
field of Chancellorsville with ranks terribly shattered ; but the 
saddest of its disasters was the loss of its dauntless chief, Colonel 
McKnight. Fortunate, however, were the remnants of that gal- 
lant band, who had so resolutely bared their bosoms to the 
terrible death-storm that swept that devoted field, in not being 
left without a leader. The wand that dropped from the nerveless 
grasp of McKnight, was caught up by the heroic Craig, and 
wielded with a courage and a dexterity worthy of that fearless 
regiment. 

Calvin A. Craig, third son of Washington Craig, was born in 
Clarion county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of December, 1833. 
From his earliest years he was inured to toil, and received his 
rudimentary instruction in the schools of a rural district. Pos- 
sessed of good native talents, his faculties made keen by healthful 
exercise, he soon acquired the elements of a sound English educa- 
tion and much solid information, evincing a relish for books of a 
useful character. In 1858 he graduated at Duff's Mercantile 
College, and in the following spring made a journey through the 



526 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

West and Southwest, for the purpose of enlarging his observation 
of men and things. " His opinions and criticisms," says the Rev. 
J. S. Elder, in his funeral discourse — from which the facts con- 
tained in this memoir are principally drawn — " showed how 
closely and narrowly he scanned the customs and views of the 
people among whom he sojourned, and proved himself to be a 
shrewd and careful observer. He closely scrutinized the work- 
ings and influence of the institution of slavery. His observations 
confirm what every intelligent man knows to be true. He main- 
tained this principle : that whoever seeks to degrade the lowly, 
himself must sink. ... To a system producing such results, he 
declared he was in heart and soul opposed, and he ever afterwards 
cherished an increased antipathy to the inhuman institution." 

On his return from this tour, he engaged in the production of 
lumber, an interest largely followed in the forest section in which 
he lived. He subsequently associated himself in business with 
his father in his native town. At the first tap of the drum, after 
the assault upon Fort Sumter, he recruited a company and 
marched with the Eighth regiment to the front. At the expira- 
tion of three months, the time for which all troops had been 
enlisted, he returned, and immediately set about recruiting for a 
three years' regiment. He was surrounded by hardy men from 
farm and forest, possessed of rare qualifications for soldiers. His 
company, which was speedily filled, became part of the One 
Hundred and Fifth regiment; and with it he acted faithfully as 
Captain, in the skirmishes of the siege of Yorktown, and before 
Richmond, and in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, 
Charles City Cross Roads, and Malvern Hill. 

His fidelity in the Peninsula campaign, and the campaign of 
Pope before Washington, won the promotion which he had richly 
merited. On the 20th of April, 18G3, he was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. The battle of Chancellors- 
ville soon followed, and upon the fall of Colonel McKnight, he 
succeeded to its chief command. Scarcety had the smoke of that 
conflict cleared away, before the commander of the brigade, the 
brave General Graham, wrote thus to Governor Curtin : "Colonel 
A. A. McKnight, of the One Hundred and Fifth regiment, Penn- 
sylvania volunteers, having been killed while gallantly leading 



CALVIN A. CRAIG. 527 

his regiment in a charge against the enemy, on which occasion 
Lieutenant-Colonel Calvin A. Craig succeeded him in command, 
and behaved with equal coolness and courage, I consider it a 
duty to the service to recommend that Lieutenant-Colonel Craig 
be promoted to the vacancy occasioned by the death of the heroic 
McKnight. In soliciting this promotion, I am influenced alone by 
a desire to keep up the high standard of the One Hundred and 
Fifth regiment, one of the noblest regiments in the United States 
service." An appeal like this could not fail to reach the heart 
of the Governor, alive to every exhibition of valor, and the 
appointment was immediately made. It was a responsible trust, 
but he proved himself, on many a hard-fought field, worthy of it. 
He always wrote and spoke of his regiment in the highest terms 
of eulogy. In a familiar letter to a friend, in speaking of its con- 
duct on a hotly-contested field, he said : " The regiment never 
did better. When they moved forward on a charge on a double- 
quick, every man at his post, and with scarcely an inch of dif- 
ference in the slope of their glittering bayonets — oh ! but I did feel 
proud of them. I know I have a kind of weakness for this regi- 
ment, but I tell you, it is a regiment to be proud of." This is the 
language of an enthusiast. It sounds like the breathings of a 
devoted spirit, touching the dearest object of its affection. One 
who could speak thus could never abuse his trust. Soldiers will 
follow such a man into positions of peril, without a murmur. 

Unflinching, Colonel Craig met the storm of battle in campaigns 
unparalleled for severity. His record of casualties was remarka- 
ble. He was wounded slightly in the hand in the Seven Days' 
battle before Richmond. At the Second Bull Run battle he was 
wounded severely in the ankle. At Gettysburg he had three 
horses shot under him, and was himself wounded in the foot. In 
the battle of the Wilderness he was wounded severely and dan- 
gerously in the face. During the siege of Petersburg he was 
struck in the left shoulder by a fragment of shell. In the ter- 
rific battle at Deep Bottom on the lGth of August, 1864, while in 
command of the Second brigade, Third division, of the Second 
corps, he received a mortal wound, his face to the foe, and died 
on the following morning. 

At the end of the three years' service the soldiers of his regi- 



528 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

ment reenlisted for a second term, and were given a veteran's 
furlough. During this interval of duty — grim War's holiday — 
Colonel Craig was married to Miss Elmira Craig of Greenville. 

Mr. Elder mentions, in his discourse, the case of a noted 
French regiment, the soldiers of which so revered the memory 
of their fallen leader that they persisted in having his name 
retained on the regimental rolls, and called every morning with 
those of the living. When that name was uttered, a soldier 
answered lor him, " Dead on the field of honor." The One Hun- 
dred and Fifth regiment could claim the names of McKnight and 
Craig as worthy of equal endearment, as also those of Greenawalt, 
Clyde, Dowling, Patton, Kirk, Conser, Hamilton — heroes all — 
" Dead on the field of honor." 

The remains of Colonel Craig were returned to his sorrowing 
friends in his native town of Greenville, and there, in the 
village graveyard, where the rude forefathers of the hamlet 
sleep, the careworn and battle-scarred warrior is at rest. 

. Tp-T enry J. Stainrook, Colonel of the One Hundred and Ninth 
C3u-r* regiment, was born in Pennsylvania. He was commis- 
sioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Ninth on the 5th of 
May, 1802. He immediately led it to the front, meeting the 
enemy at the mouth of the Shenandoah Valley, as they came 
down in pursuit of Banks. When Pope assumed command of 
the Army of Northern Virginia, Colonel Stainrook, with all the 
forces of Banks and Fremont, hastened to his support. In the 
battle of Cedar Mountain Colonel Stainrook's regiment was sub- 
jected to severe duty — supporting Knap's battery and charging 
upon the enemy through the noted corn-field, where a full half its 
numbers were either killed or wounded, Colonel Stainrook him- 
self being among the latter. In the campaign in Maryland he 
commanded a brigade of Geary's division. At Chancellorsville 
General Kane commanded the brigade to which the One Hundred 
and Ninth had been transferred — an officer whose untiring energy 
is only matched by his skill. As a consequence this brigade was 
selected to demonstrate on the Twelfth corps' front, where it had 
warm encounters with the advancing foe. Near the close of the 
severe fighting of the 3d of May, 1863, when the army of Hooker 



HENRY J. STAINROOK.- MILTON OPP. 509 

was upon the point of taking up a new line of battle more con- 
tracted and secure, a rebel sharp-shooter, who had gained a position 
not twenty paces distant, shot and instantly killed Colonel Stain- 
rook. The act created intense feeling among the men of the One 
Hundred and Ninth, and Lieutenant Kidney, of Company G, who 
had witnessed the deed, seizing a musket, and skilfully awaiting 
his opportunity, sent a bullet in reply which forever silenced the 
sharp-shooters fire. 

r ilton Opp, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighty-fourth regiment. 




was born at Moreland, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of 
August, 1835. His father was a well-to-do farmer, and his 
parents cherished a laudable ambition to see their son well edu- 
cated. He displayed on his part great aptness to learn. He 
graduated in due course and with honor at the Lewisburg Uni- 
versity, and afterwards at the Law School at Poughkeepsie, New 
York. With the most nattering prospects of success he entered 
upon the practice of his profession at Muncy. But he was scarcely 
established in his chosen vocation, when the war came on. He 
instantly dismissed the hope of fame and fortune which seemed 
opening before him, and volunteered for the war in the Eighty- 
fourth regiment, in which he was commissioned a Lieutenant. 
He was promoted to Captain in May, 1862, to Major in October, 
and to Lieutenant-Colonel in December. These rapid advance- 
ments were earned by real worth and genuine manhood. He 
served first with Lander and subsequently with Shields in the 
Shenandoah Valley, and with the latter commander shared in the 
triumph over Stonewall Jackson at the battle of Winchester, on 
the 23d of March, 1862, though his regiment suffered grievous 
loss, and its commander, the highly-esteemed Colonel Murray, was 
among the killed. He was also at Port Republic, Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville, and in the campaign of Gettysburg, though in 
the latter battle his regiment was not at the front, having been 
assigned to important and difficult special duty. On the second 
day of the battle of the Wilderness, while leading his men in a 
charge with his accustomed gallantry, he was shot through the 
right lung and soon after expired, the terrible sounds of the con- 
flict saluting his ears to the last. 

34 



530 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The Rev. J. C. Wynn, who was a classmate of Colonel Opp, 
gives the following tribute to his memory : "At the age of nine- 
teen, he entered the collegiate department of the University of 
Lewisburg, from which he graduated in 1858. His mind was 
symmetrical : it showed no excessive preponderance of particular 
faculties. Possessed of genuine love of truth and of knowledge, he 
addressed himself to mathematics or classics, to physics or 
metaphysics, with almost equal facility and enthusiasm. He was 
a faithful student — a refined scholar. His youthful tastes were 
elevated and ennobling. With him the sensual was very sub- 
ordinate; the intellect reigned. His natural inclination revealed 
itself in his choice of the profession of law. The highest ideal 
that his soul knew w r as that of a faithful advocate pleading 
for justice to his client. Colonel Opp was above the average 
stature, being five feet ten inches in height. His general health 
was good. His habits of life regular and temperate. He had no 
military education previous to the War of the Rebellion." 

f?OHN W. Crosby, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-first regi- 
ment, was born in Philadelphia. He entered the service of 
the United States as a Second Lieutenant in the Twenty-third 
regiment, in April, 18G1. When that regiment was recruited for 
three years, at the expiration of the short term, he received a 
Captain's commission, and served under Colonel Birney until 
March, 1862, when his, with other companies, was transferred to 
the Sixty-first regiment. He was with his command through the 
Peninsula campaign, the Second Bull Run, Maryland, and Fred- 
ericksburg. In the storming of Marye's Heights in the Chan- 
cellorsville campaign his regiment was of the light brigade which 
had been formed to lead in the assault, and here he was wounded. 
In April, 18G4, he was promoted to Major, and in the desperate 
fighting of the Wilderness he was again wounded. When the 
Sixth corps, to which his regiment belonged, was brought to 
Washington, in July of that year, for its defence against Early, 
Major Crosby was lying in one of the hospitals at the capital. He 
obtained a short furlough and sought permission to lead his old 
command. It was granted, and in the encounter before Fort 
Stevens he lost his left arm. In December he resigned, but his 



JOHN W. CROSBY.— HEZEKIAH EASTON. 531 

wound having healed, he rejoined his regiment on the 22d of 
February, 1865, and was re-commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. In 
the assault upon Petersburg, on the 2d of April, he was killed 
while gallantly leading his men upon the hostile works. An 
obituary notice thus characterizes him: "He was idolized by his 
men for his bravery and soldierly bearing. In him the country 
has lost a devoted servant and a true patriot. The regiment 
mourns the loss of a brave leader. His little girls are left 
orphans — they who were his comfort and pride while away from 
them fighting the battles of his country. When the names of the 
many brave and fallen heroes are gathered up, and shine as stars 
in the pages of history, as bright and fair as any among them 
will shine that of our lamented Colonel Crosby." 

^IT ezekiaii Easton, Captain of Battery A, First Pennsylvania 
(■t-^ Artillery, was killed at Gaines' Mill on the 27th of June, 
18G2. He had been instrumental in recruiting this battery, and 
had entered the service as its Captain, in May, 1SG1. To great 
energy and perseverance he joined rare skill in the arm of the 
service which he had chosen. At Dranesville, where the first 
victory of the Army of the Potomac was gained, Easton's Battery 
played an important part, exploding the enemy's caissons, and 
knocking his gun-carriages to pieces. At Gaines' Mill, Easton, 
with Kern, covered with their artillery the left of the Union line, 
resting upon the Chickahominy. Desperate fighting and repeated 
charges with massed troops finally broke the Union infantry, and 
drove them back, leaving the guns unsupported. But Easton, 
giving little heed to the misfortune of his supports, resolutely 
stood by his guns and continued to pour in double charges of 
canister. A force of cavalry was sent to his relief, but the ground, 
broken by ravines, was unfavorable for a charge of horse, and it 
was thrown into confusion by the terrible fire of the foe. Checked 
and broken in their advance, the mounted fugitives came pouring 
through the battery, carrying with them to the rear all the avail- 
able limbers. The enemy, yelling like so many fiends, advanced 
boldly to the guns, now left without ammunition, crying out to 
Captain Easton and those officers and men who bravely withstood 
the storm, to surrender. His reply, never to be forgotten by his 



532 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 

comrades who clustered about him, was, "No! We never surren- 
der !" Alas! The next moment that voice was hushed in death, 
lie fell beside his guns; none were left to surrender them. In the 
varying fortunes of the fight two of his faithful men attempted 
to bring off the body, but lost it in the melee. A solitary peach 
tree marked the spot where he fell. 

"Easton," says a soldier, George W. Crepps, who served with 
him, "was a genial, warm-hearted, Christian officer. He was 
killed at Gaines' Mill. Mountz, the chief bugler, was the first to 
bear the melancholy tidings to us, which he did on Sunday morn- 
ing, as we lay in battery below Savage Station. I need not say 
that it sent a thrill of anguish to all, and especially to us who 
knew him. The sad news of poor Kern's death also deeply 
moved us. Captain Easton was enrolled with Battery B at 
Hagerstown. He told me that he had been owner, or largely in- 
terested in some iron works in Maryland before the war." 

!T3 obert P. Cummins, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- 
%V second regiment, was born in Somerset county, Pennsyl- 
vania. A considerable portion of this regiment was recruited 
under his supervision, and when an organization was effected he 
was chosen its Colonel. It was attached to Magilton's brigade of 
the Reserve Corps on reaching the front. Not long afterwards 
Colonel Cummins was prostrated by sickness, by which he was 
much reduced. He was still an invalid when the Fredericksburg 
campaign opened ; but, being intent on leading his men in the 
battle which he saw impending, he proceeded to the field, arriving 
just as the Lieutenant-Colonel was addressing his men prepara- 
tory to advancing to the attack. Colonel Cummins at once 
assumed the command, and led his regiment in a most perilous, 
destructive charge. His horse was shot under him, and two hun- 
dred and fifty of his men had fallen before they had been an hour 
in action. In the Chancellorsville movement the First corps, to 
which the Reserves were attached, supported the Sixth corps on 
the first day, being posted opposite Franklin's crossing, where 
Colonel Cummins again had his horse killed. At Gettysburg, 
the First corps was subjected to a terrible ordeal on the 1st of 
July, being greatly outnumbered; and here, while holding his 



ROBERT P. CUMMINS.— GEORGE C. SPEAR.— HENRY M. EDDY. 533 

men up to the fight, and stimulating and encouraging them, he 
received a mortal wound, and died on the following day. 



eorge C. Spear, Colonel of the Sixty-first regiment, entered 
the service as Captain of Company A of the Twenty-third, 
three months' regiment, but was soon after promoted to Major. 
When the Twenty-third was recruited as a veteran regiment he 
was still retained as Major. But as this organization had fifteen 
companies, soon after taking the field Major Spear was transferred, 
with four of the companies, from this to the Sixty-first regiment, 
of which he was made Lieutenant-Colonel. In the battle of 
Fair Oaks, on the Peninsula, on the 31st of May, 1862, the Sixty- 
first bore a prominent part and won lasting honor. In this battle 
its Colonel, Oliver H. Rippey, was killed, when Lieutenant-Colonel 
Spear was promoted to succeed him. Colonel Spear participated 
with his regiment in the battles of the Potomac army with 
singular earnestness and fidelity, until the second battle of 
Fredericksburg, where he was killed while leading the assault on 
Marye's Heights. A marked compliment had been shown him, 
in selecting his regiment as one of a light division, formed 
specially for dangerous duty, and was given the lead in the 
famous assault which swept the enemy from the strongholds 
which had defied the utmost efforts of Burnside to carry. 




J enry Malcolm Eddy, Major of the One Hundred and Four- 
teenth regiment, was born on the 27th of October, 1838, 
at Philadelphia. He was the son of Jason and Sarah (Raban) 
Eddy. His father was a native of Massachusetts. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of the city, and developed a strong 
predilection for literature and history. In April, 1861, but a 
few days after the call for troops, he enlisted as a private in the 
Eighteenth regiment, and at the close of his term in this, reen- 
listed as a private in the Independent Zouaves d'Afrique. In 
July, 1862, he was appointed First Lieutenant in the One Hun- 
dred and Fourteenth regiment, and in April, 1863, was promoted 
to Captain. In the afternoon of the second day, in the battle of 
Gettysburg, he received a slight wound from a spent ball, but 



534 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

kept the field. In October, 1864, he was promoted to Major, and 
in the charge upon the rebel works before Petersburg, on the 2d 
of April, 1865, where he was in command of the regiment and 
was leading it with undaunted heroism, he was mortally wounded. 
The charge was of the most desperate character, having to be 
made in the face of a ceaseless fire of artillery and small arms, 
and over abattis and ditches of the fort, against a foe who was 
completely shielded from harm. But the charge was most gal- 
lantly executed and the enemy routed. For the able and 
fearless maimer in which Major Eddy led in the assault, he 
was commended in orders. Captain Dunkel, who enlisted with 
him, and served by his side throughout, says that the following 
epitaph may truthfully be inscribed upon his tomb : " Here lies 
one who served his country for four years, and never once 
faltered in the performance of his duty as a soldier." 

fONRAD Faeger Jackson, Brigadier-General of volunteers, and 
Colonel of the Ninth Reserve regiment, was born on the 
11th of September, 1813. His ancestors were Quakers, and his 
father, Isaac Jackson, was a member of that sect, but joined the 
Army of the United States in the War of 1812, and died six }-ears 
thereafter of disease contracted while in the service. His mater- 
nal grandfather, Conrad Faeger, for whom he was named, was for 
many years sheriff of Berks county. After the death of his 
father he was taken into the family of his uncle, Joseph Jackson, 
a resident of Chester county, and was educated in schools of 
the Friends' Society. Arrived at man's estate, he commenced 
business in Philadelphia, in a commission warehouse, but subse- 
quently abandoned this for a position as conductor on the Phila- 
delphia and Reading Railroad. In 1845, he was appointed by 
President Polk a Lieutenant in the revenue service of the United 
States, and subsequently was sent to Mexico as the bearer of 
despatches to General Scott. 

At the opening of the Rebellion he was employed in the 
management of a petroleum oil company in the Kanawha Valley. 
The secession of Virginia left him but one alternative. He 
immediately resigned his position, and, returning to Pennsyl- 
vania, entered actively upon the business of recruiting troops. 



CONRAD F. JACKSON. 535 

When the Ninth Reserve regiment was organized, he was made 
its Colonel. Upon the Peninsula he led his command with so 
much gallantry that, at its close, he was promoted to Briga- 
dier-General, and placed in command of the Third brigade 
of the corps. In the actions at Bull Run, South Mountain, 
and Antietam, General Jackson displayed the qualities of a 
true soldier and an unswerving patriot, his brigade render- 
ing the most efficient service in each of these hard-fought 
battles. 

At Fredericksburg, where the Reserves were given the place 
of honor to lead in the assault upon the enemy, the ground 
was contested, with infantry and artillery, on both sides with 
great pertinacity; but the Union column gained a decided 
advantage. Supports failing to come, it was finally compelled 
to yield ground. Of the service rendered here by Jackson's 
brigade, General Meade, who commanded the corps, says : " The 
Third brigade had not advanced over one hundred yards when 
the battery on the height on its left was re-manned, and poured 
a destructive fire into its ranks. Perceiving this, I despatched 
my Aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Dehon, with orders for General 
Jackson to move by the right flank till he could clear the open 
ground in front of the battery, and then, ascending the height 
through the woods, sweep round to the left and take the battery. 
Unfortunately Lieutenant Dehon fell just as he reached General 
Jackson, and a short time after, the latter officer was killed. The 
regiments did, however, partially execute the movement by 
obliquing to the right, and advanced across the railroad, a 
portion ascending the heights in their front. The loss of 
their commander, and the severity of the fire, from both 
artillery and infantry, to which they were subjected, compelled 
them to withdraw." No greater encomium could have been 
passed upon the influence of General Jackson than the report of 
the superior, that the troops executed, without orders, and after 
their commander had fallen, the movements which the leader of 
the corps had intended. General Jackson had ridden forward to 
give the contemplated order ; but before it had passed his lips he 
was struck by a volley from the enemy and mortally wounded. 
In mentioning his death, General Meade said, in his report : 



536 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

'- The public service has also to mourn the loss of Brigadier- 
General C. Faeger Jackson, an officer of merit and reputation, 
who owed his position to his gallantry and good conduct in pre- 
vious actions." 

©AMUEL "W. Black, Colonel of the Sixty-second regiment, 
,^rf was bom at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1818. He was 
the son of the liev. John Black, D. D., one of the earliest and 
most distinguished of the Covenanter clergymen of the State. 
He received a liberal education, and chose the law as his profes- 
sion, in which he soon rose to a lucrative practice, and withal 
became prominent in political life, being especially effective 
upon the stump. He married, when very young, the daughter 
of Judge Irvin of Pittsburg, by whom he had four children. In 
the Mexican War he served as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second 
Pennsylvania regiment, and acquitted himself with distinction. 
He was appointed United States Judge for Nebraska Territory 
by President Buchanan, in 1857. In the following year, upon 
the death of Governor Richardson, Colonel Black was appointed 
to succeed him. In the spring of 18G1, he recruited the Sixty- 
second regiment, of which he was commissioned Colonel, and was 
assigned to duty in Morrell's brigade of Porters division. He 
was engaged at Hanover Court-House, where the enemy w; s 
put to flight, and his camp and garrison equipage and many 
prisoners were taken. Colonel Black says, in his official report: 
k ' In the course of the afternoon's operations, we captured eighty- 
one prisoners, including seven officers. From a great many 
arms taken, about seventy-five were brought into camp. By the 
annexed statement, it will be seen that our loss is only six men 
wounded, none killed, and not one missing. I should do the 
brave and faithful men I have the honor to command, injustice 
if I refrained from expressing, in strong terms, my admiration' 
of their conduct from first to last. In common with the other 
regiments of your brigade, they went into action with their bodies 
broken by fatigue, and their physical strength wasted by the 
hard toils of the day. But their spirits failed not, and they 
went in and came out with whatever credit is due to dangers 
bravely met, and the noblest duty well performed." 



SAMUEL W. BLACK. 537 

The enemy soon began to make himself felt on the left bank 
of the Chickahominy, and on the 26th of June, 18G2, fought a 
stubborn battle at Beaver Dam Creek. The Pennsylvania 
Reserves were upon the front, but the brigade to which Colonel 
Black belonged was soon ordered to their support. Colonel 
Black led his men forward with that fervor and enthusiasm 
which always characterized him, anticipating severe fighting; 
but the Reserves were able to hold their position, and Colonel 
Black, though under fire, was not engaged. In the night the 
Union forces retired to Gaines' Mill, where, on the following day, 
the* battle was renewed with great fury. Morrell's division had 
the left of the line, its left resting on the slope which reaches 
down to the Chickahominy, Griffin's brigade, which included 
Colonel Black's regiment, having the right of the division. 
The battle was opened by the advance of Longstreet's corps, 
which came down upon this flank. At the very outset of the 
battle, the Sixty-second Pennsylvania and the Ninth Massa- 
chusetts were ordered to advance under a terrific infantry fire. 
They charged across a ravine in their front, and gained the 
woods on the opposite side, handsomely driving the enemy. 
But while making the charge, and before the woods were 
reached, Colonel Black, while the heroic exploit which he in- 
spired was in full tide, was killed. Few Pennsylvania soldiers, 
at the time of his death, had made a brighter record, and 
none could look forward with better hope of advancement. He 
died, deeply lamented by the whole State and mourned by a wide 
circle of personal friends. 

Of his personal traits the following, from the pen of John W. 
Forney, conveys a vivid idea : " Twenty-two years ago, more 
or less, a young man electrified the cities and towns of western 
Pennsylvania by his peculiar and irresistible eloquence. He 
was more boy than man. His fine face and laughing eye, his 
well-knit and handsome figure, his winning voice, and his mother 
wit made i Sam Black ' the wonder of more than one exciting 
campaign. The son of a Presbyterian clergyman who was an 
object of veneration and love in thousands of hearts, and whose 
life had been one prayer, and sacrifice, and thanksgiving to God, 
Sam inherited a fervent religious sentiment, and frequently 



538 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

punctuated his political appeals and legal arguments with Bible 
points and periods. And how he loved that old gray-haired 
father ! In his most impulsive moments, however surrounded 
or Mattered or aroused; whether fired with indignation, or revel- 
ling with merriment created by his exuberant humor, a mere 
allusion to his father called tears to his eyes and gratitude to his 
lips. . . . To fall in the battle-field, and for his country, was to 
die as Samuel W. Black preferred to die. If there was one 
trait conspicuous in him it was courage, and courage of the 
purest chivalry. It called him to the fields of Mexico, where he 
plucked laurels almost from the cannon's mouth. It always 
made him the champion of the weak or the wronged. It made 
him irresistible at the bar." 



tHEODORE Hesser, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventy-second 
regiment, was a native of Philadelphia. He entered the 
service of the United States in August, 1861. In the Peninsula 
campaign the regiment did excellent duty at Fair Oaks, the 
brigade to which it was attached being led by General Burns. 
Few regiments suffered more severely than did this in the battle 
of Antietam. Thirty-one were killed, and nearly half its strength 
went down in the terrible struggle. Colonel Hesser was in com- 
mand of the regiment in the Mine Run campaign, and on the 
27th of November, near Robertson's Tavern, the enemy was 
encountered. The regiment was deployed as skirmishers and 
advanced. The enemy, from his covert, opened with great violence, 
and in the midst of the attack, while the command was being 
formed for an assault, Colonel Hesser was killed. The loss was a 
severe one, as he had from the first been with his men, and had 
won their confidence and esteem. 

T3 [CHARD Colegate Dale., Lieutenant-Colonel of 'the One 
* V Hundred and Sixteenth regiment, was born on the 19th 
of December, 183S, in the city of Allegheny. His father, 
Thomas F. Dale, M. D., and his mother, Margaret Kennedy 
Stewart, were both natives of Delaware. He received a thorough 
English and a partial classical education in his native city. He 
was from early youth characterized by strong individuality. He 



THEODORE HESSEL— RICHARD C. DALE. 539 

was engaged for a time as a clerk in commission and manufactur- 
ing houses, but finally became an active partner in a mercantile 
firm. When the war came, he frankly said to his father: "Mr. 
Lincoln has called for men. Many, on account of family or other 
relations, cannot go as well as I. Do not think it is a fit of 
enthusiasm. I do not imagine it will be any pleasure to be a 
soldier. His is a life of trial and of peril, and I do not know 
whether my constitution will be strong enough to bear those toils 
and exposures ; but I think it my duty to go." An only son, and 
carefully reared, it was with great reluctance that the consent of 
his parents was given to his resolution; but he would listen to no 
temporizing, and he enlisted as a private in Company A of the 
Ninth Reserves, in the spring of 1861. In the following August 
he was detailed from his regiment to serve in the United States 
Signal Corps. In a School of Instruction for that arm of the 
service, at Tenallytown, and afterwards as clerk to Major Myers, 
the commander of the corps in Washington, he was emplo3'ed 
till the opening of the spring campaign under McClellan, with 
whom he went to the Peninsula, and served with fidelity and 
skill until the final battle at Malvern Hill had been fought. He 
then received leave of absence for ten days; but in Washington, 
while on his way home, his furlough was extended by the Adju- 
tant-General, and he was authorized to raise a company for signal 
duty. He of>ened a recruiting station at Pittsburg, on his arrival, 
but having been elected First Lieutenant of Company D of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-third regiment, he accepted the posi- 
tion, and at once entered upon its duties. For four months he 
served as Adjutant of the regiment, exerting himself to bring the 
organization up to an efficient standard, when he returned to his 
place in his company. At the battle of Fredericksburg he acted 
with great gallantry, taking command of his company when its 
leader, Captain Boisol, was wounded, and had his haversack 
riddled with bullets, though he himself escaped without injury. 
He was soon afterwards appointed Assistant Adjutant-General of 
the brigade. A vacancy occurring in the office of Lieutenant- 
Colonel, he was promptly elected to fill it by the line officers, 
though the junior Captain among them. So methodical and com- 
plete were all his acts that, when notified of his promotion, he was 



510 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

iii readiness to turn over his business at the head of the brigade 
in a finished condition, and at once to assume the responsible one 
in command of the regiment, lie was engaged at Chancellorsville, 
and when the term of the regiment had expired, which occurred 
soon afterwards, he returned with it to Pittsburg, where it was 
mustered out. 

When he heard the intelligence of fighting at Gettysburg, he 
hastened home, exclaiming, "Our boys are lighting and falling at 
Gettysburg, and 1 am here doing nothing. 1 cannot stand this!" 
Gathering up a few articles of clothing, he hurried away to the 
depot, ;uid reached Harrisburg that night. He immediately re- 
ported to the Governor, and asked to be sent to the front, saying, 
"I must go. I can at least volunteer as aid to some General, to 
carry despatches over the field." But the Governor could not 
provide transportation. Indeed, all the avenues were closed — 
even a private carriage could not be secured, the inhabitants fear- 
ing the action of the enemy's cavalry, and refusing every offer, 
unless bonds were entered into for the safe return of the convey- 
ance. Finding it impossible to reach the field, he was obliged 
reluctantly to return home. 

Soon afterwards, General Brooks, at the head of the Depart- 
ment of the Monongahela, offered him the command of a bat- 
talion of six-months' cavalry. ** I was drilled in cavalry move- 
ments when in the signal service," was his response, "and I 
shall be glad to serve in any capacity to which you may assign 
me." The companies were already recruited and in camp, and 
fears were entertained that officers who were expecting the com- 
mand, much older than himself, would object to having a boy set 
over them. The very troubles arose which were anticipated; 
but so firmly and judiciously did he suppress the first rising of 
revolt, and so wisely and well did he enforce his discipline and 
drill, and instruct his charge, that a large part of the men were 
desirous of being led by him for a three years' term. He was 
stationed in Fayette county, and was charged with guarding the 
border, a duty which he performed to the satisfaction of General 
Brooks, and. what was more difficult, to the entire approval of the 
inhabitants among whom he was quartered. 

In January, 18G4, while General Hancock was engaged in re- 



RICHARD C. DALE.— WILLIAM G. MURRAY. 541 

organizing the Second corps, which became famous under his 
leadership, Dale was offered the position of Lieutenant-Colonel in 
the One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment, which was accepted, 
and he was immediately engaged in recruiting, it having been 
decimated in previous campaigns while still a part of the cele- 
brated Irish brigade. In the battle of the Wilderness, where 
his command was closely engaged, a bullet penetrated his coat, 
but he escaped. On the 9th of May, his regiment was ordered 
to the picket line, to support General Miles' brigade, and was 
under a hot fire of rebel grape and canister. On the following 
day it was again engaged in a long, hard fight, in which Colonel 
Mulholland was severely wounded in the head. The command 
then devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Dale, and in the assault 
upon the enemy's works, at dawn of the 12th, while gallantly 
leading his regiment into the "imminent deadly breach," he fell, 
instantly killed or mortally wounded, as is supposed, no tidings 
having ever been had of him, and no information pertaining to 
his last resting-place been discovered. When a sufficient time 
had elapsed to preclude all hope of return, resolutions Avere 
passed by his brother officers commemorative of his great ability 
as a soldier and his many virtues as a man. The Colonel of his 
regiment said of him: "He was a man of splendid abilities, 
virtuous, gentle, brave and accomplished. He was remarkably 
calm in battle, and was very much beloved by his comrades." 
His two sisters, who survive him, say, in closing a communica- 
tion concerning him, "No sisters ever had a more devoted 
brother." 

T^7illiam Gray Murray, Colonel of the Eighty-fourth regi- 
^.Y ment, was born on the 25th of July, 1825, in the town 
of Longford, Ireland. He was the eldest son of John and Sarah 
(Gray) Murray. When but nine months old, his parents, with 
their two children, emigrated to New York, where the father 
enaras-ed in business. He soon after removed to the interior of 
the State, and settled in Utica, where, and at Canandaigua and 
Rome, he established mercantile houses. He was for a time re- 
markably prosperous, and showed great business tact and talent ; 
but the financial crisis of 1835-36 came upon him like a whirl- 



542 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

wind, and, -like many another involved in that catastrophe, his 
fortunes were wrecked. Possessed of great buoyancy of spirit, 
and endless resources within himself, he determined to remove 
to Pennsylvania, and settled, first at Lancaster, and afterwards at 
Harrisburg, engaging in active business in both places, and meet- 
ing with success. Of pleasing manners, generous and hospitable 
to a fault, he was deservedly popular. In religion, he was a 
Roman Catholic, and his children were all brought up in the 
same faith. He died in the fall of 1844. 

The son, being intended for mercantile life, received a good 
education in those branches best calculated to be useful to him. 
On leaving school, he entered his fathers store ; but, that he 
might have the best advantages which could be afforded, he was 
placed in a large mercantile house in the city of New York, 
where he remained until the spring of 1845. On coming to his 
majority in the following year, he had perfected his arrangements 
for entering business on his own account, when the Mexican 
War broke out, and he volunteered as a private in the Cameron 
Guards. He was made Sergeant, and while serving in that 
capacity at Vera Cruz, was appointed a Second Lieutenant in 
the Eleventh United States Infantry, by President Polk. In 
this position he served to the close of the war — having been in 
some of the most memorable engagements of the campaign. 

He was sent by General Scott to Washington, with confiden- 
tial despatches to Mr. Marcy, then Secretary of War, which 
having been delivered, he was ordered to recruiting duty at 
Philadelphia, and afterwards at Easton, in both places being 
eminently successful. Preferring to be with his regiment in the 
field, in response to his solicitations he was ordered forward ; but, 
when on the eve of sailing, the order was countermanded, and he 
was sent to Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, to aid in organizing 
fresh levies. Upon the conclusion of the war, he was transferred 
to Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, to assist in the discharge 
of troops. Recognizing his ability as a soldier, he was urged to 
continue in the service ; but, yielding to the solicitations of his 
family, he resigned, and, returning to private life, settled in 
Hollidaysburg. He was energetic in business, as he had been 
in the army, and bore a conspicuous part in the political strug- 



WILLIAM G. MURRAY. 543 

gles of the time. In 1851, he was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Daugherty, by whom he had three children, two of whom survive 
him. In 1852, he was appointed Postmaster of Hollidaysburg 
by President Pierce, and was re-appointed by President Buchanan. 

At the outbreak of the Rebellion, he took strong grounds with 
the Union side, and avowed his intention of entering the army. 
A Captain's commission in the regular service was tendered him, 
but, his wife being in the last stages of consumption, he declined 
it. Having had much experience in recruiting and organizing 
troops, his counsel was sought, and his services were invaluable 
in enlisting and pushing forward recruits for the volunteer force. 
His wife died in August, 1861. A short time afterwards, he 
received authority from Governor Curtin to recruit a regiment 
of infantry, and, obedient to the promptings of duty, he at once 
set about the work. When it was known that he would take 
the field, the hardy farmers and mountaineers from Blair and 
Clearfield counties came in large numbers to his standard. 

On the 19 th of December, 1861, his regiment, the Eighty- 
fourth, marched from camp, and was drawn up before the Capitol 
to receive its flag. Governor Curtin, in presenting it, referred 
to Colonel Murray as a tried soldier, and to the men as actuated 
by the purest and loftiest patriotism, leaving wives, mothers, and 
children, and the endearments of home, to maintain the laws and 
the Constitution with the sword. In response, Colonel Murray 
said : " I accept this beautiful standard, presented by the Legis- 
lature of the Keystone State, through you, its honored Chief 
Magistrate, in such glowing and eloquent terms. As the period 
for speech-making has passed, and the hour for energetic action 
has arrived, my remarks on this occasion shall be brief, as be- 
comes a soldier. In accepting this flag on behalf of the regi- 
ment, I do it with a full consciousness of the relations which both 
officers and men bear to our noble State, and the Nation whose 
cause we have espoused. Permit me to thank you, sir. for the 
terms of commendation in which you have been pleased to speak 
of the Eighty-fourth, and of my humble self, and to assure you 
that whatever our fate may be in the future, we will endeavor 
by good conduct, and a strict discharge of our duties, to make 
such a record as will bring no dishonor upon the Stars and Stripes, 



544 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

which we go to maintain and defend, or the proud Commonwealth 
whose sons we deem it an honor to eall ourselves. 

4 No shrewish tears shall fill our eyes, 

When the sword-hilt 's in our hand ; 
Heart-whole we'll part and not a sigh 

For the fairest of the land. 
Let piping swain and craven wight 

Thus weep and puling cry ; 
Our business is like men to fight, 

And Hero-like to die.' " 

The Colonel delivered the flag into the hands of Sergeant Stokes, 
with this injunction : " Into 3-our hands I entrust this standard. 
Answer for its safety with your life." The Sergeant replied : 
" Governor and Colonel : If I don't return this ilag, 'twill be 
because Ned Stokes will occupy five feet eight of ground." 

The active campaigning of the regiment commenced on the 
1st of January, 1862, when it was led by Colonel Murray to 
Bath. Virginia, to the relief of the Thirty-ninth Illinois and a 
section of artillery commanded by Lieutenant Muhlenberg, 
crossing the Potomac at Hancock, Maryland. The opposing 
force greatly outnumbered them, being estimated at from sixteen 
to twenty thousand men. After twenty-four hours of irregular 
skirmishing, the Union force succeeded in withdrawing across 
the river and bringing off the guns. On the following day, Gen- 
eral Lander arrived with reinforcements. The campaign was an 
arduous one ; but despite all the difficulties which the division 
had to encounter, the troops succeeded in opening the country 
before them to Winchester, where they arrived on the 12th of 
March. On Tuesday morning, March 18th, General Shields, 
who, upon the death of General Lander, had succeeded to the 
chief command, ordered a reconnoissance in force on the Stras- 
burg road. The enemy was met and driven to a point five miles 
below Strasburg. On Thursday, the 20th, this force returned to 
camp, making a march of twenty-two miles. General Williams' 
division was now ordered away to Washington, starting on Satur- 
day, the 22d, leaving only the division of Shields and the Michi- 
gan Cavalry. When it was known that the Union force had 
been thus depleted, Stonewall Jackson, who was in command of 
the rebel army, having been reinforced by Longstreet and Smith, 



WILLIAM G. MURRAY. 545 

advanced upon Winchester with the design of crushing Shields 
in his weakened condition. At five P. M. of Saturday, the 22d, 
the Union pickets were driven in ; but the enemy was checked, 
and a portion of the division was pushed out two miles in ad- 
vance of the town, where the men lay on their arms during the 
night. It was evident that a general battle would occur on the 
'following day, Sunday. At dawn the troops were formed, and 
they had not long to wait. The enemy attacked with great spirit 
and determination ; and from eleven in the morning until three 
in the afternoon the battle raged' furiously. At this juncture. 
Shields ordered a charge. The Eighty-fourth, which, from the 
hard service to which it had been subjected, had been reduced 
to barely 300 men, was selected to lead in the assault upon the 
enemy's batteries, which were securely posted, and were particu- 
larly destructive. The ground was open which they had to 
cross, and repeated charges were made, which Colonel Murray 
led with great gallantry, officers and men falling on every side, 
strewing the ground with the dead and the dying. In the midst 
of the struggle, his horse was shot under him. Extricating him- 
self, he renewed the charge on foot. A little later, 1 is cap-cover 
was shot from his head. The carnage was now terrible, the 
enemy screening themselves behind a stone wall and a curtain 
of wood. But, nothing daunted, Colonel Murray led on his regi- 
ment, and just as it was entering the grove which crowned the 
summit, while rushing on with sword in hand, and exclaiming, 
" Charge, boys ! charge ! " he was struck by a rifle ball which, 
crashing through the bugle of his cap, carrying the figures 84 
with it, passed through his brain, tearing away the top of his 
skull. But though fallen, his heroism was not without its re- 
ward ; for the stronghold, in carrying which he had sacrificed his 
life, was taken and the victory gained. His body was received 
in Harrisburg with imposing ceremonies, the Governor, heads of 
departments, the two Houses of the Legislature, and military and 
civic societies, moving in the sad procession. It was the first 
Colonel fallen in battle whose remains had been returned to the 
State Capital, from whence so many had been sent forth, and the 
solemn event produced a deep impression. Flags were at half- 
mast, many of them draped in mourning ; and while the train 

35 



540 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was moving, the bells of the city were tolled. The body lay in 
state at the residence of his mother, and was viewed by great 
numbers. From the Capital it was taken to Hollidaysburg, 
where even more universal sorrow was manifested, and tokens 
of respect were shown. At the residence of his father-in-law, 
John Daugherty, Esq., thousands of sorrowing friends and rela- 
tives gathered, eager to take a last look at the fallen soldier. At 
St. Mary's Church, High Mass was celebrated, and a most touch- 
ing and eloquent discourse was delivered over the remains, by 
the Rev. John Walsh. He was finally laid to rest beside his wife, 
whom he had but a few months before followed to the grave. 

The New York Tribune, in speaking of the action in which 
Colonel Murray fell, after describing the varying phases of the 
fight up to the last decisive moment, says : " General Tyler, com- 
manding our left, ordered another charge on the batteries on his 
left. Two advances were successively repulsed by the enemy, 
with slaughter; but the third prevailed, routing the rebels who 
opposed it, capturing two guns and four caissons. Of the Eighty- 
fourth Pennsylvania, which led this charge, Colonel Murray and 
twenty-six other men were killed and eighty-three wounded — in 
all, one hundred and nine — out of three hundred who followed 
the standard into the fight. This success decided the fate of the 
battle." The flag was carried that day by private Graham. His 
left hand, which bore it aloft, was shot off; but before the starry 
emblem fell, he grasped it in the remaining hand, and held it 
triumphantly. The right arm was next disabled; but still cling- 
ing to the flag, he suffered it not to touch the ground until he 
was shot dead. 

Colonel Murray was a man of large and active benevolence, 
warm and ardent in his impulses, though singularly calm and 
equable, and energetic and untiring in the path of duty. In per- 
son, he was six feet in height, with a large and muscular frame. 
He was of light complexion, brown hair, eyes of a light grey and 
expressive, features prominent, movements quick, and to courage 
of the highest order was united a strong sense of religious re- 
sponsibility. 



JOHN D. MUSSER.—JOHN M. GOSLINE.— MARTIN TSCIIUDY. 547 

fOHN D. Musser, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Forty-third regiment, was a native of Pennsylvania. He 
enlisted in Company K, in October, 1862, which he was active in 
recruiting, and of which he was made First Lieutenant. In 
the following month he was promoted to Major, and in June, 
1863, to Lieutenant-Colonel. He was placed in command of 
the regiment at the battle of Gettysburg — Colonel Dana having 
succeeded to the leadership of the brigade — which he continued 
to exercise for a considerable portion of the time, until the second 
day in the Wilderness, May 6th, 1864, when he was killed. He 
was a faithful, fearless officer. 

KjfOHN M. Gosline, Colonel of the Ninety-fifth regiment, was 
<J) born on the 7th of February, 1826, in Medford, New 
Jersey. He was the son of John Gosline, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania. His experience in militia service previous to the Rebel- 
lion was extensive, having entered the National Guards when 
nineteen years of age, and having served sixteen years. He was 
characterized by the Colonel of his regiment as a thorough 
disciplinarian. He entered the service of the United States as a 
Captain in the Eighteenth regiment of the three months' 
campaign, and at its conclusion reentered, as Colonel of the 
Ninety-fifth, on the 12th of October, 1861. He marched with his 
regiment to the Peninsula in time to join McClellan's army, as it 
moved up the Chickahominy, being attached to Franklin's 
division. On the 27th of May, 1862, the rebel army, having 
come out from Richmond in strong force, attacked the isolated 
corps of Fitz John Porter at Gaines' Mill, the larger portion of 
the army being on the opposite side of the Chickahominy. 
Franklin's division was hurried across to the support of Porter, 
and in the desperate struggle which ensued Colonel Gosline was 
killed, and nearly a hundred of his men were lost. 

l*Epf artin Tschudy, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty -ninth 
4^4^ regiment, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 
the year 1824. He was the son of an Episcopal clergyman, and 
previous to the Rebellion was practising law in Philadelphia. 
He was commissioned Lieutenant and appointed Adjutant of 



548 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

this regiment on the 19th of August, 18G1, was promoted to 
Major on the 1st of January, 1803, and to Lieutenant-Colonel 
on the 31st of March following. While he was Adjutant, which 
was practically until the opening of the Gettysburg campaign, a 
great responsibility rested upon him, as much of the care of 
every regiment devolves upon that officer. As Lieutenant-Colonel 
he went into the battle of Gettysburg. On the evening of the 
second day, at the point where the enemy believed he had 
effected a lodgment in the Union lines — and actually sent off des- 
patches to Richmond that the day was won — it was there that 
he met the Sixty-ninth and other brave regiments, and, after 
manifesting unexampled heroism, was thrust back. In that 
struggle, Colonel Tschudy was badly wounded. But so eager 
was he to be with his men to the last, and to beat the foe, that 
he refused to go to a hospital, and remained at the head of his 
column. On the afternoon of the following day came the great 
charge, and it fell full upon the spot where this heroic officer 
stood ; and in the midst of the wild storm of battle, when the 
sheets of flame, that wrapped friend and foe, leaped from 
myriads of guns, he perished, illustrating, in his life as in his 
death, the highest type of the soldier, exemplifying the sentiment 
of the poet : 

" That is best blood that has most iron in 't 
To edge resolve with, pouring without stint 
For what makes manhood dear." 

f ~? -rv -a 

JHAennis O'Kane, Colonel of the Sixty-ninth regiment, was 
-1— ^ born in Ireland in 1824. He entered the service, as 
Major of the Twenty-fourth regiment, on the 1st of May, 1SG1, 
and at the conclusion of its three months' term, on the 19th of 
August following, reentered it as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty- 
ninth, and was promoted to Colonel on the 1st of December, 
18G2. The excellent fighting cpralities of this regiment gave its 
Leader, Colonel Owen, special prominence, and he was early put 
at the head of a brigade, and on the 29th of November was pro- 
moted to the rank of a Brigadier-General. This threw the entire 
(arc of the regiment upon the Lieutenant-Colonel. The fighting 
at White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross Roads, in the 
Peninsula campaign, and at Antietam and Fredericksburg, was 



DENNIS 0' KANE.— GEORGE W. GOWEN. 549 

severe. At Gettysburg Colonel OKane led his regiment, on 
the second day, with great steadiness, performing a prominent 
part in repulsing Wright's rebel brigade from its determined 
assault to gain the left centre, and on the following day won 
immortal renown in repulsing the charge of Pickett, in the last 
grand effort of the battle. Here the Sixty-ninth stood in the 
very centre — the target of the enemy's supreme effort — battling 
with deathless energy and holding on immovable to the last ; 
and here, at its head, was Colonel O'Kane until cut down, breath- 
ing his last in the midst of the strife. 

/^ eorge W. Gowen, the third Colonel of the Forty-eighth 
1f~r regiment, soon after the breaking out of the war volun- 
teered for service for a term of three years, and was com- 
missioned First Lieutenant of Company C. After the arrival 
of the regiment at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, he was 
made Provost-General of Hatteras Island by General Williams. 
Subsequently he was ordered to detached duty with Battery 
C, First United States Artillery, Avhere he showed himself pos- 
sessed of marked ability in that arm of the service, his gun 
rendering efficient duty in the reduction of Fort Macon. In 
June, 18C2, he was made acting Adjutant of the Forty-eighth. 
In this capacity he passed through the campaign of Pope in 
Virginia, and that in Maryland under McClellan, evincing 
throughout the rarest qualities of an officer, and at its close 
was made Captain of his company. 

In the spring of 1863, his regiment, together with the rest of 
the Ninth corps, was sent to Kentucky, and he was put upon 
detached service, in the construction of fortifications about Camp 
Nelson. His tact displayed in securing the services of negroes 
for the execution of this labor was remarkable, as the inhabitants 
were exceedingly jealous of any interference in their employ 
ment. This work having been successfully accomplished, he was 
ordered to duty, with a corps of officers, in making a survey of a 
military railroad to connect with the Kentucky Central at 
Nicholasville. His ability as an engineer was conspicuous, he 
having, in civil life, made it a study and a business. His skill in 
this secured him the appointment of Assistant Chief-Engineer 



550 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of General Burnside, upon the advance of that officer into East 
Tennessee. During the siege of Knoxville, which followed hard 
upon, his talent found ample scope, and to his judicious prepara- 
tions may be attributed largely the success of the defence on that 
part of the line where he was posted. He was made a personal 
Aide-de-camp on the staff of General Parke, after the raising of 
the siege. 

He returned with the Ninth corps to the Army of the Poto- 
mac, and joined in the spring campaign of 18G4, under General 
Grant. For his gallantry at the Ywldcrness, Spottsylvania, 
Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg, he was brevetted 
Major and Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, and in December 
was made its Colonel. In the assault of the enemy's works at 
Fort Mahone, on the morning of the 2d of April, 18G5, he led his 
command with great heroism. Seeing his troops about to give 
way, after being fearfully decimated, he sprang to the front, and, 
raising his cap in one hand and waving his sword with the other, 
led them forward with such courage, that the rebel stronghold, 
which for many months had defied every attempt to take it, 
yielded, and the triumph was complete. But in the midst of the 
act, and at the moment of victory, he fell mortally wounded and 
poured out his lifeblood upon the field of his noble exploit. 
Says his biographer, Mr. Wallace, " Colonel Gowen died, beloved, 
honored and mourned by all who knew him. Thus when for- 
tune seemed ready to crown the manly efforts of one so promis- 
ing, he fell, a martyr to the cause of freedom. For his many 
social qualities, for his genial, frank, honest nature, and for his 
military abilities, he is mourned." 

>eter Keenan, Major of the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, 
was born on the 9th of November, 1834, in the town of 
York, Livingston county, New York. He was the son of John 
and Mary Keenan, natives of the county of Lowth, Ireland, 
who emigrated to this country in 1834, and are still residents 
of Friendship, Allegheny county. The son, at an early age, was 
taken into the family of Philip Church, by whom he was reared 
and educated. As soon as he had arrived at a suitable age, he 
was set to surveying wild lands, of which the Church family had 



PETER KEEN AN. 551 

extensive tracts. In 1857, he went to Philadelphia to visit 
some relatives, and remained there until the breaking out of the 
war, being, at that time, in the employ of Mr. Boyd. Early in 
the summer of 1861 he proceeded to Williamsport and assisted 
in recruiting the Eighth cavalry, and was mustered into service 
on the 19th of August, as Captain of Company C, Captain David 
McM. Gregg, of the Sixth Regulars, being appointed Colonel. 

Samuel Wilson, an intimate companion-in-arms of Keenan, 
and who afterwards rose to Colonel of this regiment, says of him : 
" He never appeared to be so full of life and enjoyment as when 
engaged in a lively brush with the enemy. He never waited 
until ordered, but if he saw an opportunity of meeting the enemy, 
he would seek permission to ' go in.' If the army was advancing, 
he would manage to have command of the advance guard, and 
if on retreat, to be with the rear guard, always choosing the post 
of danger. In the advance on Richmond, under McClellan, in 
18G2, our regiment was in the advance of the left wing, Keyes' 
corps. On arriving at the Chickahominy, where it is crossed by 
Bottom's Bridge, the enemy was discovered at a wood in front, 
where they were busy felling trees. Keenan reported the fact, 
and was ordered by Colonel Gregg to send twelve picked men 
to flank the position and ascertain if artillery was being masked. 
The order was executed, and as the foe seemed not to be in much 
force, and that he might be entirely certain of his information, 
he charged upon a mound which he suspected might cover a 
gun, but which he found to contain only two or three rebels. 
Nothing but a reliable report would satisfy him. During the 
seven days' fighting before Richmond he was frequently sent for 
to report to head-quarters of the army, having often scouted 
from Bottom's Bridge and Savage Station, off towards White Oak 
Swamp, Willis' Church, and Malvern Hill, at one time going in 
the night, without any accompanying force, entirely through Gen- 
eral Wise's command, to the James river, so that he was able 
to give reliable information. During the night after the battle 
of Malvern Hill, he was summoned to the head-quarters of the 
army at nine in the evening, and again at two in the morning." 

There were but three cavalry regiments in the battle of 
Chancellorsville. One of these was the Eighth Pennsylvania, 



£52 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and, at a critical period in the battle, it played a conspicuous 
part. On the evening of Saturday, the 2d of May, 18(32, tli3 
Eleventh corps, which was occupying the right of the line, had 
been routed by Stonewall Jackson, and driven in upon the centre. 
Jackson's column, which consisted of 25,000 men, was seen pass- 
ing across the Union front from left to right, early in the day ; 
but the belief prevailed that it was retreating towards Gordons- 
ville. Sickles, who occupied the left centre of the line, had 
taken out a part of his corps, with the cavalry, under Pleasanton, 
to harass this passing column, and was handsomely at work, 
making some captures, when the noise of Jackson's assault, and 
the rout of Howard's troops, reached his cars. It was a perilous 
moment for the safety of the army ; for upon the left centre was 
open, elevated ground, which commanded the field, and was, 
indeed, the key to the position. The whole Union left wing was in 
rout, and the massed columns of the victorious foe were pressing on. 
They had almost reached this elevated ground, and no force was 
in readiness to hold it. Pleasanton, who was with Sickles out in 
advance, had suggested, as the country there was a dense wood, 
and unsuited to the action of horse, that it had better be taken 
back to the open ground which they had left, and it was on its 
way thither when the assaults of Jackson were made. " As I was 
going back at a trot," says Pleasanton, "an aide-de-camp came 
up to me and said, ' General, the Eleventh corps is falling back 
very rapidly, and some cavalry is necessary to stop it.' I under- 
stood pretty well what that meant, I had only two regiments of 
cavalry with me; one of them having been retained hy General 
Sickles at the front to protect his right, and there was one battery 
of horse artillery with me. When I came to this open space 
which I had before left, I found it fdled with fugitives, caissons, 
ambulances, guns, and everything. I saw the moment was 
critical, and I called on Major Keenan of the Eighth Pennsyl- 
vania, and gave him his orders. I said to him, ' Major, you must 
charge in these woods with your regiment, and hold the rebels 
until I can get some of these guns into position.' Says I, ' You 
must do it at all cost.' I mentioned the Major, because I knew 
liis character so well, that he was the man for the occasion. He 
replied to me, with a smile on his face, though it was almost cer- 



PETER KEENAN. 



553 



tain death, ' General, I will do it.' He started in with his whole 
regiment, and made one of the most gallant charges of the war. 
He was killed at the head of his regiment ; but he alarmed the 
rebels so much that I gained about ten minutes on the enemy. 
Major Keenan had only from four to five hundred men." By 
this bold manoeuvre the rebels were, for a moment, startled — no 
doubt expecting that this cavalry charge would be followed up 
by infantry — and time was given General Pleasanton to get 
twenty-two guns into position bearing upon the edge of the 
wood, whence they would emerge ; and when, finally, in dark 
masses they came rolling out, screeching and 3'elling, those guns, 
double-shotted with canister, swept them back with deadly effect. 
For nearly an hour, without infantry supports, did Pleasanton 
maintain the fight with artillery alone, repulsing the enemy in 
three separate charges, and finally held the ground — night shut- 
ting in, and closing the conflict. Thus, by the daring of Keenan 
and his few trusty followers were Stonewall Jackson's victorious 
legions checked, though at the sacrifice of his own life and of 
nearly his entire command ; and by the resolute fighting of Pleas- 
anton was disaster to the army stayed. The daring valor of 
Keenan on this field is scarcely matched in the history of warfare. 
" The moment," says Colonel Wilson, " the head of the column 
reached the plank road, the order was given, ( Draw sabre ! ' and 
the next moment came the word, ' Charge ! ' Keenan fell, and at 
his side Captain Arrowsmith and Adjutant Haddock." Three 
officers, fifty-six men, and ninety horses were sacrificed in the few 
moments of that mortal strife. Just before Major Keenan was 
seen to fall, he was flourishing his sabre with unequalled rapidity, 
and many a traitor who came within his reach was made to bite 
the dust. He was a powerful man, and, nerved at that supreme 
moment by superhuman power, his trenchant blade was more 
effective than that of a Black Prince in his most desperate hour. 
In his general order to the brigade, General Pleasanton charac- 
terizes him as " the generous, the chivalric Keenan." " In the 
loss of Major Keenan," writes a correspondent of the Williams- 
port Gazette, " this regiment has parted from a valuable officer, 
and our country with a brave leader. In battle, where warmest 
waged the combat there was he always to be found, and, by 



554 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

his cool, undaunted bravery, would ever encourage the men 
to stand boldly forth and teach rebellious hirelings how loyal 
men can fight." Dr. Webster, in command of an infantry de- 
tail, searched for missing officers within the enemy's lines, that 
night; and when the men came upon the body of Keenan 
they instantly recognized it, though every vestige of clothing 
that could disclose his rank had been torn from it. It was 
brought in, and, says Colonel Wilson, " General Pleasanton gave 
me a leave of absence for five days, to take charge of his 
remains and accompany them to his former home, in Allegheny 
county. I was met at the depot by his father and Major 
Church, who received the body of the hero, and, on the fol- 
lowing day, it was committed to the grave by the hand of 
parental affection." 

" As boys at school," says De Peyster, " we have read of the 
one-eyed Horatius and the equestrian Curtius. As students 
of history, we recall the intrepid Piedmontese Sergeant, who, 
hearing the tramp of the assaulting column of the French above 
the mine, with whose supervision he was charged, totally ob- 
livious of himself, thrust his burning candle into the powder, 
and, at the sacrifice of his own life, saved the Washington of his 
country. Many have heard in speeches of the self-immolation of 
Arnold of Winkelreid, which gave the victory of Senepach, along 
with their independence, to his countrymen. Those who have 
visited Amsterdam have doubtless seen that magnificent picture 
in the State House, portraying the act of patriotism by which 
a Dutch Lieutenant saved the honor of his Hag, when, with his 
cigar thrust into the magazine, he blew up his vessel, rather than 
surrender to an accident that had delivered him into the power 
of the rebel Belgians, his deck being jammed with their boarders. 
But neither Roman, nor Piedmontese, nor Swiss, nor Hollander, 
performed a nobler achievement than that done by an American 
on tli is second day of Chanccllorsville. It was an act far more 
worthy of commemoration by a magnificent picture, placed in 
the Capitol of Pennsylvania, than the decisive moment of Get- 
tysburg, whose glory belongs equally to all the loyal States; 
and as long as the Keystone Commonwealth shall continue to 
exist, she will do a grievous wrong, if at her hands no enduring 



PETER KEENAN. 555 

monument arise in commemoration of Peter Keenan, Major of 
the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry. 

"Eighteen years ago, the writer visited the Succursale, or 
branch establishment of the National Hospital for Invalids, in 
the famous old city of Avignon. There he was struck with the 
wonderful sagacity displayed by the rulers of the warlike nation 
of France, for the purpose of keeping alive the military ardor of 
their people, by honoring and commemorating every exhibition 
of their patriotic valor. On every side the garden wherein the 
veterans took their daily walks, or lingered to chat of other days 
around a cross of honor emblazoned with fragrant pansies and 
evergreens, marble tablets, set in the encompassing walls, dis- 
played illustrious acts in appropriate pithy records. One of these 
bore only a few sentences, but those simple lines were sufficient 
to tell an ennobling story : 

" ' Go be killed there ! ' said Kleber to Schowardin, at Torfu. 

" 'Yes, my General.' 

"And Schowardin and his command — a couple of hundred 
braves — threw themselves against the pursuing royalist ( Vendean) 
masses, perishing, but saving the republican army. This was 
grand. But, Northerners, what one of our own brethren did was 
grander; and we need not go to France, nor any other country, 
nor to any other age, for the highest types of patriotic devotion. 
Our own annals teem with them ; and nothing in all time will 
shine with greater brilliancy than the unquestioned — not fabu- 
lous — self-sacrificing, and saving self-sacrifice, of Major Peter 
Keenan." 




CHAPTER V. 



DIED IX THE SERVICE. 




AVID BELL BIRNEY, Colonel of the Twenty- 
third regiment, and Major-General of volunteers, 
was born at Himtsville, Alabama, on the 20th of 
May, 1825. His father, James G. Birney, was 
singularly devoted to the sentiment of freedom, 
though bred in the Slave State of Kentucky. In 
1835 he manumitted his own slaves, and at the 
death of his father chose the slaves as his share 
of the patrimony, that he might extend to them 
likewise the boon of freedom. He was educated 
at Princeton, studied law at Philadelphia with 
Alexander J. Dallas, and, returning to Kentucky, 
married Agatha McDowell, a cousin of General 
Irwin McDowell. Not long afterwards he removed to Himtsville, 
where he formed a law partnership with Arthur G. Hopkins, 
afterwards Governor of the State. During his residence there 
Mr. Birney was appointed Attorney-General, and in 1834 was 
commissioned to secure a faculty for the new State University. 
In his tour through the North in this latter capacity he met 
prominent philanthropists, with whom he exchanged sentiments 
and formed lasting friendships. Moved by his sincere love of 
freedom, he soon after went to reside in Cincinnati, where he 
established the Philanthropist, a weekly newspaper. Its columns 
ably advocated the cause of the oppressed and down-trodden the 
world over ; but its keenest weapons were directed upon Ameri- 
can Slavery. Its utterances became distasteful to the slave 
power, and his office was repeatedly mobbed, and his types con- 
signed to the river. In 1844 he was nominated by the Free 
Soil party as their candidate for President of the United States, 
receiving 64,653 votes. Henry Clay, who was the candidate of the 

556 





IE RILL, 
Colonel 82? Regiment 



Brev Col 















D "WAT; 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 557 

Whig party, was defeated, and his failure was largely attributed 
to the party led by Birney. Soon afterwards Mr. Birney retired 
from politics. He died in 1858. Mr. Birney married for his 
second wife Elizabeth Fitzhugh, a daughter of the New York 
branch of an old Maryland family. 

The son, David B., was put to school at Andover, Massachu- 
setts, where he early took a prominent place, and where he 
acquired exact and thorough training. After leaving Andover 
he went to Cincinnati, and entered a large business house, where 
he soon became junior partner, and married Miss Anna Case, of 
Covington, Kentucky. The firm with which he was connected 
met with disaster, and, upon the termination of its business, he 
went to Upper Saginaw, Michigan, where he studied law and 
was admitted to the bar ; but desiring a wider field for the prac- 
tice of his profession, removed to Philadelphia. For a time he 
was employed in a commercial agency, but soon returned to the 
practice of the law, in which he was associated with 0. W. Davis, 
the firm attaining to great success and eminence, so much so 
that it became necessary to open a branch office in New York. 
His first wife having died, he married Miss Maria Antoinette 
Jennison, daughter of William Jennison. 

As the clouds of civil war began to lower, Birney turned to the 
military profession, for which he had a natural taste, enlisting 
in the First City Troop, an organization which has been pre- 
served unbroken from the days of the Revolution. In 18G0 he 
was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of the First regiment, Third 
brigade of the First division, Pennsylvania Militia. When the 
call was made for troops in April, 18G1, this regiment was 
promptly tendered, and its ranks speedily recruited, being known 
in the line as the Twenty-third. It was at first stationed on the 
Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore railroad, but subse- 
quently joined the corps of General Patterson at Chambersburg, 
and with him advanced as far as Bunker Hill, taking part with 
credit in the affair at Falling Waters, where Birney commanded, 
the Colonel being kept from the field by sickness. 

At the expiration of the three months for which the regiment 
had been mustered, Lieutenant-Colonel Birney determined to 
recruit the old regiment for three years' service, and obtained 



558 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

permission from the State authorities to retain the number by 
which it had been previously known, men and officers feeling a 
just pride in its soldierly bearing. Birney was commissioned 
Colonel, on the 2d of August, 1801, and with ranks swollen to 
1500 men, this regiment became a part of the brigade of General 
L. P. Graham, stationed at Queen's Farm, four miles north of 
Washington, in which it was associated with the First New York 
< ;'//</>. sem •-<?, commanded by John Cochrane. Birney was a man 
earnest in doing whatever he undertook in the best possible 
manner, and under his moulding hand his command soon 
became distinguished for good discipline, ease and accuracy in 
evolutions, and all the qualities which go to make up an effec- 
tive force. This excellence did not fail to attract the attention 
of his superior, and of President Lincoln himself, who invited the 
Colonel to parade with his regiment in front of the White House, 
and when, in the presence of his Excellency and a large concourse 
of citizens, embracing officers high both in the civil and military 
service, it manoeuvred with the precision and spirit of veterans, 
it was greeted with frequent outbursts of applause. The skill 
and energy displayed by its commander was not without its 
reward. On the 17th of February, 1862, he was commissioned 
a Brigadier-General, and assigned to the command of the brigade 
left vacant by the promotion of General Sedgwick, composed of 
the Third and Fourth Maine and the Thirty-eighth and Fortieth 
New York regiments, having a place in the Third corps. 

Among the first to reach the Peninsula, in McClellan's cam- 
paign against Richmond, Birney's brigade was early brought face 
to face with the enemy, but was restrained from attacking by the 
power which then exercised supreme control, and was put to 
felling trees and constructing works which were the wonder of 
the army, and from before which the enemy finally fled. At 
Williamsburg, the old capital of Virginia, the enemy made a 
stand, and Hooker, who attacked with his division, found him- 
self outnumbered and liable to be crushed. Kearny, who had a 
little before succeeded to the command of the division which 
embraced the brigade of Birney, came gallantly to the support of 
Hooker. Kearny's leading brigade was commanded by Berry ; 
but with this Hooker could barely hold his ground. At this 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 559 

juncture, Birney came upon the field. It was the turning-point 
in the fortunes of the day. In gallant style his well-ordered 
columns wheeled into position. The enemy was driven at all 
points, and the Union forces occupied the field. The conduct of 
Birney in this fight attracted the attention of Kearny, a soldier 
in the armies of two hemispheres, whose name is a synonym for 
gallantry, and the two were ever after fast friends. Volunteer 
Generals from civil life were viewed with jealousy and distrust 
by those bred to the profession of arms, and Birney often found 
himself under the ban of the latter, even experiencing the shafts 
of malice ; but Kearny never yielded to this petty weakness, 
judging every man by the qualities which he displayed in the 
hour of peril. He found in Birney a manhood which won his 
soldier heart. In his report of this battle, Kearny said : " I have 
to mark out for the high commendation of the General-in-chief, 
Generals Jameson, Birney, and Berry, whose soldierly j uclgment 
was alone equalled by their distinguished courage." In a letter 
to Governor Curtin, he said : " In conclusion, your Excellency, 
it is not only by her noble regiments Pennsylvania was dis- 
tinguished in the last great battles ; I have to bring to your 
notice and to that of the people of the State that the Second 
brigade of my division was commanded by a Pennsylvanian, 
General Birney. This officer displayed coolness and courage, 
and brought into the field the talents which distinguished him 
among his fellow-citizens. He has proved himself a good Colonel. 
His brigade is a model of good discipline. His genius of com- 
mand was especially conspicuous on this day." 

At Charles City Cross Boads, and at Malvern Hill, Birney bore 
a conspicuous part, Kearny saying of him in the latter engage- 
ment : " The coolness and judicious arrangement of General 
Birney influenced his whole command to feel invincible in a very 
weak position." 

Upon the return of the army from the Peninsula to the sup- 
port of Pope, now struggling in the toils of the enemy, the Third 
corps, having given that General the necessary aid to enable him 
to retire across the Rappahannock, was advanced to the plains 
of Manassas. A daring reconnoissance was made by Birnej^ to 
Centre ville with two companies of cavalry, where the head of 



560 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the hostile column was struck, the General narrowly escaping 
capture by shooting down his pursuer. In the battle which 
ensued, Kearny's division held the right of the Union army on 
the turnpike. " I kept Birney's most disciplined regiments," 
Bays Kearny, "reserved and ready for emergencies. During the 
first hours of combat, as tired regiments in the centre fell back, 
General Birney of his own accord rapidly pushed across to give 
them a hand to stimulate them to a renewed fight." In con- 
cluding his report, Kearny says : " My loss has been about TOO 
men. It makes me proud to dwell upon the renewed efforts of 
my generals of brigade, Birney and Robinson." 

On the afternoon of the 1st of September, Stonewall, Jackson 
attacked the right wing of the Union army, in the neighborhood 
of the little village of Chantilly, with his characteristic fury. 
Reno first felt the shock ; but Kearny was soon at his side — 
Birney's division in the advance — and stayed, by his powerful sup- 
ports, the shattered line. It was in the midst of a terrific thun- 
der-storm, and the roar of the elements drowned the awful voice 
of the battle. Kearny appeared as touched by inspiration, and, 
as he moved upon the field, shone like the heroes of Homer, or 
a descended god of Avar. This was his last battle, and he must 
needs grace the end with acts of undying valor. Only intent on 
saving the day, after doing deeds worthy the hero, he was finally 
shot down from coming inadvertently into the enemy's lines. 
"At this juncture," says Birney, "General Kearny reached the 
hill with Randolph's battery, and, placing it in position, aided 
my brigade by a well-directed fire. I then pointed out to the 
General a gap on my right, caused by the retreat of Stevens' 
division, and asked for Berry's brigade to fill it. He rode for- 
ward to examine the ground, and, clashing past our lines into 
those of the enemy, fell a victim to his gallant daring." A rebel 
Captain, observing him riding up, called out to him to surrender. 
Discovering his peril, he leaned forward on his horse and put 
spurs to its sides, hoping to extricate himself. But a volley from 
the enemy's muskets was too well directed, and he fell dead upon 
the spot. Birney had remonstrated with his bold commander 
against exposing himself where it was certain the enemy was 
swarming, but without avail. Judging by his protracted absence 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 5G1 

that he had fallen into the enemy's hands, Birney assumed com- 
mand of the division, directing its movements with consummate 
skill, gaining the victory and saving thereby the whole army 
from disastrous rout. A message was received from the enemy's 
lines, giving the first intelligence of the death of Kearny, and 
tendering his body to the Union commander. It was received 
under flag of truce by his trusted staff-officer, Captain J. Mindel. 
At midnight the army moved, and with it the remains of the 
mangled General. At the defences of Washington, the army 
halted, and the funeral cortege passed on to his home at Newark, 
New Jersey, where it was received by a sorrowing w r ife and 
family, and without ostentation committed to the grave. 

At the conclusion of Pope's campaign, General Birney was 
designated to sit with Generals Casey and Harney in a court- 
martial, and his division was led by another in the battle of 
Antietam. While engaged in this service, General Birney was 
the recipient of a most flattering testimonial to his gallantry in 
the late engagements from citizens of Philadelphia, who had 
watched, with a just pride, the brilliant career of their fellow- 
townsman. It consisted of a valuable horse and fine equipments, 
and sword. The guard of the sword was elaborately set with the 
initials, D. B. B., in diamonds. The hilt was adorned with an 
olive leaf, wrought with the same glittering jewels. Accompany- 
ing the sword was a handsome dress and undress scabbard, on 
the former of which was the inscription, " Gen. D. B. Birney, 
October, 1SG2, from Ids fellow-citizens of Philadelphia" 

After concluding his labors upon the court-martial, General 
Birney was put in command of Kearny's old division, General 
Stoneman who had commanded it in the Antietam campaign 
being placed over the Third corps. While in camp before Fred- 
ericksburg, Mrs. Birney visited head-quarters, and was untiring 
in her attentions to the sick and wounded in the hospitals of the 
division. Meade having been selected by Franklin to make the 
attack on the enemy's left, in the battle of Fredericksburg, on 
the 13th of February, 1862, Birney was ordered to cross the 
Rappahannock and take position in support of Meade. Gallantly 
did Meade assault the well-manned breastworks of the foe, break- 
ing through his lines and reaching his camps. But the division 

36 



562 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was too weak to maintain the advantage gained. He called on 
Birney for support. Birney referred the call to Stoneman, his 
corps commander ; but, seeing the ranks of Meade shattered and 
broken, took the responsibility of ordering up his brigades and 
advancing his batteries. His troops were now subjected to a 
terrible ordeal ; but he was everywhere upon the field, and by 
his presence, unheeding danger, inspired his men to hold their 
ground, closing up where the line was broken, and repelling the 
repeated and determined attacks. " The state of affairs," says 
General Stoneman, " when Birney's (First) division arrived on 
the ground, followed soon after by Sickles' (Second) division, was 
anything but promising. ... In doing this valuable service, the 
First division lost upwards of a thousand men as brave as ever 
pulled a trigger. Of the conduct of this division, I cannot speak 
too highly. Composed, as it is, of regiments from almost every 
State from the Penobscot to the Mississippi, the entire country 
may justly feel proud of its well-earned fame." 

Upon the accession of Hooker to the command of the Army of 
the Potomac, Birney could count upon a sincere and warm per- 
sonal friend in the new Chief. Hooker felt that men of the stamp 
of Birney should occupy the most responsible places, and he ac- 
cordingly wrote to the President, saying, that " if service and 
qualifications are of weight, he is richly deserving promotion. 
He has been in command of Kearny's old division the greater 
part of the time since the death of that officer, and I know of no 
better division commander in this army, or one that I would 
prefer to have in my command. He is an ornament to any 
service." At Chancellorsville, Birney took position with his 
division to the right of the Chancellor House, and succeeded in 
occupying a continuous line through the woods south of the 
plank road. "At about eight o'clock in the morning," he says in 
his official report, "I reported to Major-General Sickles that a con- 
tinuous column of infantry, trains, and ambulances was passing 
my front towards the right, and that I should give it a few shots 
from Clark's rifled battery. Sending a section to a good point 
in the little field in my front, it opened with effect, the column 
double-quicking past the point reached by our shots." At twelve 
M., Birney was ordered to pierce the advancing column and gain 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 563 

a position on the road over which it was passing. This was 
promptly executed, reaching with little opposition the Forge, 
a company of the enemy which occupied this place being cap- 
tured and sent to the rear. This seemed an important position, 
and as the fire of musketry on the left of the line at this time 
was terrific, Birney was ordered to halt at that point until re- 
inforcements could come up. Whipple's division of the Twelfth 
corps, and Barlow's brigade of the Eleventh, were pushed forward. 
Upon their arrival, Birney again advanced, and nearly 200 of 
the enemy were captured. At half past six p. M., he was again 
ordered to advance rapidly, and as his force, now well supported, 
went forward, the enemy was driven by a well-directed fire, and 
the roads, over which the hostile columns had been seen moving, 
were soon entirely at his command. He was about preparing to 
bivouac for the night, when he was informed that the Eleventh 
corps — which formed the right wing of the army, and on which he 
was relying for support upon that flank — was broken, and in com- 
plete rout. This left him in a most perilous situation. He was far 
in advance of the main line of the army, across difficult ground, 
with his supports gone, and the victorious enemy sweeping on to 
seemingly assured victory. Before the enemy reached the track by 
which Birney had advanced, however, the foe had been checked, 
their trusted leader Stonewall Jackson slain, and darkness com- 
ing, a lull in the battle had succeeded. But still the Union army 
was in the worst possible position, the force under Birney being 
particularly disjointed, and liable to be cut off. Something must 
be done, as morning would bring a renewal of the fight, and the 
isolation of Birney would be discovered. At midnight, Sickles 
gave the order for Birney to retrace his steps, and when he had 
arrived at the breastworks, which had been held by the Union 
army, but were now in the hands of the enemy, to storm and 
carry them at the point of the bayonet. As noiselessly as possi- 
ble the troops moved back, and when arrived before the works 
behind which the enemy was sleeping, Birney opened with his 
artillery. It was midnight of Saturday, and the first hour of the 
Sabbath was advancing, when Birney's guns roused the wearied 
soldiers of both armies, now reposing in close proximity to each 
other. The roar of artillery for a little time was terrific, and 



564 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the fire told fearfully upon the rebel line. The infantry was 
held in readiness, and the instant the first great shock of the 
guns had been felt they dashed forward and poured in a most 
destructive fire. The enemy was taken by surprise, little dream- 
ing of an attack from that direction in force ; and that invincible 
corps, which had been led by its renowned Captain to victory in 
nearly every battle with the Army of the Potomac, was broken 
and thrust back, leaving the portion of the field with its works 
which it had snatched, in the early evening, from the Eleventh 
corps, in the hands of Birney's men. The victory was signal, 
inasmuch as it gave the Union forces a foothold for the contest, 
which was sure to be renewed at early dawn ; and it opened a 
gateway for this force, which was practically isolated and cut off 
from the main body, to restore its connection, and to take posi- 
tion on the main line at its most exposed and vulnerable point. 
The fighting commenced early on the Sabbath, the 3d of May, 
and the hours of that peaceful day were given to most frightful 
carnage. Unfortunately, the Third corps stood where it was as- 
sailed from three sides, and it was soon found impossible to hold 
its position. To withdraw it to defensible ground now became 
the absorbing problem. Only by determined fighting could this 
be executed. Manfully did its gallant divisions stand, in one 
of the most trying situations in which a soldier can be placed, 
where he is conscious of fighting, not for victory, but to save 
what he can ; and none fought more gallantly than the division 
of Birney. The movement to the new line in the rear was 
successfully executed, but at a fearful cost. This withdrawal 
practically ended the battle on the Chancellorsville field, and 
alter facing each other for a few days and keeping up a show of 
1 Kittle at arms' length, returned to their old camping-grounds 
, about Falmouth and Fredericksburg. The valor of Birney in 
this battle was duly recognized. He was made a Major-General, 
his commission to date from the 2d of May, 18G3. 

In the Gettysburg campaign, Birney led the Third corps 
until the army reached Frederick, Maryland. Sickles, who had 
been absent from the field, returned and resumed command. 
The corps reached the field during the night of the 1st of July. 
About noon of the 2d, it was led by Sickles into position on the 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 535 

diagonal ridge between Cemetery and Seminary Ridges, striking 
the Emmittsburg pike at the Peach Orchard. With that wise 
forethought which characterized him, Birney early sent out a 
force from his command to feel upon his front. It found the 
enemy moving heavy masses of infantry and artillery around 
upon the Union left. The position and force of the Union army 
was easily discernible by the enemy. Not so his from the Union 
side, as he moved behind a curtain of wood, along White Oak or 
Seminary Ridge. This important piece of information, vital to 
the safety of the army, was at once communicated to Sickles, who 
ordered Birney to dispose his division so as to face this newly- 
developed line of the foe. Longstreet's veterans were concen- 
trated upon the extreme Union left ; indeed, had really outflanked 
the Union army when discovered, and were ready to fall like 
Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville upon the unsuspecting and 
unprepared Union line, and take it in reverse. Fortunately, not 
as at Chancellorsville, a vigilant officer was here, who divined 
the movements of the foe and was prepared to meet him when he 
came. Ward's brigade was posted on the left, near the Devil's 
Den in front of Round Top ; De Trobriand's along the wooded 
and rocky ground by the Wheat Field ; and Graham's reached to 
the Emmittsburg pike and for some distance along its course 
towards the village of Gettysburg. This line was over a mile in 
length, facing the corps of Longstreet and Hill. The odds were 
fearful. At length the storm burst with a fury rarely paralleled 
in the annals of war. The thin lines of Birney bent before it, 
but did not break. Beating back the strong columns of the 
enemy on one part of the line only insured a blow with re- 
doubled force in another. Supports were called for and speedily 
came. Sickles, stricken in the heat of the battle, was borne 
away, and the command of the corps devolved upon Birney. It 
was an awful moment. Should this wing give way the field 
would be irretrievably lost. But the iron will of Birney was 
equal to the emergency. With a fortitude unsurpassed, he 
brought his men to the fearful work, and battled with a superior 
force until one-half of the eight thousand who composed that 
heroic corps had gone down in the fight. The enemy had every- 
where been checked, and fresh troops had now come to take their 



566 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

places. He accordingly gave the word for his worn-out men to 
retire. Falling back, they took position on the new and more 
contracted line of battle, and these begrimed heroes who survived 
rested upon their arms for the night. Birney, though every- 
where in the thickest of the fight, was hit but twice, only slight 
wounds being inflicted. " Notwithstanding the stubborn resist- 
ance of the Third corps, under Major-General Birney," says 
Meade, in his report of the battle, " superiority in numbers and 
corps of the enemy enabling him to outflank its advanced posi- 
tion, General Birney was counselled to fall back and reform 
behind the line originally designed to be held." 

After the battle of Gettysburg, General Sickles having lost a 
leg, and being incapacitated for further field service, by every 
principle of justice General Birney should have succeeded to the 
command of the Third corps ; but other counsels prevailed, and 
it was found convenient to consolidate this corps with the forces 
stationed at Harper's Ferry under General French, and the latter 
was placed over the combined force, Birney returning again to 
the command of his old division. It was the bane of the Army 
of the Potomac, that its officers were divided into cliques, actuated 
by certain political or professional views, and many an able 
soldier was crushed beneath the heel of the despotism of that one 
which happened to be in the ascendant. 

It is unnecessary to describe the part taken by General Birney 
in the forty or more battles in which he was engaged, and in 
which his valor shone conspicuous. Before entering upon the 
campaign of the Wilderness, the Army of the Potomac was reor- 
ganized. The Third corps was broken up. The First, Second 
and Fourth divisions of the Third were consolidated, forming the 
Third division of the Second corps, and General Birney was 
assigned to the command, thus enabling him to retain under him 
the men whom he had led from the first, and with whom he had 
been associated. To the command of the corps General Hancock 
was assigned. 

At the opening of May, 18G4, the army crossed the Rappa- 
hannock and, plunging into the dense wood, was soon lost to 
sight beneath the dense shadows of the Wilderness. Scarcely 
had the movement commenced before it struck the columns of the 



DAVID B. BIMlfEY. 567 

enemy marching to meet their assailants. And now commenced 
one of the most remarkable and hotly-contested campaigns of the 
war. Massive army corps were hurled against massive army 
corps, and not an inch was gained on either side without desper- 
ate fighting and the loss of myriads of brave men. Until the 
keen blasts of winter swept the hills and valleys of Virginia, and 
the cold breath of the ocean chilled the blood of the contestants, 
was this struggle maintained in all its sanguinary horrors. In 
the three days of battle in the Wilderness, in the two weeks of 
fighting before Spottsylvania Court-House, in the heroic charge 
across the North Anna on the 23d of May, at Cold Harbor during 
the first days of June, in the assault on the intrenchments before 
Petersburg on the 16th of June, and in the advance upon the 
Weldon Railroad, the division of Birney was where the fighting 
was sternest, and in all he led with the heroism of the bravest 
and the skill of the most renowned captains. 

In the advance upon the Weldon Railroad Birney was in com- 
mand of the corps, Hancock having been incapacitated to lead by 
the breaking out of his wound received at Gettysburg. The 
attack was to be made upon the enemy behind intrenchments. 
The quick eye of Birney recognized the hopelessness of the 
movement, and he protested in earnest terms against it ; but the 
order was imperative, and the commander-in-chief was inexorable. 
Birney knew the strength of the enemy's works, and judged 
correctly of the preparations which would be made to receive the 
Union force. The dispositions were skilfully made, and the 
assault delivered with great gallantry ; but it failed of success, as 
its commander had foreseen from the first. Birney was the 
subject of abuse, and the voice of detraction was loud against 
him. But though the ignorant blamed and the envious were 
busy with aspersions, the Lieutenant-General, before whose ever- 
vigilant eye no deed was hidden, could discover nothing to 
censure. On the contrary, he was filled with admiration for the 
cool courage and undaunted bravery displayed by the temj)orary 
leader of the corps, and it was not long before the promotion came 
which was justly earned. 

On the 21st of July General Birney wrote to his law partner : 
" I am making every exertion to come home and recruit. You 



568 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

will see me in a few days, when I hope that business will permit 
you to join me in a trip to some quiet place, where I can lay 
aside shoulder-straps and enjoy a few evenings of quiet talk. I 
am greatly bored by the want of something to do here. Nothing 
relieves the monotony of the day but the occasional report of a 
heavy gun, which for a few moments starts us from our lethargy ; 
but we soon relapse into as perfect quiet as if we were in some 
grove near by Philadelphia." That contemplated visit was never 
made. That quiet, friendly converse in some cool retreat was 
never enjoyed. Two days after thus writing he was assigned to 
the command of the Tenth corps. In mentioning this promotion, 
in a letter to a friend, he speaks with a feeling of just pride : "I 
am much pleased," he says, "with my new command. My 
assignment to it by General Grant, in the field, in preference to a 
dozen others who deserved it, nearly all of whom outranked me, 
was a compliment far greater than if I had been assigned to the 
corps by the President upon political or personal grounds." 

It was not without a deep feeling of regret that he parted with 
the tried veterans of his old division, which the lamented Kearny 
had first led ; but he at once took the field with his new com- 
mand, and the sharp fighting and decisive gains of Deep Bottom 
showed that he had not assumed the duty of leading without the 
spirit and the will to face the enemy and drive him from his 
chosen ground. Again and again did that enemy, stung with 
mortification at his loss of guns and strong positions, return to 
the contest, hurling heavy masses of his best troops upon the 
devoted Tenth corps, but with little effect. On the 19th of 
August he telegraphed to General Butler, who commanded the 
Army of the James, to which the Tenth corps belonged : " The 
enemy attacked my line in heavy force last night, and was 
repulsed with great loss. In front of one colored regiment eighty- 
two dead bodies were counted. The colored regimental troops 
behaved handsomely and are in fine spirits. The assault was in 
column, a division strong, and would have carried the works if 
they had not been too well defended. The enemy's loss was at 
least one thousand." 

For a time the Tenth corps, having returned to the Petersburg 
front, remained in the trenches, where little of daring was re- 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 569 

quired. While here General Birney was authorized to raise two 
new regiments, which were recruited with unusual celerity. 
Indeed, the people of Philadelphia had observed the gallantry of 
Birney with pride and satisfaction. In recognition of his eminent 
services the Select and Common Councils passed highly eulogistic 
resolutions, and tendered him the use of Independence Hall for a 
reception of his friends and the public. But this flattering mark 
of favor he was unable to accept. 

A plan of operations for the Army of the James was concerted 
on the 20th of September by Generals Grant and Butler, and on 
the 28th the movement commenced. Its object was to surprise 
the rebel forces on the north bank of the James, and passing 
them, gain the city of Richmond. To Birney was assigned the 
task of carrying the New Market road. The Eighteenth corps 
and the cavalry of Kautz moved in conjunction. The enemy 
were strongly posted and well intrenched on the New Market 
Heights. The gallant men of the Tenth corps dashed forward, 
and though many were swept down before the enemy's fire, they 
faltered not till the works were gained and the foe was fleeing in 
confusion towards Richmond. So important was the capturing 
of this position that Butler and Grant accompanied Birney in the 
advance, both expressing the greatest satisfaction with the result. 
Not content with this victory, Birney pushed his columns for- 
ward in pursuit, Grant riding by his side, gaining the position at 
the intersection of the New Market and Mill roads ; a portion of 
the corps reaching a point within six miles, and Kautz' s division 
of cavalry within three miles of the rebel capital. At this point 
General Grant telegraphed to General Halleck : " General Orel's 
corps advanced this morning and carried the very strong fortifica- 
tions and long line of intrenchments below Chapin's Farm, 
some fifteen pieces of artillery and from two to three hundred 
prisoners. General Ord was wounded, though not dangerously. 
General Birney advanced at the same time from Deep Bottom, 
and carried the New Market road and intrenchments, scattering 
the enemy in every direction, though he captured but few. He 
is now marching towards Richmond. I left General Birney 
where the Mill road intersects the New Market and Richmond 
roads. This whole country is filled with fortifications thus far." 



570 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The success of this movement was a marvel in military opera- 
tions. Says an eye-witness : " Birney was at each of the lines 
laid out for him to attack at the very moment directed in the 
plans of the general movement. No opposition offered hy the 
enenry, no fatigue suffered by his men, no difficulties in the way, 
of any nature, however formidable, were permitted to check his 
progress; but at the hour set he was at the junction of the two 
roads, the point beyond which his movements were contingent 
upon circumstances, and subject to direction of his superior 
officers." 

The brilliant operations of the Army of the James caused 
infinite chagrin to the enemy, and to regain the lost ground was 
his absorbing study. General Lee came from before Petersburg 
to plan and direct the operations in person, bringing with him the 
veteran division of Hoke. On the afternoon of the 30th, having 
perfected his plans, he gave the signal for the assault, and with 
characteristic yells and enthusiasm, excited by the presence of 
the General-in-chief of their army, these daring troops rushed 
forward to their bloody work. The soldiers of Birney were ready 
to receive them, and with a steadiness and determination unex- 
celled on any field, they poured into the bosoms of the foe a 
leaden storm. The shock was too terrible to withstand, and after 
struggling ineffectually to reach the Union line, the column broke 
and fell back in confusion. Nothing daunted, their leaders re- 
formed them, and with fresh troops drawn out in three compact 
lines, they again advanced with renewed spirit ; but it was all in 
vain. Their reception was, if possible, even warmer than at first, 
and again were they driven in rout and confusion. A third 
time, goaded to desperation, did they advance over that field of 
blood, but with no better success. The repulse was complete. 
Over two hundred prisoners and several battle-ilags were lost by 
the enemy in his last charge. 

Birney followed up his advantage on the morning of the 1st 
of October, sending forward strong reconnoitring columns which 
drove the enemy's skirmishers in upon the main line of 
fortifications. The following day was spent in strengthening the 
new position. For nearly a week the enemy remained com- 
paratively quiet on General Birney's front, but the disgrace put 



DAVID B. BIRNEY. 571 

upon some of his best troops by the Army of the James was 
with impatience borne. An opportunity to wipe out the stain 
was studiously sought. Early dawn of the 7th was selected, 
and General Lee again came in person upon the ground with 
the divisions of Hoke and Fields, each four brigades strong, 
well supported by cavalry and artillery. 

On the previous day General Birney had been attacked by a 
malarious fever, and had placed himself under the care of the 
medical director of his division. He had passed a restless night, 
and the fever was unabated. The cavalry of Kautz was on 
Birney's front, and when the strong columns of the enemy 
advanced, in the first gray of the morning, Kautz was little able 
to stem the torrent, his force being almost instantly stampeded. 
The artillery with a single regiment of mounted men alone 
remained firm. The guns were served with rapidity, and did 
fearful execution. But it was impossible for them to stay that 
wave of resistless valor advancing upon them, or to save the 
guns, and, when the enemy was just upon them, the gunners 
mounted their horses and dashed away to the rear. This left 
nothing on the Tenth corps front, and the grand stampede of 
the cavalry and the loss of all their guns had anything but an 
inspiriting effect. The danger was imminent. The rebel leader 
had determined to turn the flank of the Union position and 
compel a retirement to Deep Bottom. The noise of battle had 
no sooner reached the ear of Birney than he rose from his bed, 
where through the long weary hours of the night he had tossed 
in the paroxysms of fever, and, in spite of the remonstrances of 
his medical adviser, mounting his horse, was quickly in the 
midst of his tried veterans marshalling them for the desperate 
encounter. The dispositions were none too soon made; for 
scarcely had the artillery wheeled into position, and the infantry 
grasped their muskets, than the serried ranks of the foe were 
upon them. And during all that terrible day of battle, where . 
the bravest met the bravest, in whatever place the trial was 
sorest and the need most pressing, there the iron will of Birney 
was felt. 

Four batteries, of six guns each, had been posted in a com- 
manding position, covering the open ground over which the 



572 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXySYLVANIA. 

enemy must pass, and were concealed from view. As the wild 
yell of the advancing foe rent the air, these were opened. Soon 
the infantry joined, and on every side the work of carnage was 
pressed. Every attempt of the foe to break Birney's lines was 
foiled, and the crest-fallen rebels again retired from before him. 
At nightfall the victory was complete. But the hero had 
fought his last fight, had won his last battle. In the afternoon 
his fever returned with renewed violence, and he was obliged to 
dismount and take to his ambulance. At night he returned to 
his head-quarters with the proud satisfaction of having gained 
the day ; but disease had taken fast hold of him. Three days 
after, he turned over the command of his corps to his next in 
rank, and, at the earnest entreaty of General Butler, consented 
to be taken to his home in Philadelphia. The boat Greyhound 
was sent to bear him to Baltimore, and thence he was carried by 
a special train to his destination. It was the day of the State 
election for Governor. Before going to his home he insisted on 
being taken to the polls to deposit his vote. He was weak and had 
to be assisted from his carriage. But even here the soldier, fresh 
from the gory fields of his country's defence, met a rebuff. His 
right to vote was challenged, which involved delay. But, as in 
battle, that stern resolve never varied, and not till his vote had 
been recorded did he turn away. It was a characteristic act, and 
no better can be cited to exemplify the true character of David 
B. Birney. On reaching his home medical aid was summoned, 
and after several days he was thought to be better, and he was 
led to believe, as he had constantly flattered himself since 
leaving the front, that he could shortly return. But it finally 
became evident that his end was approaching, and that the 
noise of battle would never reach him more. In his delirium 
he imagined himself on the point of departure, and calling to his 
faithful body-servant, he said : " John, have my valise packed 
and my horse ready, for I am going back to-morrow." At other 
times he imagined himself already there and in the act of pre- 
paring for battle. " Boys," he exclaimed, " the road through the 
woods will soon be completed. We must move on it cautiously 
and make an attack on the flank." Believing the vision real, 
when all was ready, he sprang up, saying : " Tell my staff to get 



DAVID B. BIENEY 



573 



read}', I am going now." And as if already in the fray and 
catching glimpses of the advancing foe, as a last monition before 
meeting the terrible shock, he said: "Keep your eyes on that flag, 
boys ; " and these were the last military words that passed his 
lips. The tongue soon after ceased to obey the dictation of the 
spirit, and a soul as true and brave as ever filled the bosom of a 
patriot passed to the presence of its Maker. 

He died on the 18th of October, and his remains, after lying 
in state, were committed to his last resting-place in Woodland 
Cemetery, on the banks of the Schuylkill, amid every demonstra- 
tion of respect and love which devoted friends and a sorrowing 
city could bestow. His death created a profound sensation in 
the arn^, where he had come to be regarded as among the ablest 
of its leaders. The Commander of the Army of the James issued 
the following order : " Soldiers of the Army of the James, with 
deep grief from the heart, the sad word must be pronounced, 
Major-General Birney is dead. But yesterday he was with us — 
leading you to victory. If the choice of the manner of death 
had been his, it would have been to have died on the field of 
battle as your cheers rang in his ears. . . . Surrounded by all 
that makes life desirable — a happy home, endeared family rela- 
tions — leaving affluence and ease, as a volunteer at the call of 
his country, he came into the service in April, 1861. Almost 
every battle-field whereon the Army of the Potomac has fought 
has witnessed his valor. . . . The respect and love of the soldiers 
of his own corps have been shown by the manner they followed 
him. The Patriot — The Hero — The Soldier. By no death has 
the country sustained a greater loss. Although not bred to arms, 
he has shown every soldierly quality, and illustrated that pro- 
fession of his love and choice. . . . Amid the din of arms, and 
upon the eve of battle, it is fit that we, his comrades, should 
pause a moment to draw from the example of his life the lesson 
it teaches. To him the word duty, with all its obligations and 
incentives, was the spur to action. He had no enemies, save 
the enemies of his country — a friend, a brother to us all, it re- 
mains to us to see to it, by treading the path of duty as he has 
done, that the great object for which he has struggled with us 
and laid down his life shall not fail, and his life be profitless." 



074 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

r/T^iiARLES Ferguson Smith, Major-General of volunteers, was 
T§^ born in Pennsylvania, in 1805. He was educated at West 
Point, where he graduated in 1825, and was made Second Lieu- 
tenant of Artillery. Four years later, he was appointed Assistant 
Instructor of Infantry Tactics, at the Military Academy. In 1831, 
he was made Adjutant, and, in the following year, First Lieu- 
tenant. He was given the place of Instructor of Infantry Tactics 
in 1838, and promoted to Captain. At Palo Alto, Resaca de la 
Palma, Contreras, and Cherubusco, he behaved with marked gal- 
lantry and was breveted Major and Lieutenant>Colonel, fairly 
winning by this service the title of a veteran soldier. He was 
shortly after appointed acting Inspector-General in Mexico. In 
18-34, he attained the full rank of Major, and, in the following 
year, of Lieutenant-Colonel. 

When the war of Rebellion opened, he was sought to lead the 
new troops, and was made Brigadier-General of volunteers, being 
assigned to command at Paducah, Kentucky. At a moment of 
despondency on both sides in the battle of Fort Donelson, when 
the Union arms had been roughly handled and driven back from 
some of the ground originally taken, and each was ready to 
assume the defensive, General Grant says that "he saw that 
either side was ready to give way if the other showed a bold 
front, and he determined to do that very thing." Accordingly, 
Wallace was ordered to attack on the rebel left and retake the 
lost ground at that point, while Smith was directed to assault 
opposite the right. And now was seen what a resolute man in 
the moment of peril can effect. When artillery and infantry were 
sweeping down with terrific fire the Union advancing column, 
and the raw troops were ready to fly, Smith appeared at their 
head with sword in hand, and shouted, " Forward ! " That word 
was enough. Where before was despondency and terror was 
now but one thought — that of following where he should lead ; 
and the triumph was achieved. While the army was advancing 
south, after the victory at Donelson, General Grant fell under the 
displeasure of General Halleck, who was in chief command, and 
he was suspended for the space of ten days, during which time 
General Smith was intrusted with the entire management of the 
army. Halleck complained to the authorities at Washington 



CHARLES F. SMITH— ROBERT MORRIS, JR. 575 

that Grant had left his command and gone to Nashville to confer 
with Buel without orders, and that he had failed to report his 
numbers and exact positions — all of which charges appear to 
have been unfounded — and he adds : " C. Smith is almost the 
only officer equal to the emergency." It was while General Smith 
was in command that the movement of the army was made 
which carried it upon the battle-ground of Shiloh, or Pittsburg 
Landing. General Grant was loudly blamed after the battle for 
taking position here, with a hostile army in his front and a wide 
deep river at his back. But the responsibility for that move- 
ment, and the selection of that ground, was entirely with General 
Smith. " It was chosen," says General Sherman, " by that veteran 
soldier, Major-General Charles F. Smith. . . . General Smith 
ordered me in person also to disembark at Pittsburg Landing, and 
take post well out, so as to make plenty of room, with Snake and 
Lick Creeks the flanks of a camp for the grand army of invasion. 
It was General Smith who selected that field of battle, and it was 
well chosen. On any other, we surely would have been over- 
whelmed, as both Lick and Snake Creeks forced the enemy to 
confine his movement to a direct attack, which new troops are 
better qualified to resist than where the flanks are exposed to a 
real or chimerical danger." Halleck, however, became reconciled 
to Grant before the battle came on, and the latter again resumed 
command. Unfortunately for the country, General Smith was 
soon after prostrated by sickness, and when the battle was 
fought he was too ill to lead his division. In debarking from a 
transport a few weeks before, he fell and received injuries which 
disabled him. So serious were they, that a fever followed, which, 
together with a chronic dysentery contracted while in service in 
Mexico, resulted fatally on the 25th of April, 18G2. At the 
period of his death he was regarded as one of the ablest of the 
Union Generals, and his loss at the very opening of the great 
events of the war was deeply felt. 

vjo obert Morris, Jr., Major of the Sixth Cavalry, a son of 
J=)\ Robert Morris, M. D., of Philadelphia, and a great-grandson 
of Robert Morris, one of the Revolutionary patriots, and their 
ablest financier, was at the time of his death in the twenty- 



576 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

seventh year of his age. He was educated in the University of 
Pennsylvania, and at the outbreak of the war was a member of 
the City Troop, in which he served through the three months' 
campaign under Patterson. At the expiration of this term he 
assisted in recruiting the Sixth Cavalry, of which he was made 
Major. He distinguished himself upon the Peninsula in the 
summer of 1862, and at the battle of Malvern Hill was wounded 
in the bridle hand, but refused to leave his place in the line. 
He had command of the regiment in Stoneman's celebrated raid, 
which he continued to hold to the day of his death. Up to the 
time of his assuming authority this regiment had carried the 
lance. In a country such as that wherein the armies Mere 
operating, this weapon was comparatively useless. Major Morris 
discarded it and substituted the carbine. In the great cavalry 
action at Beverly Ford, on the 9th of June, 18G3, he had the 
long-coveted opportunity to show the prowess of his men ; and 
when the command came to him from General Buford, " to clear 
the woods in his front," he led out his force as only one can who 
has confidence in himself and in those who follow him. The 
steeds were soon put to a charging pace, and when arrived almost 
in reach of the enemy's line of battle they were saluted by grape 
and canister from a battery to their left, which was served with 
deadly effect. Then followed a hand-to-hand struggle in which 
the Sixth would have been completely overpowered, had not relief 
been sent. It was in this combat that the horse of Major Morris 
fell wounded upon his side, carrying down the rider, and before 
he could extricate himself he was taken captive and borne away 
to Libby Prison, where the harsh treatment accorded to its in- 
mates soon broke his constitution, and rendered him peculiarly 
susceptible to the disease of which he died, on the 12th of 
August, after a short illness. His remains were interred at Oak- 
wood Cemetery, being followed to the grave by Chaplain McCabe, 
United States Army, and Lieutenants Lennig, Colladay, and 
Herkness of the Sixth Cavalry, his fellow-prisoners. " Major 
Morris," says Colonel Starr, " was a cool, brave, able and ever- 
ready leader. Men and officers were always glad when he rode 
at the head of the column. He was a strict disciplinarian, but 
he never favored himself; a man of high tone and principle, a 



CHARLES B. ELLET. 577 

reliable friend and a model soldier. Had fortune favored, lie 
would have made a reputation which would have gone far beyond 
the limits of his own regiment." 

Charles Rivers Ellet, Colonel of volunteers, was born in 
Philadelphia in 1843. He was the son of Colonel Charles 
Ellet, Jr., an eminent civil engineer, elsewhere noticed. The son 
received a thorough education, which was subsequently enriched 
by foreign travel and a residence in Paris. He studied medicine 
on his return to this country, and at the outbreak of the Rebel- 
lion was appointed Assistant Surgeon. But preferring to follow 
the fortunes of his father, when the latter went West to construct 
rams upon the Mississippi, he accompanied him. After the de- 
struction of the rebel fleet in the action off Memphis, he was sent 
to demand the surrender of the city, which was reluctantly 
accorded, and the stars and stripes were unfurled over the Post- 
Office, in the midst of an angry and threatening crowd of the 
populace. By order of his uncle, General A. W. Ellet, who had 
succeeded his brother in chief command, he, with a few daring 
spirits, was sent to communicate with Admiral Farragut, who 
was lying with his fleet below Vicksburg. The party were 
obliged to wade through almost impenetrable swamps, and often 
lie flat for hours in mud and water to elude the vigilance of the 
enemy, at every turn suffering great privation. They finally 
reached the flag-ship " Hartford," and, signaling, were taken on 
board more dead than alive. They were received with kindness 
by the good Commodore, recruited and sent back with despatches, 
thus opening communications with the fleet below and the Union 
forces above for the first time. 

Upon the organization of the Marine brigade, for service upon 
the waters of the Mississippi, he was commissioned Colonel 
therein, and given command of the " Queen of the West." He 
succeeded in running successfully the rebel batteries at Vicks- 
burg, Port Hudson, and other points upon the river, and made a 
reputation for enterprise and daring. In February, 1863, he 
moved up the Red river, capturing rebel craft as he went, till he 
reached a point opposite a rebel fort, where his vessel was run 
aground by a treacherous pilot, and the boat was soon disabled, 
37 



578 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

falling into the enemy's hands. Ellet made his escape by means 
of a bale of cotton, and was picked up by another of his vessels. 
At the siege of Vicksburg he rendered signal service to General 
Grant in opening and maintaining untrammelled his communica- 
tions. While engaged in this service, from over-exertion and the 
miasms of the swamps, he contracted a disease from which he 
soon after died suddenly, at the age of twenty. He was a man 
of great activity, fertile in resource, and died greatly lamented. 

STuTenry C. Whelan, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixth cavalry, 
($1/- served as First Lieutenant in Company F, Seventeenth 
regiment of the three months' service, and upon the organization 
of the Sixth cavalry was commissioned Captain of Company C. 
During the first two years he was almost constantly at the post 
of duty, and executed every trust with ability and fidelity. In 
February, 18G3, he was commissioned Major, and during the 
arduous duties of the campaign which followed, his constitution, 
which was never strong, received such a shock that he was 
obliged to leave the field, soon after the close of the Mine Run 
campaign, and never returned, having died of pulmonary disease 
in Philadelphia on the 2d of March, 1864. " Major Whelan," 
says Mr. Gracey, author of "Annals of the Sixth," "was distin- 
guished in the regiment for soldierly qualities, his manly 
presence, and courteous manners. He was a strict disciplinarian 
in camp, and a brave and judicious leader in the field ; a man in 
whom the war developed great thoughtfulness of character and 
earnestness of purpose. He had before been obliged to take 
leave of absence on account of ill health, and had returned to 
duty against the advice of his physician and friends. His death 
was sincerely and deeply felt throughout the regiment, where he 
had won the respect and esteem of all, and to which he left a 
conspicuous example of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty." 

f SOMAS A. Zeigle, first Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Seventh regiment, was born at York, Pennsylvania, on the 
28th of September, 1824. He was educated at Pennsylvania 
College, Gettysburg. For the Mexican War, which broke out 
about the time of his leaving this institution, he volunteered as a 



HENRY C. WHELAN.— THOMAS A. ZEIGLE. 579 

private in Company C, of the First Pennsylvania regiment. This 
noble body of men participated in the siege of Vera Cruz, fought 
at Cerro Gordo, Passa La Hoya, and Huamantila, and was at 
the siege of Puebla and Alisco. It was left at Puebla and at 
Perote — four companies at the latter place under Colonel Wyn- 
koop, and six at the former under Lieutenant-Colonel Black — to 
preserve the communications, and hold these important points, 
while General Scott, with the rest of his army, advanced upon 
the city of Mexico. Zeigle gained promotions by his soldierly 
conduct in these campaigns, and at the conclusion of the war, 
in 1848, came home as Captain of his company. 

On returning to private life he prosecuted the study of the law. 
but his tastes were martial, and he gave much attention to 
military matters. He organized an amateur company of volun- 
teer militia, known as the Worth Infantry, which attained great 
proficiency and a wide reputation for accuracy of drill, both as 
light infantry and Zouaves. With this company, and the York 
Rifles, he moved toward Baltimore at the time of the destruction 
of the railroads and bridges near that city, in April, 1861. An 
end having come to this destruction, he returned and encamped 
at York. He was soon after appointed Colonel of the Sixteenth 
regiment for three months' service, of which his own favorite 
company formed part. He served, during this campaign, in 
Patterson's column, in the Shenandoah Valley. Upon his re- 
turn, at the expiration of his term, he was authorized by the 
Secretary of War to recruit a regiment for three years. The full 
complement of men was not obtained until March, 1862, when 
he was commissioned Colonel, the organization being designated 
the One Hundred and Seventh regiment. He was ordered to 
Washington, soon after, with his command, which was assigned 
to the brigade of General Duryea. Colonel Zeigle served with 
intelligence and credit in the corps of General McDowell until 
July 15th, 1862, when he died, after a short illness, from conges- 
tion of the brain, in the field, near Warrenton, Virginia. His 
remains received funeral honors appropriate to his rank, and 
after being embalmed were returned to his former residence at 
York, where they were consigned to their last resting-place with 
imposing civic and military ceremonies. 



580 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

f Joseph Hemphill Wilson was born on the 16th of May, 1820, 
in Franklin township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He 
was a son of Thomas, and Agnes (Hemphill) Wilson, natives 
of the United States, but of Irish descent. He was educated at 
Jefferson College, at Canonsburg. Until the age of twenty-two 
he was a farmer. He subsequently studied law, and became 
one of the most trusted of his profession at the Beaver county 
bar. He early formed studious habits, which were preserved 
during life. One who knew him well says of him : ' ; He was 
social and pleasant in his manners, kind-hearted, attentive to the 
sick and those in distress, easily approached and generous, 
temperate, virtuous, religious, and eminently exemplary in 
private life. He was not a profound thinker, but a popular man. 
As a lawyer his honesty was ever recognized." 

In 1853 he was elected to the office of District Attorney for 
Beaver county, which he held for a period of three years, dis- 
charging its duties with marked integrity. In 1858 he was 
elected a member of the lower house of the State Legislature, 
and was returned for the two succeeding terms. In September, 
1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the One Hundred and 
First regiment, which he had been largely instrumental in 
recruiting. He was active in the siege of Yorktown ; and in the 
battle of Williamsburg, though not long under fire, displayed 
great coolness and courage. Three days after the battle, he was 
attacked with typhoid fever, the result of hardship and exposure, 
and died at the house of a farmer near Roper's Church, on the 
30th of May, the day before his regiment fought so determinedly 
at Fair Oaks. A fellow-officer says of him : " No man could have 
been more respected by his regiment. Every one in it loved him. 
He was too kind-hearted to be a strict disciplinarian ; but such 
' was the respect felt for him that he had no difficulty in securing 
the most implicit obedience to all his orders. On the march, he 
was often known to walk for miles that a sick man might ride, 
and when short of provisions he would share his last ration with 
the men. While he lived no comfort was wanting in his com- 
mand that it was possible for him to obtain, and he seemed to 
hold his regiment in the same regard that he would have done 
his family." The loss of Colonel Wilson just at the opening of 



JOSEPH H. WILSON.— THOMAS WELSH. 581 

an honorable career was deeply felt in the community where he 
dwelt, and nowhere more than among his companions in arms. 
In person he was five feet ten inches in height and well formed. 
He was never married. 

r ®HOMAS Welsh, Colonel of the Forty-fifth regiment and Briga- 
1^. dier-General, was born at Columbia, Pennsylvania, on the 
5th of May, 1824. He was the son of Charles and Ann (Dough- 
erty) Welsh. After receiving a common-school education, he 
engaged in the lumber trade with Mr. John Cooper. At the 
breaking out of the Mexican War, he volunteered as a private in 
the Second Kentucky regiment. In the fierce fighting at Buena 
Vista, he received a severe wound in the leg, by which he was 
disabled and from which he never fully recovered, undergoing 
much suffering at times from its effect during his whole life. He 
was for a time in hospital on the field, but subsequently returned 
home. As soon as he was sufficiently improved he went again 
to his regiment, and, for gallant conduct and bravery on the 
battle-field, was commissioned Lieutenant, in which capacity he 
served to the close of the war. 

The echoes from Sumter, in 1861, had scarcely died away, 
when, with that determination and zeal which ever characterized 
him, he marched with a company of volunteers to Harrisburg. 
being among the first to arrive. He was soon after sent in the 
direction of Baltimore, on the line of the Northern Central Road'. 
By his opportune arrival he was instrumental in saving several 
important bridges on that great thoroughfare. He was subse- 
quently ordered back to York, where his company was incor- 
porated in the Second three months' regiment, of which he was 
unanimously elected Lieutenant-Colonel. He served in the army 
of Patterson in the Shenandoah Valley. On being mustered out, 
he at once set about recruiting a regiment for the war, which was 
speedily accomplished, of which he was commissioned Colonel, 
known as the Forty-fifth of the line. Recognizing his ability 
as a soldier and the great advantage to be derived from his ser- 
vices in organizing the volunteers, not one in a thousand of whom 
was acquainted with military duty, he was made commandant 
of Camp Curtin. 



582 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

At the opening of the spring campaign of 18G2, he was sent 
with his regiment to the Department of the South, and, in the 
battle of James Island, he had command of a brigade. Shortly 
afterwards he was ordered to report to General Burnside and 
was sent to Newport News. From this place he proceeded to 
Acquia Creek with the troops destined for the reinforcement of 
General Pope, Avhere, for some time, he was commandant of the 
post. With Burnside's corps he moved into Maryland, and, at 
South Mountain and Antietam, performed important service. 
In the battle of Fredericksburg, on the loth of December, 18G2, 
he was upon the right centre, opposite the fatal stone-wall and 
Marye's Heights, when his command was subjected to a terrific 
fire. So brave and heroic was his conduct on that field that his 
superior officers, Generals Burnside, Parke, and Wilcox, earnestly 
sought his promotion to Brigadier-General. This was accorded 
him, and he afterwards commanded the First brigade, and at 
times the First division of the Ninth corps. Soon after the 
battle of Fredericksburg this corps was ordered West, and, after 
performing duty for a time in Kentucky, was sent to the aid of 
General Grant before Vicksburg. After the fall of that place he 
marched with Sherman to Jackson against the army of General 
Johnston. In this campaign, General Welsh, in common with 
many other officers of the Northern army, contracted disease 
that proved fatal. After the repulse of Johnston the Ninth 
Corps returned North. In the march to Jackson and return, 
which proved very exhausting, General Welsh was much exposed 
to the malarious influences of the climate, and, while upon the 
voyage up the Mississippi, he was prostrated with congestive 
fevcu. The journey from Vicksburg to Cairo and thence by rail 
to Cincinnati consumed eight days — days of anguish and suffer- 
ing, when thoughts of home and family came often thronging to 
his mind. Arrived at the latter city, he was taken to the house 
of Charles 0. Lockard, a friend and former townsman; but he 
only survived seven hours, his final dissolution coming unex- 
pectedly to all. 

A notice of his death in the Columbia Spy closes with the fol- 
lowing tribute to his memory : " Brave as a soldier, popular as a 
man, genial as a friend, affectionate as a husband, indulgent and 



JOSHUA B. HOWELL. . 533 

kind as a father, he passed away from amongst us, and the sun 
of his usefulness has set, 

" ' As sets the Morning Star, which goes 

Not down behind the darkened West, nor hides 
Obscured amid the tempests of the sky, 
But melts away into the light of heaven.' " 

fosHUA B. Howell, Colonel of the Eighty-fifth regiment, and 
Brevet Brigadier-General, was a native of Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania. He was commissioned Colonel of this regiment 
on the 12th of November, 1861, and moved to the Peninsula 
with McClellan's army. As a part of Keim's brigade of Keyes' 
corps, his regiment had the advance in the operations which 
drove the enemy in upon their capital. At Fair Oaks a great 
disaster befell it, the enemy coining upon it in overwhelming 
force, and thrusting it back, entailing severe loss. After the 
evacuation of the Peninsula, Wessell's brigade, embracing the 
Eighty-fifth, was sent to North Carolina, where, in connection 
with the corps of General Foster, it made a short campaign into 
the interior. On its return it was transferred to the Department 
of the South, where, upon his arrival, Colonel Howell was put in 
command of a brigade, and continued in that caj)acity the greater 
portion of the time during the remainder of his service. He wao 
employed in the operations for the reduction of Charleston, and 
during the siege for the possession of Fort Wagner, which was 
conducted under General Gilmore, was subjected to great hard- 
ship and responsibility. It was here, on the 30th of August, 
that Lieutenant-Colonel Purviance was killed. 

In April, 1864, Colonel Howell with his command was ordered 
to Virginia, and on the 20th of May he led his brigade in a 
daring charge on the enemy's works, driving them out and 
taking the fortifications at the point of the bayonet. He par- 
ticipated in the vigorous operations of the Tenth corps on the 
north side of the James, leading his brigade until the early part 
of September, when he was assigned to the command of a divi- 
sion of colored troops. On the 12th of this month he received 
fatal injuries by the fall of his horse, and died two days thereafter. 

Colonel Howell was a devoted officer, and was sincerely esteemed 
by his troops. When his regiment was shut up on one of the sea- 



584 . MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

islands around Charleston harbor soon after their arrival, and 
the men were unable to procure tobacco, an article which many 
of them had never been without, he sent away and purchased it 
by the keg and distributed it freely to them. His soldierly and 
heroic bearing was proverbial. Prisoners who were taken said 
that in the rebel army the conspicuous figure of that "old, daring, 
white-headed officer " was well known, and that their command- 
ers had frequently ordered them to single him out with their 
rifles, but that they had failed to reach him. Only three times 
during his over three years of service was he absent from his 
command — one of these an occasion of rising from a sickness 
of typhoid fever, and another only extending to Philadelphia on 
business. In battle he was cool and courageous, never saying, 
" Go, boys," but, " Follow me." General Terry said of him, " He 
was both a soldier and a gentleman ; his death is a loss both to 
the army and the country." 

foiiN Butler Conyngham, Colonel of the Fifty-second regi- 
ment, was born at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, on the 29th 
of September, 1827. His father, John N. Conyngham, a native 
of Philadelphia, was President Judge of the Eleventh Judicial 
District of the State. His mother, Ruth Ann Butler, was a 
granddaughter of Captain Zebulon Butler, a Revolutionary offi- 
cer who commanded the patriots in the battle of Wyoming, on 
the 3d of July, 1779. He was educated at the Wilkesbarre 
Academy, at St. Paul's College, Long Island, and finally at Yale 
College, New Haven, where he graduated. He was admitted to 
the bar of Luzerne county at the August term, 1849, and after- 
wards practised at St. Louis, Missouri, for a period of five years. 
Returning to Wilkesbarre, he resumed business there, -which he 
followed successfully until the opening of the war. He had 
bein connected with the militia, as a member of the Wyoming 
Light Dragoons, and when the Eighth regiment of the three 
months' service was formed he entered it as Lieutenant. He 
assisted in recruiting the Fifty-second, a veteran regiment, of 
which he was commissioned Major. In January, 1864, he was 
promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and, in March, 1865, to Colonel. 
He went with his command to the Peninsula, and in the battle 



JOIIN B. CONYNGHAM. 535 

of Fair Oaks won the warm commendation of General Naglee, 
for his courage and skill displayed in a pressing emergency. 

Early in the year 1863, the Fifty-second was sent to the 
Department of the South, and here he was engaged in all the 
operations undertaken for the reduction of Fort Wagner. The 
siege was especially severe, and the labor in making regular 
approaches, under a sun in a southern clime, was very wearing. 
Its fall was a subject of great rejoicing. In June, 1864, a scheme 
was formed for the reduction of Charleston, which involved the 
capture of Fort Johnson. The advance was to be made in three 
columns embarked in boats. One o'clock, on the morning of the 
3d of July, was fixed for the embarkation. It was low-tide at 
that hour, and the party which the Fifty-second headed had 
difficulty in crossing the bar which lay in the way ; but that was 
passed, and when nearing the shore they were discovered, and 
the alarm was given. Without quailing before the fire that was 
opened upon them, they landed, captured a two-gun battery, 
driving out the foe, and, charging the main work two hundred 
yards on, crossed the side of the fort and had gained the coveted 
position, when it was found that the supporting columns had 
failed to follow. No alternative but surrender remained, and the 
entire party fell into the enemy's hands. The advance upon the 
main work was made in the face of a terrible fire, in which 
Colonel Conyngham received a buckshot wound in the cheek. 
" The boats," says General Foster, in orders, " commanded by 
Colonel Hoyt, Lieutenant-Colonel Conyngham, Captain Camp, 
and Lieutenants Stevens and Evans, all of the Fifty-second, 
rowed rapidly to the shore, and these officers, with Adjutant 
Bunyan (afterwards killed), and one hundred and thirty-five 
men, landed and drove the enemy ; but, deserted by their sup- 
ports, were obliged to surrender to superior numbers. . . . They 
deserve great credit for their energy in urging their boats for- 
ward, and bringing them through the narrow channel, and the 
feeling which led them to land at the head of their men was 
the prompting of a gallant spirit, which deserves to find more 
imitators." Colonel Conyngham, with the officers of the party, 
was confined at Macon, and was afterwards placed under the 
fire of the Union guns in the city of Charleston. He was mus- 



586 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tered out of service with his regiment on the 12th of July, 1865, 
and was appointed Captain in the Thirty-eighth infantry of the 
regular army. He died in May, 1871, of disease contracted in 
the service while stationed in Texas. 

T^TyvviD Morris, Jr., Major of the Forty-eighth regiment, was 
J— < born at Bridgewater, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on 
the 7th of September, 1831. He was the son of David and 
Rachel (Berry) Morris. He was educated at Jefferson College, 
where he graduated in 1850, and received his professional train- 
ing in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. 
For a period of four years he practised his profession at Beaver, 
at the end of which time he removed to Pittsburg, and opened a 
drug store. He was on the point of entering into partnership in 
his profession with an eniinent physician of that city, when his 
contemplated associate was removed by death, and he returned 
in 1860 to Beaver. He entered the service of the United States 
on the 23d of September, 1861, as Surgeon of volunteers, with 
the rank of Major, and was assigned to duty with the Forty- 
eighth regiment. Before departing he was married to Miss Sarah 
Howell Agnew, second daughter of Chief Justice Agnew. His 
regiment was first sent to Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. In 
Februarjr, 1862, Major Morris was detailed to duty with the 
Ninth New Jersey regiment, the Surgeon of which had perished 
in the surf while attempting to reach the shore. He was landed 
on Roanoke Island on the 7th, and remained all night upon a 
swampy beach. On the morning of the 8th the battle of Roanoke 
Island opened, and the wounded soon came streaming to the rear. 
It was his first field-service. For several days and nights he 
continued on active duty without intermission, having, at one 
time, in charge a hospital containing sixty rebel wounded in 
addition to his own. He was wholly prostrated by his labors, 
and his exhaustion was followed by an attack of what was then 
thought to be bilious colic ; but is since believed to have been 
intestinal intussusception. On the evening of the 13th he grew 
easy, and it was supposed that the severity of the attack had 
passed ; but on that night he began to sink, and died on the 
morning of the 14th. Brigade-Surgeon William Henry Church 



DAVID MORRIS, JR.— PROSPER DALIEN. 587 

says in his report : " Words cannot express to you my distress 
at the loss of Dr. Morris. During the action of February 8th, 
he had charge of the hospital at Ashby's House. He worked 
there unceasingly day and night until yesterday. I never gave 
him an order, for the reason that he promptly performed any 
duty asked. Even our short acquaintance had inspired me with 
the greatest respect and admiration for his character, and in his 
death you and the army have every reason to deplore his loss. 
I saw him yesterday, and he agreed with me in the conviction 
that his illness would be slight, and I then left him, my mind 
impressed with the fear that I had overtasked a too willing pro- 
fessional brother. If there is any mark of respect that can be 
bestowed upon a deserving officer, I most urgently request that 
it may be extended to my deceased friend, as every regiment 
owes him a debt of gratitude." In general orders it was declared, 
" He lost his life by disease brought on by his untiring devotion 
to the wounded during and after the action of the 8th. To the 
forgetfulness of self which kept him at the hospital, regardless of 
rest or sleep, the department owes a debt of gratitude." He was 
characterized as " one whose patriotism and conscientious sense 
of duty led him to sacrifice himself for his country, a man of high 
order of intellect, and of a cultivated mind, an exemplary Chris- 
tian, a physician of excellent standing, and a gentleman in all 
his deportment." He was beloved by his own regiment, and 
his character was impressed upon those among whom he died, 
though strangers, and Avas beautifully and simply expressed in 
the inscription upon the little wooden slab that marked his tem- 
porary grave at Roanoke Island : 

(i Gentleman — Patriot — Scholar. Requiescat in jwce." 

Mn)ROSPER Dalien, brevet Major of the Two Hundred and Eighth 
Jq$ regiment, was born at Nancy, France. He was educated 
at Nanc}', and at the military school at St. Cyr. Upon his grad- 
uation he became an officer in the French army and served 
through the Italian War of 1859, as Lieutenant of cavalry, and 
was bre vetted Captain, and presented with two medals for gallant 
conduct at Solferino, by Napoleon III. He was given authority 
to recruit a company for the Two Hundred and Eighth regiment, 



588 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

in the summer of 1SG4, and, on the 9th of September, he was 
commissioned Captain of Company C. lie was an efficient officer, 
and soon made his influence felt in the regiment both by his 
example and his counsel. His friends, knowing of his superior 
training, sought to have him transferred and placed in a higher 
command. When General Hartranft, who was over the division 
to which he belonged, became aware of his skill and experi- 
ence, he detailed him for duty upon his staff as engineer. 
This was a position more to his taste. It was while serving in 
this capacity that the most notable exploit of his life was per- 
formed, and in which he received his mortal wound. He 
chanced to be staff officer of the day when Fort Steadman — a 
work on the main Union line before Petersburg — was attacked 
and captured on the morning of March 25th, 18G5. At half-past 
four in the morning, divining by the sound that an attack was 
being made, he leaped upon his horse, and rode to the scene 
of the struggle. At five minutes past five he had reported the 
disaster to General Hartranft, whose head -quarters were more 
than a mile away, and, receiving the instructions of that officer, 
immediately led the nearest regiment — which happened to be his 
own — to the breach, putting it in upon the left, while General 
Hartranft moved in person upon the front and right. Seeing the 
regiment upon the front hard pressed and falling back, in the 
midst of a furious storm of deadly missiles he attempted to reach 
it ; but before he was far on his way his horse was killed by a 
shell, and he hurried forward on foot. In less than five minutes 
he was struck by a Minie ball and mortally wounded in the 
left lung. He was taken to the hospital at City Point, and sub- 
sequently to Washington, where hopes were entertained of his 
recovery, having received in both places the tender ministrations 
of Mrs. Theodore Fenn, of Harrisburg. But on the night of the 
2d of June a severe hemorrhage set in, which terminated his life 
in a few hours. His body was embalmed, and buried in Kalma 
Cemetery at Harrisburg. 

The brevet rank of Major was conferred upon him as a reward 
for his meritorious conduct on that fatal morning. In forwarding 
his commission to his father in France, General Hartranft. after 
narrating the circumstances of the engagement, said : " He thus 



PROSPER DALIEN. 589 

fell in the full discharge of his duties as a brave and gallant 
officer. Much of my success depended upon his prompt report 
that Fort Steadman was captured by the enemy. It enabled me 
to place the few troops then convenient in such position as to 
prevent the enemy from making any further advance, and with- 
out further advance he had gained no advantage. When the 
balance of my troops came up, the foe was driven out with heavy 
loss, leaving his dead and wounded on the field, with two thou- 
sand prisoners and eleven battle-flags in our hands." In his 
relations to his men Captain Dalien was kind and considerate, 
and had their respect and love in a remarkable degree. Whilst 
a staff officer he was careful to save those of slender constitu- 
tions from unnecessary exposure, always detailing men of robust 
health for duty in severe weather. 

While he was at City Point, President Lincoln visited all the 
hospitals there, and as he came to the cot of Captain Dalien he 
took him by the hand and asked his name and rank. When he 
had learned who the wounded soldier was, the good President 
seated himself upon a cracker box that had been ingeniously con- 
verted into a camp chair, and entered into familiar conversation 
with him. He complimented the Captain for his services at 
Steadman, and said that he had heard all about him at head- 
quarters, and that the War Department was about making out his 
brevet. He promised him a place in the regular army if he 
recovered, and addressed him when he left as America's Second 
Lafayette. 



*********** 

CONST/ TVT/ONfi^ ~<fc 




CHAPTER VI. 




'EORGE GORDON MEADE, Major-General in the 
Regular Army. Of all those who are now noted 
for their prowess in the late war few will in a 
future generation be remembered or named, and 
fewer still will achieve thereby immortality. Gouv- 
erneur Carr, in an article which he contributed 
to the United States Service Magazine, after re- 
marking upon the tendency to oblivion in all mar- 
jfy tial exploits, frames a paragraph which he im- 
agines some Rollin of a few centuries hence will 
devote to the great struggle which now holds so 
large a place in the public eye, and in its narra- 
tion fills so many volumes. It reads thus : 
" Buchanan was succeeded by Lincoln, a wise and patriotic 
ruler. During his presidency the Southern States revolted. 
After several indecisive actions, Lee, the insurgent leader, was 
defeated at Gettysburg by Meade, who commanded the principal 
force of the republic; the Southern territory was overrun by 
numerous armies ; its ports were effectively blockaded ; the slaves 
were declared free, and many of them enlisted in the National 
armies ; and finally, Richmond, the capital of the revolted States, 
was captured by Grant, the Commander-in-chief of the United 
States Armies ; and the insurgents were compelled to lay down 
their arms. Lincoln was re-elected President, but was soon after 
assassinated by an obscure actor." Of the five names here repre- 
sented as surviving the wreck of time that of General Meade 
is one. 

George Gordon Meade was born on the 31st of December, 1815, 
at Cadiz, Spain, during a temporary residence of his parents in 
that country. He was descended from a family long resident 
in Philadelphia, of Irish origin, one member of which, at least, 

590 





W.W. H. DAVIS, 
Col 104* Reg. B 



HENRY M HOY 7, 

Brig Gen 





RICHARD COULTER, 
Colli™ Reg Bv'i i 




CUSTAVUS W TOWN. 
Col. 9 5 th Reg. 



MONT, 






GEORGE G. MEADE. 59 1 

enthusiastically supported the patriot army in the Revolution. 
His father, Richard W. Meade, being engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits in Spain, was intrusted by the United States with the 
adjustment of certain claims which the government had against 
that country, and became naval agent at the port of Cadiz. 
Through his efforts negotiations were entered upon which finally 
resulted in the cession of the territory of Florida to the United 
States. * 

The parents returned to this country while the son was yet an 
infant, and he was early put to a boys' school in the city of 
Washington, taught by the late Chief Justice Chase. He was 
afterwards a student at Mount Airy, a Military Academy 
near Philadelphia, and in 1831 entered the United States Mili- 
tary Academy at West Point, whence, in due course, he gradu- 
ated with honor. In 1835 he entered the army as brevet Second 
Lieutenant in the Third artillery, and in it served in the Semi- 
nole War in Florida. He was promoted to a full Lieutenant at 
the end of a year. The poisonous exhalations of the swamps 
seriously affected his health, and while thus detained from dut}^ 
he escaped the Dade Massacre, by which many of his comrades 
were cut off. Providence thus interposed to spare him for greater 
usefulness on fields then little dreamed of. So serious was his 
sickness that, in October, 1836, he resigned his commission in the 
army, and after his recovery engaged in the business of a Civil 
Engineer, being employed with the party sent to survey the 
northeastern boundary line of the United States. In 1842, re- 
turning to the army, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of 
Topographical Engineers, and was industriously employed in the 
great survey from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. In this 
capacity he served upon the staff of General Taylor in the early 
part of the Mexican War, and afterwards upon that of General 
Scott, distinguishing himself in the actions of Palo Alto and < 
Monterey. His services were recognized, the Government award- 
ing him the brevet rank of First Lieutenant, dated September 
23d, 1846, and upon his return home he was presented with 
a fine sword by citizens of Philadelphia. In time of peace the 
fighting soldier has little employment, but the engineer's work is 
never done. He was at once put upon duty in supervising river 



592 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and harbor improvements, and in constructing light-houses on 
Delaware Bay and off the coast of Florida. In 1851 he was 
made First Lieutenant, and, in 1855, Captain. 

He was on duty at Detroit, Michigan, in 1SG1, having been 
charged with the survey of the Northern Lakes. He always 
regarded his labors here as the most important and valuable that 
he rendered in the civil line of his profession, looking with just 
satisfaction upon their scientific results. When the Rebellion 
opened, he was at once ordered to Washington. On the 3d of 
September, President Lincoln sent to the Senate for confirmation, 
among others, the name of Captain George G. Meade, of the 
Topographical Engineers, to be Brigadier-General of Volunteers, 
and he was assigned to the command of the Second brigade of 
the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer corps. He was by nature 
and education an exact, methodical man, and disciplining the 
fine body now put in his hands was an agreeable task. He was 
for a time in camp at Ten ally town ; but, on the 9 th of October, 
crossed into Virginia and took position on the extreme right of 
the line of the army, in the neighborhood of Langley, where he 
continued until the opening of the spring campaign. When 
McClellan went to the Peninsula, Meade remained behind in 
McDowell's corps of observation before Washington, advancing 
as far as Fredericksburg. 

Finding difficulties multiplying as he went, McClellan asked 
for more troops, and the Reserves were sent to him. They 
arrived in time to open the famous Seven Days' battle at Beaver 
Dam Creek, where this division sustained the contest almost 
unaided. Meade with his brigade was at Gaines' Mill when the 
battle opened, but hastening forward, he reached the field in time 
to render efficient service at a moment when sorely needed. On 
the following day his brigade was roughly handled, one of his 
regiments holding its ground until cut off and captured, and the 
others were with difficulty withdrawn. 

There was no more desperate fighting in this campaign than 
that at Charles City Cross Roads, on the 30th of June. The 
Reserves held the fore-front in that engagement, and received, 
for a time unaided, the brunt of the enemy's fierce onset. Meade 
stood upon the right of the line, and his brigade, though the last 



GEORGE G. MEADE. ' 593 

to be attacked, felt the full power of the blow. Near the close 
of the day, and when the fighting was well nigh over, he was 
severely wounded and was borne from the field. Almost at the 
same instant he was struck by two balls, one hitting him in the 
arm and the other, entering the body just above the hip-joint, 
passed out near the spine. Though losing blood rapidly, and 
fainting from weakness, he remained for some time with his men; 
but was finally carried to a hospital. He soon rallied, and his 
wounds healed so that he took the field before the army left the 
Peninsula. 

Upon the resignation cf General McCall, soon afterwards, 
General Reynolds succeeded him in chief command, and at the 
Second Bull Run battle the division rendered efficient service, 
Meade holding with great gallantry the approaches to the War- 
renton turnpike, by which Pope's beaten army was retreating, 
and which the enemy was making desperate efforts to seize. So 
well did he acquit himself here, that the campaign had no sooner 
closed than he was given the command of the entire division, 
which was placed in Hooker's corps. At the Gaps of the South 
Mountain, where the enemy had taken position to dispute the 
passage of the Union army, Meade met the troops of Longstreet 
and Hill. The advantage was all with the foe, he having 
taken ground behind stone walls, rocks, and trees. But by 
skilful dispositions, and the gallantry and courage of his men, 
he succeeded in dislodging and* driving the enemy from his 
stronghold. Meade pushed rapidly forward, and was given the 
advance in finding the rebel troops on the Antietam field. The 
fighting opened 011 the evening of the 16th of September, 1862, 
and was maintained until nightfall with singular earnestness. The 
Reserves slept on their arms, and renewed the battle early on the 
following morning. When the fighting was at its height Hooker 
received a severe wound. Before leaving the field, he turned 
over the command of the corps to General Meade. The part of 
the field which he held was the most desperately contested, and 
his troops were terribly torn and decimated, he himself receiving 
a wound, and having two horses shot under him. 

But the field on which General Meade manifested greater 
daring and heroism than on any other, perhaps, in the whole 

38 



594 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

course of his military life, was that of Fredericksburg, and it was 
his conduct here which undoubtedly pointed him out as the 
future Commander-in-chief of the Army of the Potomac. Burn- 
side's plan seems to have been to turn the enemy's left Hank. 
To Meade with his Reserves was given the task of breaking the 
enemy's line, and making a lodgment where it could be taken 
in reverse upon the right. Most gallantly they executed this 
desperate labor, and though 

" Cannon to right of them, 
Cannon to left of them, 
Cannon in front of them, 
Volley'd and thunder'd," 

and sheets of flame leaped from the pieces of the infantry 
crouching behind walls and hedges, the Reserves moved steadily 
on till the hostile line was pierced at a vital point, and the rear 
was gained, where were muskets stacked, and the rebel troops 
in no preparation to meet so bold and heroic an assault. But 
after the blow had been dexterously dealt, and the antagonist hit 
with stunning force, that gallant division, but a handful of devoted 
men, being unsupported, was obliged — bleeding and staggering 
under the weight of the force of the enemy concentrated upon 
them, and when victory seemed within the grasp of the Union 
army — to fall back, and abandon the whole advantage, gained 
at a fearful sacrifice of valor and of life. 

Meade was now placed in 'command of the Fifth corps, and 
when at Chancellorsville Lee pounded upon the Union left with 
his artillery, and sought to break through and turn that flank, 
he found there troops ready and watchful ; and though there 
was hard fighting later in the struggle yet no advantage was 
gained. It was the vigilant commander of the Fifth corps who 
stood guard at that point, and no shame came to the army through 
any lack of attention or weakness of judgment on his part. 

At Frederick, Maryland, on the 28th of June, 1863, in the 
very midst of a campaign of unexampled greatness, involving 
issues vital to the Nation, and the turning of which the whole 
civilized world was watching with absorbing interest, he was 
placed at the head of the Army of the Potomac, and three days 
thereafter the great battle of Gettysburg opened. He had to 



GEORGE G. MEADE. 595 

this time shown himself an exceedingly reliable and safe officer 
in the subordinate positions in which he had been placed • but 
from being the commander of a brigade, a division, a corps, he 
was now suddenly thrust forward to command a hundred thousand 
men, with whom he was expected to meet an army of still larger 
proportions of veteran troops hitherto victorious. He evidently 
felt the great responsibility resting upon him, and prepared to 
meet it with a manful and heroic spirit. 

The battle was precipitated before he had an opportunity to 
concentrate his army. When he discovered that it was likely to 
come, he made an effort to bring his corps together at a point 
near the centre of the territory over which they were spread. 
Before this could be effected, the enemy struck the extreme flank, 
and there, with a dogged resolution and a heroism unsurpassed, 
a few thousands held their ground for a whole day against the 
half of the hostile army. As soon as General Meade found that 
it would be possible to bring his troops to that point so as to fight 
upon something like equal terms, he resolved to make Gettys- 
burg the battle-ground. When that resolution was once taken, 
he showed great energy in hastening forward his troops, in which 
he was most nobly supported by his subordinates, and during the 
hours of a short summer night his army was brought up. 

On the second day at Gettysburg a number of untoward cir- 
cumstances occurred, and though the soldiers fought with unex- 
ampled courage and determination, the results were in many 
respects unfortunate. Yet all this was reversed on the third day, 
by an exceedingly judicious disposition of the forces, and a glorious 
victory was gained. Nor was the triumph marred by a hasty 
and ill-advised use of the army against an enemy at bay. The 
result caused universal joy. The enemy was conquered — a full 
half of the army with which he had made the invasion was lost 
to him — the North was freed from the disgrace of being over- 
run — and the tide of disaster, which had been setting strongly 
against the National cause, was turned, ever after to recede. 
The thanks of Congress were presented to General Meade for his 
signal service in this battle. 

A campaign of manoeuvres followed, in which the rebel leader 
sought by a sharp, bold move to cut his antagonist off from his 



596 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

communications. But Meade was too wary to be taken at a dis- 
advantage, and the movement, which was begun in the confident 
expectation of complete triumph, ended in total failure and was 
turned to the advantage of the assailed — the actions at Bristoe 
and Rappahannock bridge resulting in brilliant victories to the 
Union arms. Meade soon after initiated a bold aggressive move- 
ment. With eight days' rations in haversack, he launched his 
army across the Rapidan, seeking to interpose between the two 
wings of Lee's army, and beat them in detail; but the tardy 
movement of some of his troops made futile the intended surprise, 
and he found the rebel forces so well intrenched behind Mine 
Run, that he determined not to attack, and returned again to 
his camps — a resolution which required a degree of courage not 
surpassed by that displayed in the most daring assaults. 

In the spring of 1864, General Grant was placed in command 
of all the armies, and took the field with that of the Potomac ; 
and though General Meade still held the immediate command 
of that army, and exercised the complete control of it, the glory 
of his achievements was shadowed in the public eye, and what- 
ever was done was attributed to the mind of the superior. At 
the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda 
Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, with all the operations of the 
siege, and the numerous enterprises undertaken for its reduction, 
down to the final campaign and the surrender of the rebel army 
at Appomattox Court House, he exercised that command, and 
endured the hardships and responsibilities incident to the execu- 
tion of manoeuvres and plans of battle, which were never before 
equalled on this continent. General Grant bore ample testimony 
to the worth of General Meade as a soldier, and particularly 
referred to the disadvantage he labored under in being second in 
command, in his estimation with the public, in his recommenda- 
tion for the confirmation of Meade as Major-General in the regular 
army. " General Meade," says General Grant, " is one of our 
truest men and ablest officers. lie has been constantly with that 
army [Army of the Potomac] confronting the strongest, best ap- 
pointed, and most confident army in the South. He, therefore, 
has not had the same opportunity of winning laurels so distinctly 
marked as have fallen to the lot of other Generals. But I defy 



GEORGE G. MEADE. 597 

any man to name a commander who would do more than General 
Meade has done with the same chances. General Meade was 
appointed at my solicitation, after a campaign the most pro- 
tracted, and covering more severely contested battles than any 
of which we have any account in history. I have been with 
General Meade during the whole campaign ; and I not only 
made the recommendation upon a conviction that this recog- 
nition of his services was fully won, but that he was eminently 
qualified for the rank which such command entitled him to." 

The recommendation was promptly acted on and he was con- 
firmed without question, his commission dating from the 18 th 
of August, 18G4. He had previously been advanced through 
the ranks of Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, and Brigadier- 
General in the regular army. After the close of the war he 
was assigned to the command of the Military Division of the 
Atlantic ; but in 1868 he was transferred to that of the Third 
Military District — comprising Georgia, Florida and Alabama — 
a section where the work of pacification was arduous and 
responsible, requiring a man of great weight of character, and 
discretion in the execution of his duties. In the following 
year he returned to the command of the Atlantic Division, with 
head-quarters at Philadelphia. This was his former home, and 
it was grateful for him, after his campaigns were ended and the 
noise of martial strife was hushed, to sit down and enjoy the 
quiet and repose which he had justly earned. He here lived 
in a house presented to his wife — a daughter of the Hon. John 
Sergeant — by his fellow-citizens, in grateful recognition of his 
eminent ability and services devoted to the welfare of his 
country. 

General Meade's personal appearance is thus graphically 
sketched by an English traveller who was introduced to him 
soon after the victory at Gettysburg : " He is a very remarkable- 
looking man — tall, spare, of a commanding figure and presence ; 
his manners easy and pleasant, but having much dignity. His 
head is partially bald and is small and compact; but the fore- 
head is high. He has the late Duke of Wellington class of 
nose ; and his eyes, which have a serious, almost sad expression, 
are rather sunken, or appear so from the prominence of the 



598 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

curved nasal development. He has a decidedly patrician and 
distinguished appearance. I had some conversation with him; 
and of his recent achievements he spoke in a modest and 
natural way. He said that he had been very 'fortunate/ but 
was most especially anxious not to arrogate to himself any credit 
which he did not deserve. He said that the triumph of the 
Federal arms was due to the splendid courage of the Union 
troops, and also to the bad strategy, and rash and mad attacks 
made by the enemy. He said that his health was remarkably 
good, and that he could bear almost any amount of physical 
fatigue." 

General Meade developed eminent ability as a soldier, and was 
life-long devoted to the service ; yet scenes of carnage and blood 
were revolting to his nature. He was of too tender and sympa- 
thetic a temperament to regard with other than aversion the suf- 
ferings and heart-breakings which war entails. In August, 18G3, 
the officers and men of the Reserve corps presented to him a 
costly sword, with sash, belt, and golden spurs. The presentation 
was made by General Crawford, in presence of many officers of 
the army high in rank, and distinguished civilians. In reply to 
the remarks of General Crawford, General Meade made quite a 
lengthy speech, recounting in a very just way the achievements 
of the Reserves from the beginning. In the course of his 
address he artlessly disclosed the feelings and motives which 
swayed his breast as a soldier. "While, however," he said, "I 
give expression to these feelings, they are not unmingled with 
others, of a sad and mournful nature, as I look around you and 
reflect that so many of the brave officers and soldiers who origi- 
nally composed this division sleep their last sleep, and that others 
have been obliged to return home crippled and maimed for life. 
It is terrible to think that there should be any necessity for so 
much misfortune and misery ! Sad, that in this country, a land 
liowing with milk and honey, and in which we are all brothers, 
we should raise our arms against each other, and such scenes 
should be enacted as I have been a participant in. It is sad that 
there should be an occasion like the present, and a necessity for 
the presentation of a testimonial such as this. These are sad, 
sad thoughts to me, but at the same time I am sustained in my 



JAMES Q. ANDERSON. 599 

present position by a consciousness that I am acting from a high 
and proper sense of my duty to my country. It is impossible 
that this great country should be divided ; that there should be 
two governments or two flags on this continent. Such a thing ' 
entirely out of the question. I trust that every loyal man won 
be willing to sacrifice his life before he would consent to hav*. 
more than one government, and one flag wave over the whole 
territory of the United States." 

"General Meade was," says «, writer in the New York Tribune, 
" a man of such even, such exact temperament, that he was free 
from those emotions and impulses, those eccentricities of feeling 
and action which give to the soldiers and their friends at home 
those easy and broad impressions of character which are fixed 
and conveyed in epithets and nicknames. He was never called 
Daddy, Fighting George, or Poney, or Stonewall. It is doubtful 
if any soldier in his command ever ventured to think of him but 
as General Meade. . . . He deprecated praise, and used to say 
that he was not fit to take the command of great armies, or the 
initiative in great campaigns. . . . He is one of the men whom 
history will call happy. His life was laborious, full of honors 
and success. He had his share of glory without that consjDicuous 
eminence which tempts the dart of envy and malevolence. His 
public career was free from vicissitudes, as his private life was 
free from storms. He was a good soldier, a true patriot, and an 
honest man. He deserved well of the Republic, and received as 
a general thing the credit he deserved." 

SHAMES Quigley Anderson, Colonel of the Seventeenth cavalry, 
£tz) was born in Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 
5th of July, 1831. He was the son of Hugh and Sarah (Quigley) 
Anderson. Until the age of nine he lived upon a farm. He 
received a good English and classical education at the Beaver 
Academy. He left school in 1845, and from that date until 1853 
was engaged as civil engineer upon the lines of the Erie and 
Pittsburg, and Carrolton and Allegheny Valley Railroads. In 
1854 he went to Kansas, and for a period of three years was in 
charge of a party of engineers engaged in laying out Government 
lands. In 1857 he was elected City Engineer of Kansas City, 



GOO MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Missouri, in which capacity he .served until the breaking out of the 
Rebellion, when he returned to his former home in Pennsylvania. 

Though he had no military education, his occupations had 
been such as to fit him to control men, and to take easily and 
naturally to life in the held ; while his skill as an engineer gave 
him many advantages in judging of the nature of the country in 
which he was operating, and in discerning its defensible posi- 
tions. In July, 18G2, he commenced recruiting a company of 
cavalry, of which he was commissioned First Lieutenant. It be- 
came Company A of the Seventeenth Pennsylvania, which went 
to the field, under Colonel Josiah PI. Kellogg. In January, 18G3, 
lie was promoted to Captain, and, in command of his company, 
took part in the battle of Chancellorsville. At the most critical 
juncture in that engagement, at the moment, on the evening of 
the 2d, when Stonewall Jackson was bearing down all before him, 
having put to rout the entire Eleventh corps, General Pleasanton, 
with two regiments of cavalry, the Eighth and Seventeenth, was 
returning from the attack of Sickles' men upon Jackson's rear, 
when he discovered the misfortune which had befallen the right 
wing of the army. Comprehending the situation, he ordered the 
Eighth, which was an old regiment, to charge the enemy and 
hold him in check until he could bring his artillery, of which 
he had twenty-two pieces, into position. When that was done, 
he posted the Seventeenth, which had never been under fire, in 
line in rear of the guns, to give the appearance of strong support, 
with orders to charge should the enemy approach; and with no 
other protection, those twenty-two guns, by being effectively and 
skilfully served, were able to arrest the force of the enemy's blow 
and save the whole army from destruction. 

In the Gettysburg campaign, the Seventeenth was with the 
column led by the intrepid John Buford, who pushed on in ad- 
vance, and first met the enemy before the town, holding him in 
check until the infantry could arrive. Captain Anderson had, 
in the meantime, been commissioned Major, and led a battalion 
in that great battle. For his gallantry in a critical period of the 
engagement, he was publicly complimented by General Buford. 
He continued in command of a battalion in the affairs at Funks- 
town on the 7th of July, at Brandy Station on the 1st of August, 



JAMES Q. ANDERSON. G01 

and at Raccoon Ford on the 14th of September. On the 18th 
of February, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel, to date from June 1st, 1863, and led his regiment in the 
battle at Todd's Tavern, on the 7th and 8th of May. When Sheri- 
dan started on his raid towards Richmond, Lieutenant-Colonel An- 
derson manoeuvred his force with a courage and a steadiness that 
won the highest commendation of that eminent cavalry leader, 
being warmly engaged at Yellow Tavern, and at Meadow Bridge 
on the 11th and 12th of May. After reaching the James, and 
communicating with Butlers army, he returned with Sheridan's 
columns to the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the battle 
of Hanovertown, on the 27th of May, Hawes' Shop on the 28th, 
Old Church on the 30th, and Cold Harbor on the 31st and June 
1st. Cutting loose at this point from the main body of the army, 
the cavalry moved towards Cordons ville, and came upon the 
enemy in force at Trevilian Station on the 11th and 12th of June, 
where he participated in the sharp encounter which then occurred. 
Returning again to the James, he was in the engagement at 
White House on the 21st, and at Darbytown road on the 28th. 

Soon after rejoining the combined armies before Petersburg, 
Sheridan, with a portion of his cavalry, was ordered to the 
Shenandoah Valley, to meet a heavy body of the enemy under 
General Early. On reaching its destination, Colonel Anderson, 
whose health had been much impaired by constant and severe 
duty, was obliged to leave the front, and from that time until 
November was confined to the hospital in Washington. On 
rejoining his regiment he resumed command, and moved with 
General Torbert in his raid upon Gordonsville, taking part in the 
battle which was there fouclit on the 22d of December. Having 
just come forth from the hospital, the hardships and suffering 
during this wintry march bore heavily upon him. In January, 
1865, he was promoted to Colonel, to rank from the 18th of 
December. His health again declining, he left his command in 
February, and, on returning before the opening of the spring 
campaign, the Government, desirous of relieving him so far as 
possible from exposure, placed him in command of the Remount 
Camp at City Point. He was with his regiment at Lee's sur- 
render, and with it was mustered out of service. 



602 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Colonel Anderson left the army with a constitution broken by 
exposure and hardship, and as he retired to his home he went 
to die. His strength sufficed to reach it ; but he was, from that 
day, confined to his room, with pulmonary consumption ; and on 
the 9th of October following, the tried and trusted soldier quietly 
breathed his last. In person he was of commanding figure, being 
five feet ten inches in height, and though robust previous to 
the war, was predisposed to pulmonary attacks. His scholastic 
attainments were considerable, especially in mathematics and 
the science of engineering. He was naturally of an adventurous 
and enterprising disposition. As a soldier, he enjoyed the con- 
fidence of his associates in a remarkable degree. One who knew 
him intimately says : " It is the testimony of his men that, in 
all the battles in which he was engaged, he not only commanded, 
but he led them bravely and efficiently." 

rjuGii Sym Campbell, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighty-third 
(is regiment, was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, on 
the 20th of April, 1829. He was the son of Hugh and Janet 
(Kessin) Campbell. He was liberally educated, first in the High 
School in his native city until his fifteenth year, and subsequently 
in the University of Glasgow, where for three years he pursued 
the ancient classics. At the end of this period, he entered upon 
commercial pursuits as travelling agent for the business house of 
his father. But the love of adventure, coupled with a desire to 
travel in foreign countries, induced him to forsake the comforts 
and advantages of home, and at the age of nineteen he emigrated 
to the United States, arriving in New York in April, 1849. 

He remained at the metropolis but a short time, when he 
rambled westward to Buffalo, where he engaged in business, first 
as book-keeper, and finally as partner, in an extensive mechani- 
cal manufactory, for a period of ten years. He was married on 
the 12th of July, 1850, to Miss Margaret Boyd. In May, 1860, 
he removed with his family to Waterford, Erie county, Pennsyl- 
vania. When, in July, 18G1, intelligence of the defeat of the 
National army at Bull Run was received, he rallied around him 
a hundred young men, whom he organized as Company E of the 
Eighty-third regiment, then being formed at the city of Erie by 



HUGH S. CAMPBELL. 603 

that intrepid soldier, John W. McLane. He had never had any 
military training, but such was the confidence reposed in him 
that he was elected Captain, and at the terrible battle of Gaines' 
Mill, fought on the 27th of June, 1862, where both the Colonel 
and the Major were slain, the command of the regiment devolved 
upon him at a critical juncture. Isolated by the giving way of 
troops upon its right, the staff officer killed who had been sent 
to order it back, Captain Campbell resolved not to leave his 
position without the motion of his superior, and the regiment 
fought on over the dead bodies of its leaders, causing the enemy 
to shun it by its very boldness and audacity. Finally a mes- 
senger reached him and he withdrew, but steadily and full of 
spirit. In the engagement at Malvern Hill on the 1st of July, 
Captain Campbell led his men in a charge which hurled the 
enemy back, and resulted in the capture of the colors of a South 
Carolina regiment; but he was himself severely wounded. He, 
however, kept the field until the 9th, when, being unable to walk, 
and there appearing to be no further prospect of an immediate 
renewal of the contest, he received a leave of absence, and re- 
turned home. In the brief space of twenty days, which was the 
limit of the furlough, he obtained one hundred recruits, most of 
whom went with him to the front. 

He at once resumed command, and in ten days after again led 
his regiment on the disastrous field of Bull Run. Here, while 
leading a charge upon the enemy, he was severely wounded, a 
Minie ball shattering the large bone of the left leg. The regi- 
ment was in full motion and passed over his body in carrying out 
his order. In the varied fortunes of the battle, it was obliged. to 
give ground, and in retiring came again upon him and bore him 
back. He was sent in an ambulance to Alexandria, where he 
remained several weeks. As soon as he was able to travel, he 
returned to his home, but was obliged to be conveyed the whole 
distance upon his cot, his surgeon not allowing him to travel 
upright. For over a year, he was able to move only upon 
crutches. His name still remained upon the rolls of his regi- 
ment, he having leave of absence from the Secretary of War 
until recovered. Despairing of ever being able again to take the 
field, he offered his resignation and was mustered out of the 



604 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

service, on the 14th of May, 18G3. Immediately thereafter, he 
was tendered the position of Provost Marshal of the Nineteenth 
District of Pennsylvania, which he accepted, and retained until 
its abolition in L865, discharging its duties to the great accept- 
ance of the Government and his constituents. He was tendered, 
likewise, the appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Veteran 
Reserve corps, which he declined. 

Uw7" ILLIAM McFinn Penrose, Colonel of the Sixth Reserve 
V, V' regiment, was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 
29th of March, 1825. His father, Charles B. Penrose, was a 
native of Philadelphia, of Welsh descent. His mother was 
Valeria F. Biddle, also a native of Philadelphia. His boyhood 
was mostly spent at school, and he graduated at Dickinson Col- 
lege, Carlisle, in due course. He had had no military experience 
previous to the Rebellion ; but when the call was made for troops 
for the Reserve corps he was active in securing recruits, and upon 
the organization of the Sixth regiment of that corps he was com- 
missioned its Lieutenant-Colonel. The location of the camp 
where the troops were first stationed near to Washington was an 
unhealthy one, and about three hundred were stricken with 
fever, among whom were Colonel Ricketts and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Penrose. For this cause Colonel Ricketts was discharged, and 
soon after died. 

The battle of Dranesville was fought on the 20th of December, 
1861, in which the Sixth regiment bore a prominent part. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Penrose was in command, and for his steadiness 
and soldierly bearing in the hour of peril was warmly com- 
mended by General Ord, who commanded the brigade engaged, 
and also by Major-General McCall. The regiment was first held 
in support of Easton's battery while the duel with the enemy 
was in progress. When, by the superior skill and accuracy of 
Easton's fire, the rebel artillery was silenced and driven, the 
regiment, by direction of General Ord, was ordered to follow on 
the right of the road leading to Manassas, and gallantly pursued 
until the discovery was made that the foe had fled beyond reach. 
The victory of the Reserves in this battle was complete, a large 
number of the enemy having been killed and wounded, a caisson 



WILLIAM M. PENROSE.— WILLIAM E. GBIES. 605 

blown up, and a considerable quantity of arms, ammunition, and 
clothing taken. 

On account of ill health, induced by the malarial fevers at the 
first camp, Colonel Penrose resigned soon after this battle, and 
was never afterwards able to rejoin the army. A little more 
than a month from taking leave of his command General Ord 
wrote: "Your departure, together with his (Colonel Ricketts'), 
has left the regiment badly off for field officers. I wish circum- 
stances could have enabled you to have remained ; your coolness 
at Dranesville satisfied me that, had you taken hold, the regi- 
ment would have gone ahead in discipline with a corresponding 
zeal." 

When the rebel army invaded the State in 1863, and a body 
under General Ewell approached Carlisle, Colonel Penrose, who 
was then a member of the town council, went but with Assist- 
ant Burgess Allison and Major Martin Kuhn to meet it and 
endeavor to secure protection to the place. The greatest con- 
sternation prevailed, as Union troops were in the vicinity, and a 
battle seemed imminent. They were fired on as they attempted 
to make their way through the rebel lines, but succeeded in 
obtaining an agreement that the enemy should not charge into 
the place, though a brisk artillery duel was had, in which several 
buildings were struck and more or less injured. 

Colonel Penrose married, on the 23d of July, 1857, Miss 
Valeria M., daughter of Brigadier-General Charles Merchant, of 
the United States army. Colonel Penrose was a member of the 
town council of Carlisle in 1861-62-63. He was by profession a 
lawyer. He was nearly six feet in height, and previous to the 
Rebellion was of robust health, but after his retirement from the 
service never fully recovered from disease there incurred, and 
died in 1873. 

"^©Tilliam R. Gries, Chaplain of the One Hundred and 
;£) Fourth regiment, was born at Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, 
on the 3d of September, 1826. His father was Doctor William 
Gries, an eminent physician of Reading. At the opening of the 
Rebellion he had charge of a parish in Doylestown, Bucks county, 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; but when the One Hundred 



606 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENXSYLVAXIA. 

and Fourth regiment was formed, in the summer of 1861, he 
accepted the position of Chaplain and continued with it during 
the war, performing, if not dangerous, laborious and efficient 
duty. He had two brothers in the service, John M., Major 
of this regiment, who fell at Fair Oaks, and Lemuel, First 
Lieutenant of the Ringgold Artillery. Colonel Davis, of the One 
Hundred and Fourth, in his history of the regiment, says : 
" Before I conclude I deem it necessary to say a few words about 
the labors of Chaplain Gries. The regiment was fortunate in 
having such a Chaplain. Neither officer nor man was more 
faithful in the discharge of his duties. He served out his full 
time of three years, and was seldom absent from the regiment 
unless on duty. During this time he held more than a thousand 
religious exercises. He preached every Sunday in camp, with a 
prayer-meeting and a short address every evening when possible. 
Besides these he held special service in the hospital. For a long 
time he was the only Chaplain on duty with the brigade, and he 
alone held daily and continuous services among the troops. For 
a considerable period during the operations on Morris Island he 
was the only Chaplain in that army to officiate at the burial of 
the dead. At one time he Avas engaged in this duty nearly every 
hour in the day. While connected with the regiment Mr. Gries 
baptized and received into the church fifty-nine soldiers and one 
officer." 

Besides the important work here sketched, Chaplain Gries was 
active in ministering to the needs of the men, personally 
taking charge of remittances of money and paying it over to 
their families, who were often in great need. After leaving the 
army he became pastor of a parish in Churchtown ; and, in 1868, 
removed to Allentown, where he became Rector of Grace Church. 
In October, 1872, he sickened and died. In the church he held 
a high rank, in private life was greatly esteemed, and in the 
family circle was regarded with that affection which only the 
good can command. 

T^Tilliam Albert Leech, Colonel of the Ninetieth regiment, 

V, V aiK j Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 3d of 

February, 1832, in the city of Philadelphia. He was the son of 



WILLIAM B. GRIES. — WILLIAM A. LEECH. 607 

Henry and Frances S. Leech. He graduated in due course at 
the Philadelphia High School, and subsequently at the United 
States Military Academy at West Point. After the decease of his 
parents, and not long after his leaving the Academy, he resigned 
his commission and commenced the study of the law in the office 
of Benjamin Gerhard, with whom, after being admitted to practice, 
he continued until the breaking out of the Rebellion. He had for 
some time previous been an officer in the First Pennsylvania Artil- 
lery, a volunteer organization of some reputation. This regiment 
responded promptly when called, and after having been filled to 
the maximum strength was received into the service,* as the 
Seventeenth of the line, for three months. Of this he was Major. 
It was the first regiment to enter Baltimore after the attack of 
the mob on Massachusetts and Pennsylvania troops. It was 
quartered for a time in the Senate Chamber on reaching Wash- 
ington, and when Patterson entered the Shenandoah Valley, pro- 
ceeded up the Potomac to join him in the column led by General 
Stone. 

At the expiration of this term of service he returned to Phila- 
delphia, and assisted in recruiting the Ninetieth Pennsylvania 
regiment, of which he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. When 
the campaign upon the Peninsula opened, his regiment, being 
attached to the column of McDowell, remained before Washing- 
ton and was actively employed in the operations in the Valley 
of Virginia. At Thoroughfare Gap, where Longstreet sought to 
force his way through to form junction with Jackson who had 
gone before, Ricketts' division, in which the Ninetieth served, 
held that able leader with his entire corps at bay for the space 
of eight hours, while Pope was concentrating his forces, and 
finally, when forced back, retired in good order. Henceforward 
the Ninetieth shared the fortunes of the Army of the Potomac, 
and Colonel Leech participated in nearly all the battles and skir-, 
mishes in which that historic body was engaged. Colonel Lyle-, 
the leader of the regiment, was often called to the command of a 
brigade, which left Colonel Leech its chief, and ably did he dis- 
charge the duty. 

At the battle of Weldon Railroad, fought on the 18th of August, 
1864, the division to which he was attached was flanked by 



G08 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 

heavy masses of the enemy under the rebel General Mahone and, 
before the line could be withdrawn, Colonel Leech and a number 
of officers and men were taken prisoners. When the Colonel 
found that there was no possibility of escape, determined that 
the enemy should not take from him his sword, he thrust it into 
the ground and broke it, casting away the pieces. It was raining 
heavily when he was captured, and a rubber coat which he wore 
afforded some protection. But this was unceremoniously taken 
from him, the beginning of a series of indignities and barbarities 
which reached through his sad imprisonment, and fastened in 
his system the seeds of disease which finally carried him to an 
early grave. He was confined in succession at Libby, Danville, 
and Salisbury. The exposure and harsh treatment here was 
extreme, and the authorities knew and encouraged it. On one 
occasion, while General Leech was standing under an oak tree 
within the inclosure at Salisbury, a rebel guard shot and killed 
a Lieutenant while engaged in gathering acorns, though more 
than twenty feet within the dead line. For this murderous act 
the rebel guard was given a furlough of thirty days. Colonel 
Leech was not released until February 20th, 1865. He was 
soon after offered command of one of the fine regiments then 
being raised by the Union League of Philadelphia ; but so 
enfeebled had he become from his imprisonment that he could 
not accept it, though he cherished the purpose of returning to 
the army as soon as health would permit. That time never 
came. The Avar closed soon afterward, and on the 20th of. July, 
1870, he died, a victim to rebel barbarity. 

On the 13th of March, 18G5, he had received the brevet ranks 
of Colonel and Brigadier- General. In 1807 he was elected Regis- 
ter of Wills for the city of Philadelphia. In person he was tall, 
with a military bearing. He was a brave and humane soldier, 
and, while a strict disciplinarian, still held his command by warm 
•attachment. As a token of their friendship the soldiers of his 
regiment presented him with a costly sword. In private life he 
was esteemed for his social and liberal qualities, and for his 
gentlemanly and Christian virtues. He was married on the 4th 
of October, I860, to Hannah T., daughter of Edwin and Susan V. 
Greble. His widow and three children survive him. He was 



ROBERT L. BODINE. 009 

buried with military honors at Woodlands Cemetery, beside his 
brother-in-law, Lieutenant John T. Greble, United States Arm}-, 
who was killed at Big Bethel. 

TD obert L. Bodine was born on the 30th of May, 1832, in 
^j\ Northampton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. His father, 
John R. Bodine, and his mother, Sarah Lewis, were both of 
American origin. The son during boyhood was engaged in the 
usual labors of his father's farm, and in attending the district 
school. He afterwards spent some time at the Doylestown 
Academy. As his mind became developed, he manifested a 
strong liking for mechanical studies, and the science of mili- 
tary operations. A fondness was also exhibited for the study 
of history, especially the valorous deeds of the great men of 
past time. 

His tastes naturally led him to seek some opportunity for 
military training, and he joined a volunteer company then exist- 
ing in Bucks county, known as the Pennsylvania Blues. In this 
he served for several years, rising to the position of a commis- 
sioned officer. At the opening cf the Rebellion, he made haste 
to enroll himself as a private in the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania 
regiment, among the very first to be organized in the State for 
the three years' service. The date of his entrance to duty was 
the 5th of May, 1861. He commenced at the lowest round in 
the ladder ; but his ability and worth soon found him out, and 
his advancement was rapid. On the 30th of the same month 
he was promoted to Commissary Sergeant; on the 25th of August 
following, to Second Lieutenant of Company K; on the 15th of 
January, 1862, to Captain, and on the 10th of July to Major 
of the regiment. During all this period, he was in constant 
service with his command, bearing a conspicuous part in the 
battle of Williamsburg with General Small, and at Fair Oaks, 
Seven Pines, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. When the remnants 
of McClellan's army, spared by the bullets of the enemy and the 
no less deadly and destructive miasms of the Chickahominy, 
retired from the Peninsula, and proceeded to the support of Pope 
on the Rappahannock, this regiment, forming part of Hooker's 
division, was prompt to move. When it was ascertained that 
39 



610 MARTIAL DEEDS OE PENNSYLVANIA. 

Stonewall Jackson had come in upon the rear of Pope's army 
and was at Manassas Junction, Hooker was ordered to move back 
upon the railroad to meet him. Major Bodine was now in com- 
mand of the regiment, and took the lead of the brigade in that 
march. A sharp encounter resulted in the triumph of Hooker, 
and he moved on to the Second Bull Run battle-ground. The 
regiment was here put to severe service, at one time being led 
with the brigade upon an old railroad grading, behind which the 
enemy was concealed, and from whom it received a deadly fire ; 
and at others supporting artillery in different parts of the field 
that was hotly engaged, sustaining throughout severe losses and 
acquitting itself worthily. 

After the battle of Fredericksburg, in which the Twenty-sixth 
participated, the whole army was reorganized under that gallant 
loader, General Joseph Hooker; and here the early tastes and 
reading of Major Bodine proved of great service. He opened a 
school for the instruction of the officers of the regiment, in which 
the elementary and necessary principles of military duty were 
studied and explained with great acceptance and signal useful- 
ness. The battle of Chancellorsville disclosed the value of the in- 
structions which had been given, the regiment being manoeuvred 
in the most trying situations with great ease and success. After 
this battle, the Colonel being obliged to retire from service on 
account of wounds received at Chancellorsville, and its Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel being permanently on detached service, the entire 
command devolved on Major Bodine, and he was soon after 
advanced to the grades of Lieutenan1>Colonel and Colonel. 

Few commanders of regiments were placed in more trying 
circumstances than was Colonel Bodine at the battle of Gettys- 
burg. Carr's brigade of Humphreys' division was posted on the 
right of Sickles' corps, on depressed, open ground where the 
enemy from all sides, from commanding positions, could sweep 
it with his artillery, his sharpshooters and line of battle, with 
terrible effect. And here, with nothing to shield it from the 
deadly fire, it was compelled to stand through the long hours of 
that terrible day and submit to swift destruction. The regiment 
went into position with 364 enlisted men, of whom 213 were 
either killed or wounded. Of eighteen officers two were killed 



ELISHA B. HARVEY. 611 

and nine severely wounded. Two of the nine died of their 
wounds, and five were disabled and made cripples for life. Three 
color-bearers were killed. 

With the Army of the Potomac, Colonel Bodine continued to 
lead his regiment in all the hard marches and desperate fighting 
of that heroic organization, until the expiration of his term in 
June, 1864, when with his regiment he was mustered out of 
service. In March previous he was brevetted Brigadier-General 
for meritorious conduct. At Gettysburg he received special com- 
mendation from General Carr ; and early in the war, when with 
four cavalrymen and a negro guide he proceeded eighteen miles 
down the Potomac and captured five of the enemy, with large 
quantities of contraband goods ready for transfer to the rebel 
army then lying opposite, and brought them all to General 
Hooker's head-quarters, he received the warm approval of that 
intrepid soldier. 

General Bodine was appointed, in July, 1866, Consul to Cape 
Town, Africa; but resigned in September, on account of differ- 
ences in political sentiments between himself and the President, 
Andrew Johnson, and took an active part in the canvass for 
Governor during that year. He was appointed Flour Inspector 
of Philadelphia, in March, 1867, by Governor Geary, which office 
he held until March 1st, 1873. He was married on the 10th of 
July, 1856, to Miss Kate Y. Burn. He died at his residence in 
Philadelphia, on the 16th of January, 1874, universally esteemed 
for his nobility of nature and kindness of heart. 

JT^lisha B. Harvey, the first Colonel of the Seventh Reserve 
<z£i regiment, was born at Harveyville, Luzerne county, Penn- 
sylvania. His father, Benjamen Harvey, was of English descent, 
though his more immediate ancestry were from Connecticut. 
His mother was Sally (Nesbitt) Harvey, also of English descent. 
The occupation of his father was that of a farmer, and in this 
the son participated during his boyhood, receiving the rudiments 
of an English education in the public schools. He prepared for 
college under the instruction of Deacon Dana at Wilkesbarre, 
and in the grammar school of Dickinson College, and subse- 
quently graduated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Con- 



G12 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

necticut. He was, for a time, Professor of Mathematics in the 
Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, but commenced almost imme- 
diately the study of the law in the office of Charles Dennison, 
and was admitted to the bar on the 4th of November, 1847. He 
possessed in a remarkable degree the confidence of the public, 
and was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and Register 
of Wills and District Attorney. Though his tastes inclined him 
to literary pursuits, he had a strong predilection for military 
pageants, and early joined a militia organization, holding, at 
different times, from 1832, when he first enlisted, to the opening 
of the Rebellion, the position of Lieutenant and Captain of a 
troop, Captain of artillery, Colonel of a volunteer regiment, and 
Brigade inspector — a place which he held for five years. The 
company of artillery he recruited and took to the field in 1861. 

Ipon the organization of the Seventh Reserve regiment, Cap- 
tain Harvey was chosen Colonel. Having, for nearly thirty 
years, been familiar with militia duty in all arms of the service, 
he was well fitted to instruct and drill a raw regiment. This 
duty he performed in such a manner as to attract the attention 
of the commander of the division, calling forth his hearty ap- 
proval. His first experience of active service was at Great Falls, 
on the Potomac, above Washington, where his skirmishers were 
face to face with and in close proximity to those of the enemy. 
On the 4 th of September, 1861, the enemy attacked, with a 
battery of two howitzers and three rifled guns, and for two or 
three hours a brisk cannonade was kept up. Colonel Harvey, 
being only provided with smooth-bore pieces, ordered the Cap- 
tain of the battery not to reply, and the enemy finally with- 
drew, the regiment sustaining only slight loss in wounded. 

The first great conflict in the Seven Days' battle before Rich- 
mond fell upon the Reserves, who, almost single-handed, breasted 
the torrent of the attack. To Colonel Harvey's regiment Avas 
assigned the task of supporting Easton's battery, which played 
an important part in the battle. " Somewhat later in the day," 
says General McCall, in his official report, " a heavy column was 
launched down the road to Ellison's Mill, where another most 
determined attack in force was made. I had already sent Eas- 
ton's battery to General Seymour, commanding the left, and I 



ELISHA B. HARVEY. 613 

now despatched the Seventh regiment, Colonel Harvey, to the 
extreme left, apprehending that the enemy might attempt to 
turn that flank by crossing the creek below the mill. Here again 
the Reserves maintained their position, and sustained their 
character for steadiness in fine style, never retiring one foot 
during a severe struggle with some of the very best troops of the 
enemy, fighting under the direction of their most distinguished 
General (Lee). Fur hour after hour the battle was hotly con- 
tested, and the rapid fire of our artillery, dealing death to an 
awful extent, was unintermitted, while the greatly superior force 
of the enemy enabled him to precipitate column after column of 
fresh troops upon my nearly exhausted lines." 

In the battles at Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads, and 
Malvern Hill, Colonel Harvey's command fought with a deter- 
mination and a bravery unsurpassed, the flower of the regiment 
being cut down in these sanguinary struggles. The hardships 
during this week of battles have rarely been exceeded, and at its 
close Colonel Harvey found himself prostrated by disease. He 
was attacked with rheumatism of such a type as to preclude 
service in the field. Accordingly, on the 4th of July, 1862, he 
resigned. During his active duty he received a buckshot wound 
in the neck, and a slight flesh wound from a Minie ball. 

In person, Colonel Harvey Avas above the medium height, 
sparely made, and of a fair complexion. Though of a naturally 
weak constitution, his health was well preserved by temperance 
and sobriety. 

He was twice married ; to Miss Phebe Maria Frisbie, who died 
in 1849, leaving one son ; and to Miss Sarah Maria Garretson, of 
Summerville, New Jersey, who, with five children, survives him. 
After leaving the army he resumed the practice of his profession 
at Wilkesbarre, and opened a classical school for both sexes, his 
pupils at one time exceeding two hundred. He was soon after 
chosen Burgess of the town, and subsequently Justice of the 
Peace, which office he continued to exercise until his death, 
which occurred on the 20th of August, 1872. 



614 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ver Blachly Knowles, Colonel of the Twenl 

The death of no officer since the close of the war has called 



/\ liver Blachly Knowles, Colonel of the Twenty-first cavalry. 

forth more universal and heart-felt sorrow in the circle of his 
acquaintance than that of General Oliver B. Knowles. Having 
passed through all the grades of honor, from that of a private, 
entering the ranks at the age of eighteen, up to that of Brigadier- 
General at the age of twenty-two, and earning every promotion 
by the sterling qualities of his head and his heart, without the 
patronage or assistance of those in place, his death has caused a 
void in the breasts of all who had come to know his worth, and 
has sent a pang to the heart of every one who had felt the influ- 
ence of his open and frank demeanor and that unaffected kind- 
ness and sympathy which he was ever ready to bestow. 

Oliver Blachly Knowles was born on the 3d of January, 1842, 
in the city of Philadelphia. His father, Levi Knowles, was a 
native of New Jersey, and has for many years been an honored 
.-Hid respected merchant of Philadelphia. His mother was Eliza- 
beth Adeline Croskey, a native of that city, an intelligent lady 
with great force of character. The boy early evinced a strong 
predilection for equestrian exercise, and soon became a good rider. 
He was educated in the public schools .of the city, spending two 
years in the High School, and at the age of fifteen entered the 
business house of his father, where he was actively employed at 
the breaking out of the war. 

At the first drum-beat for troops, young Knowles was alive to 
the call of patriotism, and enlisted as a private in Company C of 
the First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry. The order authorizing 
the raising of this regiment was originally issued to General Carl 
Schurz, with the design of obtaining a company from each of the 
several States. But soon after receiving the order. Schurz aban- 
doned the project, and transferred the authority to another, and 
the regiment, with the exception of this company which was 
from Philadelphia, was recruited in New York. Knowles was 
active in securing men for his company, urging the firemen and 
his associates to enlist ; and he was early selected its clerk. It is 
related by Captain Boyd, who commanded the company, as an 
example of his obedience and strict fidelity, that on one occasion 
he himself rode with him to the post-office, and having to attend 



OLIVER B. KNOWLES. 615 

to some business in the next street, directed him to await his 
return. Forgetting the injunction, Boyd went back to head- 
quarters by another route, and did not again think of his orderly 
until late in the day, when, hastening to the post-office, he found 
this faithful officer where he had ordered him to remain. 

Scarcely a month from the time the company received its 
horses and arms, and before the men had fairly learned to sit 
their saddles, it was sent on a scout towards Fairfax Court House. 
When near Pohick Church, and moving leisurely along, it came 
suddenly upon a force of the enemy's cavalry concealed behind 
a wood. At sight of these the advance guard turned, and gallop- 
ing in, reported a hostile army in front, which so terrified the 
men that they instinctively wheeled and began a hasty retreat. 
Knowles, who was with the advance, having carefully noted the 
enemy's force, dashed past his comrades, and soon reaching the 
rear of the column, informed the Captain that the foe was in no 
greater force than his own. Relying upon this report, the retreat, 
by his assistance, was suddenly stopped, and after forming, and 
preparing the minds of his men by encouraging words, the bugles 
sounded the charge. Dashing forward with shouts for the onset, 
and using their pistols as they came to close quarters, the enemy, 
after firing one volley, was put to disorderly flight. Thus at the 
very outset of his career he manifested, though but a private, 
a coolness, intelligence, and courage which saved the force from 
what was likely to become a disgraceful panic, and led to a spirit- 
stirring victory, the effect of which was never lost upon the com- 
pany. For his gallantry here he was soon after, in September, 
1861, promoted to Corporal, though it was only by the entreaties 
and finally the commands of the Captain that he was induced 
to accept it. From this point his advancement was rapid. In 
January following he was made Orderly Sergeant, a position of 
more responsibility than that of any other non-commissioned offi- 
cer, where he was at once brought into intimate relations with the 
entire company, among whom he inspired respect and love. This 
regiment being a New York organization, all promotions to posi- 
tions in the line had to come from the Governor of that State, 
and the field and staff, through whom advancement was regularly 
procured, were citizens of that Commonwealth. But by the 



61G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

recommendation of Governor Curtin, at the instance of Captain 
Boyd, he was, at the close of the Peninsula campaign, in which 
he participated with distinguished gallantry, promoted to the rank 
of Second Lieutenant. Captain James H. Stevenson, of the same 
regiment, in speaking of him at this period, says : " He soon be- 
came a favorite in the regiment, and he was the idol of his com- 
pany. He was impelled by no mean or mercenary spirit in going 
out to serve his country, so he submitted patiently and cheerfully 
to all the privations of the camp and field, thus setting a good 
example to the men, and winning the hearts of his superior 
officers. He was never sick, always ready for duty, and seemed 
to regard the most fatiguing service or hazardous undertaking 
as pastime." 

He was on the advance line in the Antietam campaign, and 
met the enemy in spirited engagements at Hyattstown, Frederick, 
Antietam, and Williamsport. His regiment now became part of 
the army commanded by General Milroy, stationed in the Shenan- 
doah Valley and along the valley of the Potomac. Here guerilla 
warfare was rife, and duty more hazardous than with the Grand 
Army. The sagacity and courage of Knowles proved invaluable, 
and many were the dashes he executed, which by his strategy 
and daring were almost invariably attended with success, binding 
new laurels about his brow. So marked were these that in 
April, 18G3, he was commissioned First Lieutenant. 

In June following, he obtained a furlough of a few days — the 
first since his enlistment — and had just reached home when he 
heard that disaster had befallen Milroy's command. The entire 
army of General Lee, on its way to Pennsylvania, in the Gettys- 
burg campaign, had come upon Milroy unawares, and before he 
could extricate himself was surrounded, and had to cut his way 
out, sustaining great loss. The instant Lieutenant Knowles 
heard of the discomfiture of his comrades he decided to forego the 
pleasure of home and the society of friends, and return at once to 
his command. At Harper's Ferry he learned that his company 
had escaped into Pennsylvania, by the way of Bloody Pun. He 
accordingly hastened to Harrisburg, where he met it, and at once 
entered upon that campaign in his native State ever memorable 
and ever glorious. 



OLIVER jg. KNOWLES. 61 7 

His company was now put upon the extreme front, and scouted 
the Cumberland Valley, while the Confederate army was moving 
on Harrisburg. In one instance, he, with only seven men, sur- 
prised a party of the enemy near Chambersburg, and took over 
thirty prisoners with their horses and equipments. On another 
occasion he captured a party of seventeen horsemen — his own 
men not having a charge of powder in their pistols, nor any 
ammunition upon their persons except what had been ruined by 
excessive rains. On the 2d of July, with fifteen of his company, 
he charged into Fayetteville, where a Confederate column was 
passing, and captured fifty prisoners and a number of horses, 
snatching them from between the main body and its rear 
guard, and while neither was more than 500 yards away. Send- 
ing his prisoners to Harrisburg, he started over the mountains 
towards Gettysburg, and on the 4th dashed into Arendtsville 
and captured eighty prisoners, nine wagons, and a large num- 
ber of horses. On the 6th, he took thirty-one prisoners near 
Waterloo. Of his conduct in this stirring campaign, Captain 
Boyd says : " It is worthy of being recorded in letters of gold. 
Were I to recount all that he did during that exciting time, I 
fear it would take longer to write than the campaign lasted." 

In recognition of the services rendered by this company during 
the campaign, Governor Curtin gave its Captain command of a new 
regiment just then being recruited, and to Lieutenant Knowles 
the position of Major. So attached was the latter to his old com- 
pany in the Lincoln Cavalry that it was with difficulty he could 
be induced to leave it, and not until the new regiment was re- 
organized at the end of six months for a further period of three 
years did he consent to accept this honorable promotion. During 
the time which expired between his original appointment and 
his acceptance in March, 18G4, the Lincoln Cavalry was engaged 
in the most active and fatiguing campaigns of the war. 

The new regiment to which he was transferred, after having 
been mounted and drilled as cavalry, was temporarily ordered to 
act as infantry, and in that capacity bore an active part in the 
hard-fought battles of Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, 
Jerusalem Plank Boad, Explosion of the Mine, Weldon Railroad, 
and Poplar Grove Church. In the last four of these engagements 



618 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the regiment was commanded by Major Knowles, his superior 
officers having been wounded. 

On the 8th of October, the regiment was remounted, and in 
November, Major Knowles was promoted to Colonel — the wounds 
of Colonel Boyd unfitting him for held duty. Joining the cavalry 
corps of General D. McM. Gregg, under that able commander 
Colonel Knowles led his regiment in the severe engagements at 
the Boydton Plank Road, and in the raids to Stony Creek and 
Bellefield, in both of which he acted as rear guard. In the 
movement to Hatcher's Run he commanded the brigade. On 
the 29th of March, the final campaign of the war opened, and at 
Dinwiddie Court House, Amelia Springs, Cedar Creek, Farmville, 
and Appomattox Court House, he followed General Sheridan, 
and won the commendation and warm approval of that fiery and 
impetuous leader. The last charge was actually delivered after 
the terms of surrender had been agreed upon. The operations 
of the morning of the 9th of April were being actively pushed, 
the Confederate General Rosser having been hard pressed, and 
driven nearly a mile, where he took a sheltered position and 
made a firm stand. The brigade had been drawn up for a charge, 
and the word to advance given, when news of the surrender was 
received. Colonel Knowles failed to get the notice, and led his 
regiment in a gallant charge alone. Seeing that he was unsup- 
ported by the rest of the line, he halted, when the recall was 
sounded, and the four years of fighting in the Army of the 
Potomac ceased. 

The conduct of Colonel Knowles throughout his entire military 
career, from that of a private carrying the carbine to his last 
charge when the foremost of all the Confederate leaders had been 
compelled to surrender, was most devoted and heroic, winning 
the respect and affection of those beneath him, and the confidence 
and admiration of his superiors. His unaffected simplicity of 
manner, genial bearing, and never-failing wit won for him troops 
of friends wherever he moved. As a token of their esteem, he 
was presented by his companions in arms with a horse, sword 
and equipments. He was warmly commended by Generals 
Sickel, Gregg, and Sheridan, and it was at the suggestion of the 
two latter that shortly after the surrender he was commissioned 



OLIVER B. KNOWLES. 619 

a Brigadier-General, as a special recognition of his merit in the 
final campaign. 

On the 4th of July General Knowles was honorably dis- 
charged, and mustered out of service. Returning to Philadelphia, 
he began to look about him for an opportunity to engage in an 
active business life. He chose the city of Milwaukee, as one of 
the great grain entrepots of the West, and was soon settled in 
trade in that commodity, commanding by his excellent business 
capacity and assiduous attention to duty the trust of all with 
whom he came in contact. Possessed of a good constitution and 
robust health, a long life of activity and usefulness seemed open 
before him. But, alas ! man's ways are not as God's ways, and 
His purposes are past finding out. At midnight of the 5th of 
December, 1866, he was stricken with cholera, and in five hours 
the strong man, the pride of his family, and the centre of a wide 
circle of friends, was no more. For a day or two he had not 
been in his usual health, but had attended regularly to business, 
and on the evening before his death was present at an exhibition 
in Music Hall. He left before the close of the performance, but 
not until midnight was medical aid called. Two of his friends 
who Avere with him at the entertainment, Captain Goodrich and 
Mr. Boyd, noticing his departure, and the unwonted pallor of his 
face, went to his room at that hour, and found him suffering. 
Physicians were summoned and were speedily at hand ; but it 
was obvious from the first that his sickness would prove mortal. 
He sent messages of affection to his family, and said he was not 
afraid to die. 

The Chamber of Commerce of Milwaukee, of which he was a 
member, passed resolutions of respect and sympathy of more than 
the usual formal expression of sorrow, delegating one of their 
number to accompany his remains to his parents in Philadelphia, 
and in a body followed in procession to the train which bore him 
away. His comrades of the Lincoln Cavalry, and of the Twenty- 
first Pennsylvania cavalry, which he led so gloriously, also passed 
resolutions of fraternal respect and tenderness. On the day of 
his death notice of his appointment by the Secretary of War as 
Major in the regular army reached his home — a signal mark of 
the confidence which his military life as a volunteer had in- 



620 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

spired. But, when the intelligence of this honor came, the ear 
which it was intended to gladden was heavy, and the brow it 
was to glorify cold in death. He had passed to that unseen 
world where the noise of battle never comes, and the carnage of 
mortal strife is unknown. 

The death of one so young, so brave and so good, so untimely 
cut off, occasioned a shock of sorrow and grief seldom witnessed. 
There now lies open before the writer a volume of letters of con- 
dolence framed in a rare spirit of tenderness and affection. The 
following, written by Captain James II. Stevenson, who com- 
manded the company in the Lincoln Cavalry of which he was 
Lieutenant, is selected on account of the intimacy of the relations 
which subsisted between them. It was written on the receipt of a 
photograph of the deceased presented him by the father. "As I 
gaze," he says, "on the likeness of his youthful and manly face, I 
call to mind the many hardships and dangers through which we 
passed together, and his patient and soldierly bearing under the 
most trying circumstances. His goodness of heart was only 
equalled by his courage and patriotism. His gentlemanly and 
truly modest deportment, his cheerful obedience, and his faithful, 
prompt, and intelligent execution of all orders, first attracted my 
attention to him, and I mentioned him to the Captain for promo- 
tion. But he needed no 'friend at court,' for he earned his own 
promotion in the very first engagement, only one month after 
muster into service. All acknowledged his promotion merited, 
and recognized him as a worth}* leader. He was beloved by all 
the men, and they rejoiced at his success. He was more con- 
spicuous in deeds than in words, and, recognizing this, his 
comrades rendered it unnecessary for him to sound his own 
praises. He had the talent to command in the midst of danger, 
and presence of mind to meet and surmount extraordinary perils. 
His presence seemed to dissipate fear, calm disturbed minds, and 
inspire confidence in the breasts of all under his charge. He had 
the faculty of enforcing discipline under the guidance of justice, 
moderation and good sense. Always yielding a cheerful obedi- 
ence, he set an example to his inferiors which secured their 
obedience in return. . . . When I rejoined the old company as 
Captain, he came as my First Lieutenant. We ate, slept, rode, 



ANDREW H. TIPPIK 621 

enjoyed ourselves, and suffered hardships together, and I came to 
love him as a brother. When he was promoted Major of another 
regiment and took leave of me, although I rejoiced at his well- 
deserved and hard-earned promotion, I felt as though I had lost 
my only friend and companion. I never heard of his promotion 
afterwards without feelings of pride, and when the news of his 
sudden death reached me, I felt as though an arrow had pierced 
me. I trust he has entered into his rest and is in possession of 
the crown and palm and glorious robe." 

General Knowles died at the early age of twenty-five, not on 
the field of battle, where in the face of tbe foe he had often 
courted death, but in the quiet walk of life. In person he was of 
a most noble and commanding presence, being six feet and two 
inches in height, well-proportioned, and of fair complexion. He 
was unmarried. His remains were buried in Laurel Hill cemetery, 
and upon the stone which marks his resting-place is inscribed by 
the hand of affection these most truthful words : 

" He was : 

Gentle, yet Courageous, 
Firm, but Magnanimous, 
Beloved by all." 

y A ■. xdrew Hart Tippin was born on Christmas day, 1823, in 
Y^%. Plymouth, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, His father, 
George Tippin, was of Irish descent, and his mother, Catharine 
(Hart) Tippin, of German origin, though both Pennsylvanians by 
birth. He received a fair English education in the schools of his 
native place, and afterwards learned the printing business. He 
at one time published the Montgomery Ledger at Pottstown. He 
was possessed of a strong desire for knowledge, and became a 
voracious reader. 

At the breaking out of the Mexican War, he received the 
appointment of Second Lieutenant in the Eleventh United States 
infantry, his commission bearing date of the 9th of April, 1847, 
and a few months later that of First Lieutenant, He became 
Adjutant of the regiment, which position he held during the 
greater part of the war. He was engaged at the National Bridge, 
Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino del Key, Chapultepec, and Garita 



(322 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

de Belen ; and received two brevets for gallant and merito- 
rious conduct in these actions. 

At the opening of the late war he was commissioned Major 
of the Twentieth regiment in the three months' service, and 
afterwards Colonel of the Sixty-eighth, for three years. With 
the latter regiment he joined the Army of the Potomac and was 
assigned to duty in Birney's division of the Third corps, partici- 
pating with it in all the engagements in which that fighting 
division had a part. At Gettysburg the regiment was in 
Graham's brigade, which held the noted angle at the Peach 
Orchard, where so many brave men fell, battling with heroic 
valor to hold the ground against a vastly superior opposing force. 
Here Colonel Tippin received a slight wound, but remained upon 
the field. 

In a sharp encounter at Auburn, Virginia, on the 14th of Oc- 
tober, 18G3, he was taken prisoner and marched away to Libby, 
where for over nine months he was subjected to the hard usage 
accorded to the inmates of that loathsome den. On being 
released he returned to his regiment, and was with it in the 
campaigns before Petersburg, and until the close of the war. At 
Sailor's Creek, just previous to the final surrender, Lieutenant- 
General Ewell and nearly his entire command were taken 
prisoners. The head-quarters brigade of the Potomac army, of 
which Colonel Tippin had command, was detailed to escort the 
captives to City Point. "Among the prisoners," says Colonel Tip- 
pin, in describing this event, "were Lieutenant-General Ewell, 
Major- Generals Custis Lee, Kershaw, raid other prominent Gene- 
rals of the rebel army together with about GOO officers of lesser 
grade. At a point on the route where we all rested for a short 
time, I received a despatch that General Lee had surrendered. 
I communicated the intelligence to Generals Ewell and Custis 
Lee. but both doubted its truthfulness. They could not think it 
possible. In a very short time, and before leaving our resting- 
place, General Benham came up with his engineer brigade, and 
gave the terms of the surrender. Young General Lee dropped 
his head on his breast, and General Ewell threw up his arms, 
exclaiming, ' The jig is up.' " 

Colonel Tippin was above the medium stature, being five feci 



ALFRED B. McCALMONT. 623 

eight inches in height, and possessed of an excellent constitution. 
He was married on the 11th of August, 1846, to Miss Ellen 
Lightcap, of Pottstown. He at various times held offices of 
public trust, having been Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Mont- 
gomery county, Clerk of the Sessions and of Oyer and Terminer, 
Chief Deputy of the United States Marshal for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania, and agent of the State on the Columbia 
Railroad. He died in February, 1870. 

lfred B. McCalmont, Colonel of the Two Hundred and 
Eighth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born 
on the 28th of April, 1825, at Franklin, Pennsylvania. He was 
the son of Alexander McCalmont, and brother of John S., of the 
Tenth Reserve. He was for one term, in 1840, a student in Alle- 
gheny College, and graduated in 1844 at Dickinson College, stand- 
ing second in a class of twenty. He studied law at Franklin with 
his father, then President Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Dis- 
trict, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. He commenced 
practice in Pittsburg. In 1853 he became associated with T. J. 
Keen can in conducting the Daily Union and the Pittsburg Legal 
Journal. In 1855 he was appointed Prothonotary of the Supreme 
Court for the Western District of the State, and resigned in May, 
1858, to accept a position in the office of the Hon. Jeremiah S. 
Black, who was then Attorney-General in the cabinet of President 
Buchanan. On the creation of the office of Assistant Attorney- 
General, Mr. Black appointed Mr. McCalmont to that place, which 
he held during the continuance of Mr. Buchanan's administra- 
tion. He resumed the practice of his profession at Franklin in 
June, 1861, in partnership with James K. Kerr, who soon after 
entered the volunteer service of the United States, as Major of 
the Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry. Mr. McCalmont followed his 
partner the next year, and after recruiting a company, entered 
the service on the 1st of September, 1862, as Lieutenant-Colonel 
of the One Hundred and Forty-second regiment. After the fall of 
the Colonel of the regiment, at Gettysburg, McCalmont received 
a commission to fill the vacancy ; but could not be mustered, 
as his regiment was reduced in number below that required 
by the regulations of the War Department. He, in common 



624 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

with many other officers, complained of the injustice of a rule 
which virtually stopped promotion in all regiments that had seen 
hard service. His case, in particular, was made the subject of an 
eloquent appeal to Congress by a brother officer, Colonel Webster, 
of Maryland, who labored in vain to abolish the objectionable 
regulation. 

In the fall of 18G4 he was allowed to accept the position of 
Colonel of the Two Hundred and Eighth regiment, by way of 
indirect promotion. He served during the remainder of the war 
in General Hartranft's division of the Ninth corps, in front of 
Petersburg, and commanded a brigade in the assault upon, and 
capture of the enemy's works and the occupation of that city on 
the morning of the 2d of April, 18G5. In recognition of his 
gallantry and soldierly conduct throughout the war he received 
from Secretary Stanton the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. 
After the close of the war he pursued the practice of the law 
at Franklin, his native town. 

He was appointed to deliver the address before the Society 
of the Army of the Potomac, on the occasion of the annual 
reunion to be held at Harrisburg on the 12th of May, 1874 ; 
but having submitted to an operation by an eminent surgeon, 
for a tumor upon the face, he was attacked with erysipelas, 
which terminated his life on Thursday, May 7th, 1874, at Phila- 
delphia. His remains were returned to Franklin, where they 
were consigned to the grave with much ceremony, and many 
demonstrations of respect to his greatly esteemed public and 
private worth. 

#eorge Archibald McCall, Major-General of volunteers, the 
first commander of the Pennsylvania Reserve corps, was 
born in Philadelphia, on the 16th of March, 1802. He received 
the appointment of a Cadet at West Point in 1818, whence he 
graduated in due course. In April, 1831, he was made Assistant 
Adjutant-General on the staff of General Gaines, then at the 
head of the Western Department of the United States. In Sep- 
tember, 183G, he was promoted to Captain in the Fourth infantry, 
and in that capacity distinguished himself under Colonel Worth 
in Florida, being recommended by that officer for the brevet rank 



GEORGE A. McCALL. (J25 

of Major, for gallant conduct in the battle of Pelalicaha, who said : 
" He will do more honor to the rank than the rank can confer 
on him." He was with General Taylor in his march to the Rio 
Grande, and for " gallant and distinguished services " in the 
battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma he was brevetted 
Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. On the 7th of July, 1846, he 
was made Assistant Adjutant-General with the rank of Major, 
and on the 26th of December, 1847, Major of the Third infantry. 
His fellow-citizens of Philadelphia, justly glorying in his gallant 
bearing in recent battles, presented him with an elegant sword. 
as a token of their appreciation of his services, on his return 
from Mexico. 

His health having been impaired by active duty, he deter- 
mined to spend a year in Europe, and, both in England and upon 
the Continent, visited military schools, and minutely inspected 
fortifications, camps, and hospitals, gaining a large acquaintance 
with the improvements in modern warfare. On his return lie 
was placed in command of the Third infantry, stationed at 
Santa Fe. Before joining his regiment he was requested by the 
War Department to prepare a historical account of the territory 
newly acquired from Mexico, accompanied by statistical tables 
of population and resources, which was published by Congress. 
On the 10th of June, 1850, he was appointed Inspector-General 
of the United States Army, with the rank of a Colonel of cavalry, 
and as such made a personal examination of military posts and 
the troops in New Mexico, California, and Oregon. His health, 
which was never robust, again failing, on the 29th of April, 1853, 
he resigned his commission, determined to retire permanently to 
private life. Being well read in natural science he prosecuted 
his studies in this department, and made valuable contributions 
to its literature. In 1855, he removed from Philadelphia to a 
farm in Chester county, and here prepared and published a work 
entitled Letters from the Frontiers, in which he gave an account 
of his services in the Department of the West. At the breaking- 
out of the Rebellion he was called to Harrisburg by Governor 
Curtin for advice and consultation. While there he was elected 
Colonel of the Tenth Reserve regiment, which position he declined. 
He was shortly after appointed Major-General by Governor Curtin, 

40 



626 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and given command of the Pennsylvania Reserve corps, consisting 
of twelve regiments of infantry and one each of cavalry, artillery', 
and riflemen. He planned the movement on Dranesville, which 
resulted in the first victory gained by the Army of the Potomac. 
When McClellan moved to the Peninsula, McCall remained 
before Washington, and soon after marched along the line of the 
Alexandria railway and thence to Fredericksburg. He had 
thrown a part of his force across the stream, and his cavalry was 
moving down the Richmond railway, the purpose being to join 
McClellan overland, when he was ordered back and taken down 
the Potomac by transport. He arrived just as the Seven Days' 
1 »attle was opening, and was thrust out to the fore-front, where 
he received the first shock at Beaver Dam Creek, on the 2Gth 
of June. McCall was here almost alone pitted against thrice his 
number. But he had chosen well his position and had thrown up 
earthworks — a lesson which the Potomac army w r as slow in learn- 
ing — and against him the tide of battle beat in vain. The victory 
was signal and complete, and attained at little cost, though im- 
mensely destructive to the foe. Having but a small force, and 
his right flank liable to be turned, he was recalled during the 
night, and moved back without loss, in the face of a vigilant 
enemy. On the 27th, at Gaines' Mill, McCall was held in re- 
serve till the front line of battle was broken and being driven 
back, when he was ordered forward. But here there had been 
no systematic and continuous earthworks thrown up, and a frag- 
ment of the Union army having been caught at a disadvantage, 
was overwhelmed, and his command suffered severely. At 
Charles City Cross Roads, on the 30th, was enacted the great 
military exploit of his life. It was next to the last of the noted 
Seven Days. Here it was that the rebel leaders had determined 
to tall upon the Hank of the Union army and cut it in twain. 
But the vigilant McCall was there ; and though the onsets of the 
foe were terrible and oft repeated, yet he withstood the brunt of 
their assaults, and by the aid of Hooker and Sumner, who came 
to his assistance, totally defeated the cherished purpose of the 
foe, though not without great loss and a terrible breaking and 
scourging of his gallant corps. Just at dusk, while reconnoitring 
with Major Stone of the Bucktail regiment, he was taken prisoner. 



GEORGE A. McCALL. 



627 



" General McCall," says Stone, " had come out of the woods, 
wounded and alone, and taken his place at the head of the 
column. After the halt, the General took me forward a few 
paces with him, and in the darkness we suddenly found ourselves 
close upon the levelled muskets of a hostile column which filled 
the road in front of us. We were ordered to halt and dismount, 
but I turned and escaped, only slightly hurt, drawing two volleys 
from the enemy. General McCall was not so fortunate, and is 
in their hands." He was taken to Richmond and incarcerated in 
Libby Prison. After his release, having suffered from his wound 
and the unusual severity of the campaign, he resigned his place 
in the army, and returned to his home in Chester county, where 
he remained in private life until his death, which occurred on 
the 25th of February, 1868. 




CHAPTER VII. 




•OHN WHITE GEARY, Colonel of the Twenty- 
eighth regiment, Brigadier and Major-General of 
volunteers, and Governor of Pennsylvania, was 
born on the 30th of December, 1819, near the 
little village of Mount Pleasant, in Westmoreland 
county, at the head of the Ohio valley, a region 
pronounced by the Duke of Carlisle to be the 
most picturesque and beautiful which the wide 
world affords. His father, Richard Geary, was a 
native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and was 
a man of culture, and of singular uprightness and 
integrity of character. His mother, Margaret 
White, was a native of Washington county, Mary- 
land, of an old slaveholding family, and, like her husband, was 
of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Soon after their marriage the parents 
removed to Westmoreland county, where the father engaged in 
the manufacture of iron, which, owing to the depression in the 
market for that commodity, proved a losing venture, and he was 
obliged to abandon it, absorbing not only the capital he had 
invested but entailing debts which he was unable to liquidate. 
In this situation, doubly harassing from his delicate sense of 
honor, he resorted to teaching, for which he was well qualified; 
but soon sank to his grave, his declining hours embittered and 
doubtless hastened by the sense of his indebtedness. 

Many of the most gifted and successful of the public men of 
America have had an humble origin. Geary was no exception 
to this rule. A log cabin sheltered him in boyhood. There were 
four children, all boys. The first and third died young. The 
second, the Rev. Edward R., has for nearly twenty years prose- 
cuted a faithful and consistent ministry in Oregon. The youngest, 
John W., after the usual preliminary course, entered Jefferson 

628 



JOHN W. GEARY. G29 

College ; but owing to the death of his father he was obliged to 
leave before graduating. His mother had inherited a number 
of slaves, but, impelled by that strict sense of probity and justice 
which ever characterized her, she not only manumitted them 
but before doing so gave them all the rudiments of an education. 
That he might provide for that mother's immediate wants and 
make her comfortable, he taught school for a time, and by fru- 
gality was not only able to accomplish this filial duty but to 
complete his education. A short experience in a wholesale busi- 
ness house in Pittsburg convinced him that he was not born for 
a tradesman, and he prosecuted the study of civil engineering, 
for which he had early developed a fondness. He subsequently 
read law, and was admitted to practise. But, an opportunity 
opening for employment as an engineer in Kentucky, he went 
thither, and was engaged in the survey of several lines of public 
works, acting as the joint agent of the State and the Green River 
Railroad Company. With the income from this service, and the 
fortunate sale of a small land venture, he was enabled to return 
to his mother with sufficient means to discharge all his father's 
debts, which he did. 

He soon after became assistant superintendent and engineer 
of the Allegheny and Portage Railroad in his own State, an im- 
portant and responsible position ; but he had not been long thus 
engaged before the Mexican war opened, and he at once aban- 
doned a lucrative place, and recruited a company in Cambria 
county which was called the American Highlanders. It was 
incorporated in the Second Pennsylvania regiment, Colonel 
Roberts, of which Geary was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel. It 
joined General Scott's army at Vera Cruz and became a part 
of Quitman's division. His first action was at the Pass of La 
Hoya, and in the storming of Chapultepec he received a wound. 
LTpon entering the valley of Mexico, Colonel Roberts was disabled 
by sickness, and the active command devolved upon Geary. In 
the sharp action at Garita de Belen, he displayed such intrepidity 
that, upon the fall of the city, General Quitman assigned him to 
the command of the great citadel. Colonel Roberts died soon 
afterwards, and Geary was promoted to succeed him. 

The executive ability displayed in his Mexican service attracted 



630 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the attention of President Polk, who appointed him Postmaster 
of San Francisco, and general mail agent with authority to 
establish offices, routes, and appoint postmasters- being in effect 
a deputy Postmaster-General on the Pacific coast. It was a posi- 
tion of great labor ; but his ability to systematize soon enabled 
him to bring order out of chaos, and to inaugurate a well-regulated 
plan. A new administration soon succeeded with altered politics, 
and with it a change of Postmasters, and Geary was superseded 
by Jacob B. Moore. But he was not long suffered to remain 
in retirement. The citizens of San Francisco elected him First 
Alcalde, and shortly after he was made Judge of First Instance 
by the Military Governor of the Territory, General Riley. These 
were Mexican offices, and involved nearly all the civil and 
criminal business of the city. He was almost unanimously re- 
elected Alcalde, and when, in the following year, the Mexican 
forms gave place to American, he was chosen the first Mayor of 
the city. A turbulent population was now rushing to the new 
El Dorado, and his task in maintaining order was difficult. In 
the meantime the question of a State Constitution was presenting 
itself for decision, and though not a member of the convention 
which framed that instrument, his voice is known to have been 
potential in devising and carrying through in the face of the fire- 
eaters of the South the clause which excluded slavery, and made 
it a free State. 

He had married, in 1843, Miss Margaret Ann, daughter of 
James R. Logan, of Westmoreland county. Her failing health de- 
cided him to return to the Atlantic States in hope of her restora- 
tion. Her death, soon after his arrival, caused him to abandon the 
purpose which he strongly cherished of going back to the Pacific 
coast and making it his permanent home. He accordingly de- 
voted himself to improved stock-raising and farming, in his native 
county. Three years had scarcely elapsed, and his farming was 
just beginning to take the form which he had prefigured, when 
he was called to Washington by President Pierce, and asked to 
take the governorship of Utah. This he declined, feeling that 
there was no field here for the development of executive ability. 
But when, a short time afterwards, he was urged by the Chief 
Magistrate to take the helm on the troubled waters of Kansas, 



JOHN W. GEARY. 631 

he recognized the opportunity for great usefulness, and promptly 
accepted it. The outlook before him was anything but promis- 
ing. Governor Reeder had failed to carry out the views of the 
administration, and had been superseded by Shannon, who in 
turn was leaving with no better success than his predecessor. 
Governor Geary was a known Democrat when he left Pennsyl- 
vania. He therefore entered the Territory with no very strong 
sympathies for the abolitionists, nor on the other hand had he 
any sentiments in common with the border ruffians. He accord- 
ingly determined to pursue an upright and impartial course, let 
who would go down before it. In his first communication to Secre- 
tary Marcy he says : " The existing difficulties are of a far more 
complicated character than I had anticipated." But he was one 
of the most hopeful and resolute of men, and the greater the diffi- 
culty the more was he aroused to meet it. After giving a graphic 
picture of the condition of the Territory, where murder, arson, 
and crime were running riot, he concludes by saying : " Such is 
the. condition of Kansas, faintly pictured. It can be no worse. 
Yet I feel assured that I shall be able ere long to restore it to 
peace and quiet." His previous political teachings and expe- 
rience caused him to enter upon his duties with prejudices 
against the more violent of the abolitionists. Yet when he came 
face to face with the two parties, and understood the real designs 
and purposes of each — that one was bent on settlement, and the 
other on breaking up such settlement — he determined to allow 
no preconceived opinions to have weight, and he declared, in his 
first address to the people, " I have deliberately accepted the 
executive office, and as God may give me strength and ability, I 
will endeavor faithfully to discharge its varied requirements. . . . 
In my official action here, I will do justice at all hazards. Influ- 
enced by no other considerations than the welfare of the whole 
people of this Territory, I desire to know no party nor section, 
no North, no South, no East, no West — nothing but Kansas and 
my country." But this was not what the pro-slavery party 
wanted of a Governor, nor, as it subsequently appeared, what 
the administration at Washington designed. To break up free- 
soil emigration and settlement and make it a slave State was 
the only purpose. When, therefore, the Governor strove to stop 



632 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

outrage and violence, and give every bona fide settler a fair 
chance, he incurred the mortal hatred of the fire-eaters, was 
thwarted by nearly every local officer and Federal appointee, was 
threatened with assassination, and was left alone to battle with 
the wrathful elements. " He no longer," says his biographer, 
' doubted his true position. He Avas alone in the Territory. He 
was not only not supported by a single officer sent there by the 
General Government, but every one of them was exerting his in- 
fluence and power to oppose his efforts to do justice and secure 
the peace he had effected." In one of his addresses to an excited 
crowd at Topeka which seemed bent on doing him personal vio- 
lence, the Governor said : " Gentlemen, I come not to treat with, 
but to govern you. There is now no other Governor in the Ter- 
ritory than myself. I will protect the lives and property of every 
peace-loving and law-abiding citizen with all the power I possess. 
I will punish every lawbreaker, whatever may be his position or 
pretensions. I will not for a moment tolerate any questioning 
of my authority. All who are in favor of restoring peace to 
this distracted Territory can range themselves under my banner ; 
all others I will treat as bandits and robbers, and as such extir- 
pate them at the point of the bayonet. Don't talk to me about 
slavery or freedom, free-state men or pro-slavery men, until we 
have restored the benign influences of peace to the country; 
until we have punished the murderer, and driven out the bandit 
and rabble, and returned the industrious citizens to their homes 
and claims. Do not, I pray you, attempt to embarrass me with 
your political disputations. You shall all, without distinction of 
party, be alike protected. This is no time to talk about party, 
when men, women and children are hourly being murdered at 
their own firesides or whilst sleeping in their beds, or are being 
driven by merciless bands of marauders from their homes without 
money, food, or clothing. In God's name, rise for a moment 
above party, and contemplate yourselves as men and patriots. 
I am your friend — your fellow-citizen — moved by no other im- 
pulse than the welfare of the inhabitants of this Territory, and 
the protection of their honor, their lives and property. When 
peace is fairly restored, I will see that every man of you is 
secured in his political rights." 



JOHN W. GEARY. 633 

Although himself a Democrat of the strictest sect, and the 
appointee of a pro-slavery administration, there was a sentiment 
ever uppermost in the heart of John W. Geary that would never 
allow him to stand unconcernedly by and see right and justice 
trampled in the dust, and iniquity prevail, however much his 
party might seem to be strengthened thereby. As a consequence, 
bloodshed, arson, and turbulence of every description were 
checked under his rule, and the tide of bona fide population set 
strongly and rapidly towards the new Territory. The pro-slavery 
men saw their darling projects withering in his hand, and set 
themselves vigorously to work to have him recalled. But in the 
meantime the administration of Pierce was at an end, and, 
moved by a desire to relieve the successor from any embarrass- 
ment on his account, he promptly placed his resignation in the 
hands of Mr. Buchanan on the day of his inauguration, and 
soon after issued his farewell address, in which he referred with 
honest pride to the pacification which had resulted from his rule, 
and the consequent prosperity and growth of the Territory, com- 
mending the interests of the infant State and the nation to the 
instincts of patriotism, and declared: "All true patriots, whether 
from the North or South, the East or West, should unite together 
for that which is and must be regarded as a common cause, 
the preservation of the Union; and he who shall whisper a desire 
for its dissolution, no matter what may be his pretensions, or to 
what faction or party he claims to belong, is unworthy of your 
confidence, deserves your strongest reprobation, and should be 
branded as a traitor to his country." 

On retiring from Kansas he resumed his agricultural opera- 
tions, which had suffered in his absence. Four years of turmoil 
soon passed, in which the elements of discord which he found in 
Kansas, and which he strove to settle, were kept in constant 
agitation. On the morning after the attack upon Sumter, Gov- 
ernor Geary, unconscious of what had transpired, drove his farm- 
wagon to the neighboring village, where he learned that the flag 
of his country had been insulted and pulled down in Charleston 
harbor. His resolution was immediately taken, and in less than 
one hour from that time he had an office open for recruits, and 
promptly tendered his services to the Government. He was 



634 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

given authority to raise a regiment, and so great was the desire 
to serve with him that sixty-six companies sent applications to 
be taken into his command. In consequence of this he was per- 
mitted to have fifteen companies and a battery of six guns. As 
soon as officered and equipped, his command was assigned to the 
army of General Banks, and was posted at Harper's Ferry, where 
he had a front of twenty-one miles upon the river to guard. On 
the lGth of October, while a portion of his force was out gathering 
wheat from the enemy,, he was attacked by a large body under 
Ashby and Evans with seven guns; but he succeeded in repulsing 
them and capturing one of their pieces, though sustaining some 
loss and himself being wounded. In the spring he was given the 
advance in the movement up the Valley, captured Leesburg, and 
uncovered, in succession, all the important passes through the 
Blue Ridge. Soon after this he was appointed Brigadier-General 
of volunteers, and assigned to the command of a brigade in the 
Second corps. In the hotly contested battle of Cedar Mountain, 
where Stonewall Jackson fought with his usual impetuosity 
and skill, General Geary, leading his brigade with remark- 
able courage and daring, was wounded, first in the foot and 
afterwards severely in the arm, to save which from amputa- 
tion he was obliged to give himself unreservedly to surgical 
treatment. 

Upon the formation of the Twelfth corps, after the Maryland 
campaign, General Geary was assigned to the command of its 
Second or White Star division. This corps accompanied Hooker 
in his advance upon Chancellorsville, and was on the centre of 
the original line of battle. When disaster befell the right, and 
Hooker was obliged to fall back to a more defensible position, 
Geary was left upon the front to check the foe until the move- 
ment could be executed, and in finally withdrawing was fearfully 
exposed and suffered severely. He was himself struck over the 
heart with the fragment of a shell, and his division lost over one 
thousand men in killed, wounded, and missing. During the first 
day at Gettysburg the First and Eleventh corps and a division of 
cavalry were alone engaged. Just at the close of the day, when, 
broken and decimated, the remnants of those heroic corps were 
retreating through the village of Gettysburg, the fainting and 



JOHN W. GEARY. 635 

dispirited soldiers descried far down the Baltimore pike a cloud 
of dust. Higher and higher it rose, and finally was revealed to 
their eager gaze the dim outline of the stars and stripes. It was 
the head of Geary's division advancing to the rescue, and soon 
his solid columns were deploying upon the field, bringing hope to 
their depressed and despondent minds. Its arrival was known 
to the enemy, who was deterred from attacking, since that 
gallant division was ready to be thrown upon any part where he 
might choose to assault. As the left of the line, in the direction 
of Little Round Top, was open and most liable to be turned, 
Geary was sent thither. On the following morning he was 
recalled and put upon Culp's Hill, which he fortified. Towards 
evening he was ordered over to the left with two of his brigades ; 
but before he reached the point intended he returned to Culp's 
Hill. In his absence the enemy had attacked and nearly over- 
borne the brigade which he had left, and completely overrun his 
own works. To regain them the struggle was desperate, com- 
mencing at dawn and lasting till past ten o'clock. Assault after 
assault of the enemy was repulsed, and the ground was piled 
with the slain and wounded. Finally, seeing his antagonist 
weakened and beginning to waver, Geary charged and swept all 
before him, retaking his lost breastworks and inflicting fearful 
slaughter. This ended the last real advantage obtained by the 
enemy on this field, and was an important agency in finally 
gaining the victory. 

But perhaps the two most notable military exploits of General 
Geary's life, though by no means the ones in which his manhood 
was most severely tested, were those of Wauhatchie, and Lookout 
Mountain or the Battle Above the Clouds. Soon after the 
Gettysburg campaign closed, General Hooker, with the Eleventh 
and Twelfth corps, was sent to Chattanooga to the relief of Rose- 
crans, who was shut up in that out-of-the-way place, and in 
imminent peril of capture from the combined forces of Bragg and 
Longstreet, the latter, detached from Lee's army in Virginia, 
having reached this place in advance of Hooker. The Union 
forces were pushing forward to open the way to the starving 
army of Rosecrans, the main avenues to which were in possession 
of the enemy. On the 27th of October, Geary, with a portion of 



636 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

his division, had reached a point opposite Lookout Mountain, 
where the Kelly's Ferry road intersects the railroad near the 
hanks of Lookout Creek. His force numbered but 14G3, and no 
Union troops were within several miles. It was an important posi- 
tion, as it commanded the roads necessary to be kept open for the 
passage of supplies, a result which the enemy was eager to defeat. 
It lies immediately beneath the shadow of Lookout Mountain, 
upon whose serene summit a number of rebel generals, among 
whom wore Longstreet, Breckenridge and Hood, were watching 
the toilsome progress of the Union troops. Seeing this little 
force of Geary encamping with no supports they determined to 
surprise it by a night attack, and crush it utterly. Geary was 
not aware when he formed his camp that any hostile forces were 
near him. But it was a marked characteristic of him to be ever 
watchful, and fortunately he was that night especially vigilant. 
He sent Colonel Rickards, with the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, 
to picket all the roads, with injunctions to throw the guards well 
out, and in double strength. Colonel Rickards was a shrewd 
officer, and, when his men were posted, went to the house of a 
magistrate near by, under pretence of having some bread baked, 
and in response to a question apparently casually put to one of 
the women of the household he learned that the enemy had that 
very day been upon the ground. This was startling intelligence. 
Could it be that the foe in force was upon his track and no part 
of the Union army in supporting distance ? The magistrate was 
brought to General Geary's tent and quickly made to disclose 
the whole truth — that the enemy in heavy battalions, at least 
four times his own, was at that moment lying at the head of the 
bridge leading across the creek, not a mile and a quarter away, 
ready to advance and give battle. The situation was critical ; 
but General Geary was determined, if attacked, to sell his 
command dearly, and accordingly made every disposition. 

At a little past midnight, as he had anticipated, the attack 
came ; and now was seen the advantage of strong picket lines 
well out ; for they made a good fight, falling back slowly, and 
contesting every inch stubbornly, so that, by the time they had 
reached the main body, it was in readiness to receive the on- 
coming foe. Charge after charge was made and the incessant 



JOHN W. GEARY. 637 

flashes of the guns lighted up the whole heavens. But firmly 
this handful of men held their ground, and dealt fearful destruc- 
tion. Thirty-five out of forty-eight artillery horses in Knap's 
battery were killed. General Geary's son, Edward R., a gallant 
young officer, was instantly cut off while sighting his gun. Until 
four o'clock the struggle was maintained. The sixty rounds of 
ammunition were exhausted, and the dead and wounded were 
searched for a supply. The Union guns were ably handled and 
produced terrible effect. Finally, one of the pieces was dragged 
to a position where it enfiladed a rebel force which had taken 
shelter behind a railroad embankment, the fire from which caused 
his line to waver. Taking advantage of this sign of weakness, 
Geary ordered a charge, which drove everything before it. At 
this moment a pack of frightened mules broke away, and with 
their traces dangling at their sides rushed in a body in the same 
direction, producing the impression that the Union cavalry was 
charging, and causing a stampede — the confident midnight as- 
sault of the enemy ending in inglorious rout. One hundred and 
fifty-seven of the enemy's dead were left on the field, and one 
hundred and thirty-five severely 'wounded. When Generals 
Grant and Hooker arrived, and witnessed the evidences of the 
intensity of the struggle, they expressed their surprise and grati- 
fication that so small a body of men had made so gallant a fight. 
General Slocum wrote : " I wish }^ou and your command to know 
that I feel deeply grateful for their gallant conduct, and for the 
new laurels they have brought to our corps." Bacleau in his 
life of Grant says : " Mr. Jefferson Davis had visited Lookout 
Mountain only a week before, and feasted his eyes with the sight 
of the National army shut up among the hills, like an animal 
ready for slaughter ; and now, at a single stroke, the prey had 
been snatched from his grasp. The door for relief was opened, 
and, from a besieged and isolated army, the force in Chattanooga 
had suddenly become the assailant. . . . The army felt as if it 
had been miraculously relieved. Its spirit revived at once, the 
depression of Chickamauga was shaken off, and the unshackled 
giant stood erect." " For almost three hours," says General 
Hooker in his official report of this battle, " without assistance he 
[Geary] repelled the repeated attacks of vastly superior numbers, 



638 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and in the end drove them ingloriously from the field. At one 
time they had enveloped him on three sides, under circumstances 
that would have dismayed any officer except one endowed with 
an iron will, and the most exalted courage. Such is the char- 
acter of General Geary." No words could more veritably por* 
tray his character, and the victory achieved 

"In the dead waste and middle of the night," 

against numbers many fold his own acting upon a preconcerted 
and well-matured plan, was gained by that iron will and most 
exalted courage. 

Scarcely a month had elapsed before he divulged to General 
Hooker an ingenious plan for sweeping the enemy from the 
seemingly impregnable heights of Lookout Mountain. At a dis- 
tance of half or two-thirds up the side of this bold chain rises a 
perpendicular, and in some parts overhanging, face of rock which 
reaches to a great height. His device was to cause a close column 
to . hug this palisade — where it would be sheltered from the fire 
of the troops above — which should turn the flank of any body of 
soldiers that might be encountered on the lower slope of the 
mountain, like the point of a ploughshare, and follow this up 
closely by a heavy force three lines deep and well supported, 
which like the moulding-board of the plough should overwhelm 
and scatter every opposing force. His plan was adopted and 
he was given a strong column. A dense fog on the morning 
of the 24th of November served to screen his preliminary move- 
ments, and before the enemy were aware of it that resistless 
ploughshare was running along under the shadow of the towering 
rock. Stubborn resistance was made ; but taken unawares and 
in the reverse direction from that in which they were fortified to 
fight, they were swept along by this novel and swiftly moving 
force. Still, taking advantage of the little ravines by which the 
face of the mountain is seamed, and the loose rocks everywhere 
covering the ground, desperate fighting at every turn was kept 
up. But nothing could stay the onward progress of Geary. 
Mists hung low on the breast of the mountain, and the com- 
batants were shut out from the view of the distant observer; 
yet the progress of the fight could be discerned by the flashes of 



JOHN W. GEARY. 639 

the musketry. Grant, and Thomas, and Sherman, and Hooker, 
with their troops a hundred thousand strong, from their several 
positions were watching with the deepest solicitude the progress 
of the contest. As Geary fought his way on he gradually wound 
upwards, and finally, having swept all before him, emerged into 
the bright sunlight far above the black clouds that still hung on 
the breast of the mountain, and planted the White Star flag upon 
the lofty summit. As the Union army beheld that beautiful 
emblem floating upon the serene air, and knew that the victory 
was won, peals of rejoicing rung out from every valley and hill- 
side, and the distant mountains repeated the glad shout. It was 
the noted Battle Above the Clouds, which the imagination has 
allied to the fiery contests of angels upon heaven's battlements, 
as pictured by the prolific fancy of Milton. 

The battle of Missionary Ridge followed on the next day, when 
Sherman stood upon the left, Thomas upon the centre, and Hooker 
upon the right. Geary was sent to turn the extreme right of 
the rebel column, and gaining the rear of that flank dashed on 
in triumphal course. His progress here, as described by himself, 
was the most exciting and inspiring of any in the whole course 
of his military life. 

Early in the spring of 18G4, Sherman commenced his campaign 
on Atlanta, where, for a hundred days, was one almost continu- 
ous battle, in which General Geary never for one moment left his 
post. At Peachtree Creek, where the enemy, under Hood — the 
new rebel Commander-in-chief — attacked with unwonted power, 
he stood unmoved, and finally beat back the foe, gaining a complete 
triumph. In the March to the Sea he led his division with un- 
broken success, and when arrived at Savannah, and that strong- 
hold had fallen with its outlying forts, he was selected to be 
Military Governor of the city. With the march northward 
through the Carolinas, and the surrender of Johnson, the war 
virtually ended, and the armies were disbanded. General Geary 
now returned to private life, and, in 1866, was nominated and 
elected Governor of Pennsylvania for a term of three years. At 
its close he was re-elected for a second term. In his administra- 
tion of civil affairs he showed himself, if possible, more gifted 
than in the field. His messages abound in recommendations for 



G40 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

correcting abuses in legislating and in administering affairs. To 
this end the veto power was freely used, and a most careful and 
scrutinizing personal supervision was given to the entire working 
of the Government. During the six years of his administration 
the State debt was diminished by the sum of $10,99^662.54; 
In January, 1873, his gubernatorial labors closed. Without 
allowing himself any time for relaxation, he at once entered 
upon extensive business projects, which he was preparing to carry 
forward with his usual unrelenting hand ; but on the morning of 
Saturday, the 8th of February, while seated at the breakfast 
table in the midst of his family, his head dropped upon his breast, 
and without a struggle he expired. An examination disclosed 
no apparent signs of disease. But a microscopical inspection by 
an expert proved that death was caused by fatty degeneration 
of the heart and kidneys. His brain weighed fifty-six and a half 
ounces, one of the largest on record. The suddenness of his death, 
coupled with his having so recently laid aside the gubernatorial 
dignity, created a marked sensation at the capital and through- 
out the State. A public funeral was accorded. The Governor 
and heads of departments, members of both houses /rf the Legis- 
lature, military and civic societies, united in paying the last sad 
rites, which were rendered unusually solemn and impressive. 

By his first marriage he had three sons, one of whom died in 
infancy, another was killed at Wauhatchie, and a third was a 
recent graduate at West Point. Mrs. Geary died in 1853. In 
1858, he was married to Mrs. Mary C. Henderson, daughter of 
Robert R. Church, of Cumberland county. The issue of this 
marriage was three daughters and one son. 

In person Governor Geary was six feet four inches in height, 
and well proportioned. In manners he was courteous, and at the 
same time affable and cordial. He was endowed with a deep 
sense of religious obligation, and was hence preserved from those 
vices which have dragged down many of the most exalted intel- 
lects. He had much of the iron in his nature, and consequently 
was exacting and imperious, not only towards others but also 
towards himself. He was careful of the public welfare. Few 
men have been more successful. Though cut off in middle life, 
he had been much in the public eye, and had filled numerous 



CHARLES J. BIDDLE. 641 

stations of great responsibility — a soldier in two wars, and prac- 
tically Governor in three States. What to most men would 
have been regarded a short life to him was long and full ; for 

" We live in deeds, not years ; in thought, not breath ; 
• In feelings, not in figures on the dial. 

We should count time by heart-throbs when they beat 
For God, for man, for duty. He most lives 
AVho thinks most, feels noblest, acts the best ; 
And he but dead who lives the coward life." 



^iiarles John Biddle, Colonel of the Bucktail regiment, 
was born on the 30th of April, 1819, in the city of Phila- 
delphia. He was the son of Nicholas, and Jane Margaret (Craig) 
Biddle. He was educated at Princeton College, and read law in 
his native city, where he was admitted to the bar. He volun- 
teered in the militia for the suppression of the riots in 1844, and 
at the breaking out of the Mexican War recruited a company — 
of which he was made Captain — for service in one of the new 
regiments just then ordered for the regular army, in which 
Joseph E. Johnston was Lieutenant-Colonel. He participated in 
all the battles fought in the Valley of Mexico, and received 
honorable mention in the reports of his superiors, General Scott 
designating him as " among the first in the assault" at Chapul- 
tepec, and his regimental commander saying, " Captain Biddle 
behaved with his accustomed bravery ; he joined us in the morn- 
ing from a sick-bed, against my wish and orders." He was 
breveted Major for "gallant and meritorious" conduct, and was 
selected as Aide-de-camp by General Kearny. Upon his return 
from Mexico he resumed the practice of the law, and in 1853 
was married to Miss Emma Mather. 

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was appointed a mem- 
ber of the Committee of Public Safety for the city, and was 
active in drilling troops. He was commissioned by Governor 
Curtin, Colonel of the Bucktail regiment, and upon his arrival 
in Harrisburg was placed in command of Camp Curtin, then 
crowded with new levies, where his superior discipline had a 
happy effect. In June, 1SG1, on an occasion of alarm for the 
safety of the southern border of the State, Colonel Biddle was 
sent thither with his own, the Fifth regiment, and a section of 

41 



G42 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

artillery, where he displayed, says McClellan, in his official report, 
"great activity and intelligence." After the defeat of the Union 
army at Bull Run, his position was for a time perilous; but he 
maintained it until the advance of the army under General Banks 
in the Shenandoah Valley brought relief. In that army the com- 
mand of a brigade of five regiments and a battery — on the depart- 
ure of General George H. Thomas to the western army — was given 
to Colonel Biddle. In September he was ordered with his regiment 
to join the Pennsylvania Reserves before Washington. In the 
meantime, at a special election held in Philadelphia, Colonel 
Biddle had been elected a member of Congress. He did not take 
his seat at the called session in July, as he was then facing the 
enemy ; but at the opening of the regular session in Decem- 
ber, being in camp, with no immediate prospect of hostilities, 
he resigned his position as Colonel and was installed in that 
body. His political views at this period are illustrated by a 
single paragraph from his reply to the address of his constitu- 
ents : " The Government that embraces the great, rich, and popu- 
lous States of the North must sink to no humble, no degraded 
place among the nations. National prosperity is too nearly 
allied to national dignity to suffer us to stand in the relation of 
the vanquished to those who never can secede from geographical 
connection; with whom close relations, warlike or amicable, 
must continue always." At the close of his congressional term 
he returned to Philadelphia. In the emergency, in the fall of 
18G2, he volunteered as a private in the militia, and was among 
the first to cross the border into Maryland. When arrived in 
close proximity to the enemy, and there was a prospect of a 
collision, he was assigned to duty as an officer. Again, in 1863, 
he was active in encouraging enlistments and in raising troops, 
until the victory at Gettysburg put an end to hostile invasion. 
In 1865 he was nominated for City Solicitor, but was defeated. 
He had in the meantime become editor of a daily newspaper in 
Philadelphia, and one of its proprietors. In this capacity he 
continued to labor with marked skill and ability until the day of 
his death, which occurred suddenly on the 28th of September, 
1873. " He was," says John Cadwalader, in his memoir, "of a 
frail body but great soul. The body, in his own language, he 



ALEXANDER SCBEMMELFINNIQ. Q \ 3 

regarded as a 'hack-horse to be urged on by the soul to the jour- 
ney's end, though the galled jade should fall on the road.' His 
rule of conduct was, in his own words, always to seek 'practical 
and active employment; for without it/ he said, 'even if our time 
is spent in the most arduous study, there is danger that the char- 
acter may be sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, and lose 
its vigor and aptitude for the contests of life.' He added that he 
had found ' nothing which so nearly approached happiness as the 
self-satisfaction arising from the exact fulfilment of prescribed 
duties.'" " I should say," says Peter McCall, of the Philadelphia 
bar, " he was a man for an emergency. If an enemy were at the 
gates, he was the man under whom I would have liked to serve. 
... He was a man of the highest probity, a true patriot, a lover 
of his country and of its institutions. ... He was a scholar, a 
ripe scholar, and a thorough gentleman. His scholarship was 
more than ordinary. He was a graduate of Nassau Hall, and 
that was my first bond of union with him, and mark me, Nassau 
Hall will set him down among her distinguished children." 

K/\\lexander Schemmelfinnig, Colonel of the Seventy-fourth 
■Jqj^z regiment, and Brigadier-General of volunteers, was born in 
Germany, in 1824. In the Hungarian War he was a soldier 
with Kossuth, and upon its unfortunate termination came to 
America. In 1854 he published a work entitled " The War 
between Russia and Turkey." He was commissioned Colonel of 
the Seventy-fourth, on the 23d of July, 1861. He was of the 
column which marched, in inclement weather and across swollen 
streams, to the support of Fremont in West Virginia, and had 
scarcely reached his destination before, with Fremont, he re- 
turned to the assistance of Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. He 
was afterwards in the corps of Sigel, and with it fought in Pope's 
campaign, distinguishing himself in the battle of Bull Run, for 
which he was made Bricadier-General. In the battle of Chancel- 
lorsville he commanded a brigade in the Third division of the 
Eleventh corps, and when the First division, commanded by 
Devens, gave way before the attack of Jackson, he faced to meet 
the disaster and, with Buschbeck's brigade of the Second, held 
the enemy in check under fierce assaults for nearly an hour. 



G44 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The indiscriminate denunciation heaped upon the corps for its 
conduct called forth the vigorous protest of this intrepid soldier. 
In a letter to General Schurz he says : " For the surprise on the 
thinks and the rear in broad daylight, by a force outnumbering 
us four to one, the responsibility falls not on the Third division, 
holding the centre, but upon the First division, which held 
the right wing, and upon those whose duty it was to anticipate 
such a contingency, and to prepare for it. General, I am an old 
soldier. Up to this time I have been proud of commanding the 
] >rave men of this brigade ; but I am convinced that if the 
infamous lies uttered about us are not retracted and satisfaction 
given, their good-will and soldierly spirit will be broken, and I 
shall no longer see myself at the head of the same brave men 
whom I have heretofore had the honor to lead." 

General Schemmelfinnig commanded the Third division in the 
battle of Gettysburg, where he did effective service when hard 
pressed by the Louisiana Tigers. Early in the year 1864, he was 
transferred to the Department of the South, and had command of 
the forces on St. John's Island. Upon the fall of Charleston, on 
the 18th of February, 1865, his forces were the first to enter the 
city, and to take possession of Forts Sumter and Moultrie. He 
died at Minersville, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of September, 1865. 

. T.oiin Clark, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third Eeserve regi- 
*g) ment, was born in Philadelphia on the 30th of November, 
L822. He was the son of George and Ann (Kearney) Clark, of 
Irish descent. He received a good common-school education, 
but no military training previous to the Rebellion. He entered 
the service of the United States on the 31st of May, 1861, as 
Captain of Company E, in the Third Reserve. No officer of his 
command was more attentive to duty nor more constant than he. 
He was with the corps throughout the entire Seven Days' battle 
upon the Peninsula, and at its close was promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel for meritorious services. At Antietam he was wounded 
in the hand, but refused to leave the field, and did not go to a 
hospital, though the wound resulted in the permanent injury of 
one of his fingers. He was here in command of the regiment, 
as also at South Mountain and Antietam, where he was in the 





.T ' '. '■• ' ■ < 



JOHN CLARK.— JOSEPH ROBERTS. 645 

thickest of the fight and acquitted himself with distinction. Soon 
after the battle of' Fredericksburg, Colonel Clark was detailed for 
special duty in the engineer corps. It was at a time when the 
Government was carrying on stupendous campaigns reaching 
over almost the entire breadth of the continent, and the building 
and repair of railroads for the transfer of troops and supplies was 
not among the least of its labors. Colonel Clark had, in early 
life, acquired great familiarity with the practical part of railroad 
construction, and his services were invaluable. At the close of 
his term he was mustered out, and was subsequently chosen a 
member of the City Council of Philadelphia, and a member of 
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, of which body he 
was elected Speaker. He died at his residence in Philadelphia, 
on the 30th of May, 1872. 

fosEPH Roberts, Colonel of the Third artillery, and Brevet 
Brigadier-General, was born on the 30th of December, 
1814, at Midclletown, Delaware. His father, Joseph Roberts, 
was a native of Delaware, but has for many years been a resident 
of Philadelphia, where, at the advanced age of eighty-eight, he 
still lives. His mother was Elizabeth Booth, also a native of 
Delaware. The greater portion of his early years was spent in 
New Castle, where he received his preliminary educational train- 
ing. At the age of sixteen he entered the sophomore class of the 
University of Pennsylvania, where he remained one year ; but in 
1831, having received an appointment to the Military Academy.; 
he left the University and became a cadet at West Point. He 
graduated in 1835, standing the eighth in the class of fifty-six, 
and was promoted to Brevet Second Lieutenant in the Fourth 
United States artillery. He was, at successive periods, advanced 
through the several grades to that of Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
regiment. For a year after entering the service he was in gar- 
rison at Fort Hamilton, New York harbor. In 1836, he was on 
active duty in the Creek Nation, in Georgia and Alabama. From 
September to November of this year he was Captain of a body 
of mounted Creek Indian volunteers, who were employed in the 
Florida War. 

At the opening of the academic year of 1837, Captain Roberts 



G46 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was transferred from field duty in Florida to civil duty at West 
Point; and for a period of twelve years was Assistant Professor 
of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at the United States 
Military Academy, where he had under his instruction Grant, 
McClellan, Stonewall Jackson, Longstreet, and many others who 
have since become famous in either army during the great Civil 
War. Little did Professor Roberts think, while he was quietly 
but earnestly engaged in teaching these boys the elements of the 
sciences, that they would eventually use the knowledge thus 
acquired in leading armed hosts of their own countrymen against 
each other in mortal conflict, and that these then nameless youths 
would be world-wide known, and chief in the eye of fame. But 
so it proved, and their later eminence bears ample testimony to 
the excellence of their early military instruction. 

In 1849 he was again ordered to the field, having the year 
before been promoted to Captain in his regiment, and was engaged 
in active duty against the Seminole Indians in Florida. After 
a year's service here he was employed in garrison duty at Key 
West, Florida, in 1850; Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, in 1850-53; 
Ringgold barracks, Texas, in 1853-55; Fort Wood, New York, 
in 1855; Ringgold barracks, Texas, in 1850 ; and Forts McRae, 
Jupiter and Capron, Florida, in 1856-59. At this period he 
took the field, and was again engaged in hostilities against the 
Seminole Indians, in that seemingly endless Florida War. After 
a brief period of duty he was transferred to the frontier at Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas, and in 1858 to Platte Bridge, Nebraska. 
In 1859 he was detailed upon recruiting service, and in 1859-60- 
'Gl, was in garrison at Fortress Monroe, employed in the Artillery 
School of Practice, and as a member of the board to arrange the 
programme of instruction for that institution. 

Soon after the Rebellion broke out he was placed in command 
at Fortress Monroe, and promoted to the rank of Major in the 
regular army. On the 13th of September, 1862, he was selected 
for Chief of Artillery in the Seventh army corps, which position 
he continued to fill until the 19th of March, 18G3. In the mean- 
time the Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery — One Hundred 
and Fifty-second of the line — had been recruited, and an experi- 
enced officer was desired to lead it. Major Roberts was selected 



SULLIVAN A. MEREDITH. 647 

for this purpose and commissioned Colonel. He was assigned to 
the command of Fortress Monroe, and his regiment to duty at 
this point and with the Army of the James. From June 10th, 
1863, until November 9th, 18G5, he continued to exercise this im- 
portant trust, having in the meantime been brevetted Brigadier- 
General in the volunteer service, and Colonel and Brigadier 
General in the United States Army, " for meritorious and distin- 
guished services during the Rebellion." He was subsequently 
for a short time in command of Fort Mc Henry, near Baltimore ; 
but was, in November, 1866, called to court martial duty, 
where he was retained until April, 1867, when he was made 
Inspector-General of the Department of Washington. His merit 
as an instructor had been tested by a long service early in his 
career, and in March, 1868, he was assigned to duty as Super- 
intendent of Instruction in the Artillery School at Fortress 
Monroe, where he has continued to serve with great credit until 
the j>resent time. General Roberts was married on the 4th of Oc- 
tober, 1860, at Fortress Monroe, to Miss Adeline C. Dimick, third 
daughter of General Justin Dimick, of the United States Army. 
In person he is below the medium height, but of powerful make, 
with the air and carriage of a soldier. He is the author of a 
" Hand-book of Artillery," published in 1861, and revised in 
1863, which has given him a deserved reputation as a writer 
and a tactician. 

^^Oulltvan Amort Meredith, Colonel of the Fifty-sixth regi- 
gj£7 ment, and Brigadier-General of volunteers, was born in 
Philadelphia on the 5th of July, 1816. He was the son of the 
late William Meredith, an eminent lawyer of that city, and a 
brother of the Hon. William M. Meredith. He was educated at 
St. Mary's College, Baltimore. In 1835 he went to the South- 
west, and resided at Natchez, Mississippi, for a period of three 
years, when, owing to the great commercial revulsion of 1837, he 
returned to Philadelphia. In 1840 he sailed for the west coast 
of South America, and after visiting the principal cities along 
the Pacific shore, returned and took up his residence in the city 
of New York, where he remained in business until 1849. Gold 
had then just been discovered in California, and he joined a com 



648 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

pany who proceeded thither by the way of Mexico. It num- 
bered a hundred strong, and sailed from New York to Vera 
Cruz. Here he organized a squadron of ten picked men, who 
elected him their Captain, and having purchased horses, pro- 
ceeded across the country to San Bias, on the Pacific shore, by 
the way of Jalapa, Puebla, City of Mexico, Guadalaxara, and 
Tepic. This was the first company that reached California by 
that route. After two years he again returned to New York. 

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was in business in 
Philadelphia, and at the first call for men by President Lincoln 
tendered his services to Governor Curtin, and was elected and 
commissioned Colonel of the Tenth Pennsylvania regiment, called 
for a term of three months, which he led in Patterson's campaign 
in Northern Virginia. Upon his return at the close of this 
service he was appointed, by the Governor, Colonel commanding 
at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, where he superintended the 
drill and forwarding to the seat of war of more than 40,000 men. 
He organized and was made Colonel of the Fifty-sixth regiment, 
enlisted to serve during the war. In the winter of 18G1-G2 he 
garrisoned Fort Albany. In April following he was ordered to the 
lower Potomac, and after reaching Fredericksburg was assigned, to 
McDowell's corps. With this he served during the entire cam- 
paign, up to the Second battle of Bull Run, when on the 31st of 
August, 1862, he was severely wounded. His immediate com- 
manding officer at this period says in a letter in which he refers 
to Colonel Meredith : "None is better fitted to command than he, 
and his conduct in battle has always excited my highest admira- 
tion." He was held in high esteem by his men. 

For his gallantry in this engagement he was promoted to 
Brigadier-General, his commission bearing date of August 29th, 
1 862. When so far recovered from the effect of his wounds as to 
attend to business, he was appointed commissioner for the 
exchange of prisoners, and in the spring of 18G3 proceeded to 
Fortress Monroe, where he remained until late in that year, per- 
forming the delicate duties of his office to the entire satisfaction 
of the Government. Early in 18G4, he was ordered to report to 
General William S. Rosecrans at St. Louis, Missouri, under 
whose command he served until the close of the war. He was 



ALGERNON S. M. MORGAN. 649 

honorably discharged on the 24th of August, 1865, having been 
in the service four years and six months. 



M 



lgernon Sidney Mountain Morgan, Colonel of the Sixty- 
third regiment. The science of surgery made great gains 
during the late war, though at a fearful expense of life and limb. 
In many cases it was matter of astonishment how small an injury 
would produce death, while in others, what would seem almost 
certain to prove mortal, resulted in complete recovery. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was of the latter class, and though wounded 
in a ghastly manner, was almost miraculously restored. 

He was born on the 9th of May, 1831, at Mor'gansa, Washing- 
ton county, Pennsylvania. His father was James B. Morgan, 
and when a youth of only sixteen, shouldered his musket, and 
with a company raised in the county marched across the moun- 
tains to meet the British, who, after burning the Capitol and Presi- 
dent's House at Washington, were moving on Baltimore. His 
grandfather, General John Morgan, entered the army as an 
ensign at an early age, and served as aid to General Butler, at 
St. Clair's defeat. His great-grandfather, Colonel George Morgan, 
was in the service during the entire war of the Revolution. His 
mother was Susan S., daughter of James Mountain, a lawyer of 
Pittsburg. The year after his birth his parents removed to that 
city, where he was educated, graduating in the class of 1849 at 
the Western University. 

Following the example of an illustrious line of ancestry, he 
enlisted in the First regiment, and served in the three months' 
campaign. Active in raising the Sixty-third regiment for three 
years, he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, being associated with 
that sterling soldier, Alexander Hays, who was its Colonel. 
Morgan was very assiduous in drilling the regiment, though 
never having had any military education, and under the direc- 
tion of Hays, who was a graduate of West Point, became an 
excellent drill-master. With the army of McClellan he went 
to the Peninsula, and at Fair Oaks was terribly wounded. The 
battle had been for a long time in progress before the division 
of Kearny, to which this regiment belonged, was ordered up. 
When the command was at length given, it inarched at double- 



650 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

quick, and went into position in a wood, a part of which was 
already filled with masses of the foe. Nearly every tree con- 
cealed a sharpshooter. The action was of the most determined 
and desperate nature, and until after nightfall the crash of mus- 
ketry was incessant. The Sixty-third sustained severe losses — 
the dead and wounded covering all that blood-washed ground. 
In the midst of the fight, Colonel Morgan was struck by a musket 
ball in the left hip, just above the joint, which went tearing 
through, and issued from the right hip at almost the exact cor- 
responding place. He was immediately carried off the field, and 
was transported to Philadelphia, where he was attended by Dr. 
George W. Morris, among the most eminent of his profession. 
His case was regarded as a remarkable one, and attracted the 
attention of many surgeons. He was afterwards removed to his 
home in Pittsburg, and for a year was helpless. He then began 
gradually to regain his strength. He finally recovered the use 
of his limbs, but with a broken constitution and greatly im- 
paired health. All hope of ever being able to rejoin his regiment 
having been given up, he was, in April, 18G3, mustered out of 
service. In December of that year, he was appointed military 
storekeeper, Ordnance Department of the Allegheny arsenal, near 
Pittsburg, which position he still holds. 

/gGVWEN Jones, Colonel of the First cavalry, Fourteenth Re- 
>7<. serve regiment, was born on the 29th of December, 1819, 
in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the 
University of Pennsylvania, and read law with the Hon. William 
M. Meredith, of Philadelphia. After his admission to the bar 
he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits with a genuine 
zest. He was a member of the Board of Revenue Commissioners 
on the part of Montgomery and Bucks counties, and represented 
the filth Pennsylvania district — comprising Montgomery county 
and part of Philadelphia city — in Congress, during a portion of 
Mr. Buchanan's administration. He entered the army as a Cap- 
tain in the First Pennsylvania cavalry, on the 1st of August, 
1SG1, was promoted to Major, August 5th, and to Lieutenant- 
Colonel in the October following. He was with this regiment at 
Dranesville, and when Stonewall Jackson made his appearance 



OWEN JONES.— WILLIAM D. DIXON. 351 

in the Shenandoah Valley, creating consternation and horror by 
the superiority of his numbers, and his tireless energy, the First 
cavalry was sent thither. By forced marches it reached the valley 
in time to follow and engage the rebel rear-guard. For more 
than a week the action of the cavalry was almost constant, and 
at Harrisonburg, Port Republic, and Cross Keys, sharp encoun- 
ters occurred. When the rebel army, after the close of the Pen- 
insula campaign, began to press upon Pope's front, the cavalry 
was thrust out in all directions to hold him in check, and be 
informed of his movements. At the opening of May, 1862, 
Jones was promoted to Colonel, and now had the entire command 
of the regiment. At Cedar Mountain, in all the preliminaries to 
Bull Run, and throughout the trying battles at Groveton and 
Chantilly, he was where duty called, and rendered a service 
which must ever command the respect and gratitude of his 
countrymen. He was here under the immediate command of 
those heroic soldiers, Generals Reynolds and Bayard, and won 
their hearty approval. In the battle of Fredericksburg he had 
the advance of Franklin's grand division, and with his regiment 
opened that bloody contest. He afterwards had command of the 
cavalry on the left of the line. Upon the accession of General 
Hooker to the head of the Army of the Potomac, he resigned, 
and has since been exclusively employed with his private affairs. 

"^William Dunlap Dixon, Colonel of the Sixth Reserve regi- 



Xcj* ment, and Brevet Brigadier-General of volunteers, was 
born at St. Thomas, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 11th 
of December, 1833. He was the son of David and Catharine 
(Jeftery) Dixon, natives of that county, of Scotch-Irish descent, 
His ancestors on both sides served in the Revolutionary war, 
his grandfather, William Dixon, having been also a soldier 
in the French and Indian war, and his maternal grandfather, 
Benjamin Jeffery, having received a severe wound at the battle 
of the Brandy wine, where he was captured and for over a year 
endured the horrors of British imprisonment. He was employed 
in early life in the varied occupations of the farm, where his 
frame was well developed by exercise, and the vigor imparted by 
much exposure to sunlight and pure air. He was educated at 



652 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the public schools then just being inaugurated throughout the 
State, and at Millwood Academy, Shade Gap, where he obtained 
a good English and classical training. For three years before 
the breaking out of the war he had been a member of a militia 
company. 

Among the first to respond to the call for troops to suppress 
the Rebellion, he was, on the 18th of April, 1861, mustered into 
service for three months, and upon the expiration of this term 
recruited a company in his native county, for the Reserve corps, 
which became Company D of the Sixth regiment. In the battle 
of South Mountain, on the 14th of September, the Reserves ren- 
dered signal service in turning the left flank of the enemy, and 
gaining possession of the mountain pass which insured a speedy 
advance upon his main body. Captain Dixon led his company 
with marked skill and ability, carrying one after another a series 
of strong defensive positions occupied by the enemy, and finally 
emerging upon the summit forced him to retire. For his gal- 
lantry in this engagement, and in that which followed two daj-s 
after at Antietam, he was promoted to the rank of Major. 

At Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, 1862, where the 
Reserves led the main assault of Franklin's column, and achieved 
a temporary success, as brilliant as it was dearly bought, Major 
Dixon's regiment was on the advance line of the brigade, leading 
the way with a heroism unsurpassed, bearing down all before it, 
but suffering most grievous losses. His valor in this charge won 
for him the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel, to date from the 
day of the action. In the battle of Gettysburg he was engaged 
with his command on the left, where he was brought to the 
assistance of Sickles' hard-pressed troops and won lasting honor. 
He received a slight wound in this engagement and was bre- 
vetted Colonel. In consequence of great losses sustained by the 
Tenth Reserve regiment in the Wilderness, Colonel Dixon was 
ordered by General Crawford to take command of it, which he 
did, and continued to lead it until the close of its service. At 
Spottsylvania Court House, in the Wilderness campaign of 1864, 
he was again conspicuous for nerve and daring, which won for 
him ready recognition and the brevet of Brigadier-General. On 
the last day of his service, he fought with his division at Bethesda 



JOHN F. BALL1EB. 653 

Church, and received two wounds, but fortunately slight. On the 
following day, the three years for which the Reserves had en- 
listed expired, and with the corps, after having shared their for- 
tunes with singular steadfastness and fidelity, he w r as mustered 
out of service. General Dixon is in person six feet in height, 
muscular, of robust health, and in disposition quiet and taciturn. 
He held the office of Postmaster in his native town under the 
administration of President Buchanan. He was married on the 
14th of June, 1856, to Miss Martha Gillan. 



^jt-OHN Frederick Ballier, Colonel of the Ninety-eighth regi- 
£[) ment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 28th 
of August, 1815, in Wurtemberg, Germany. He received a good 
education in his native tongue in the place of his birth, and 
during the years 1833-'34 was a student in a military school in 
the city of Stuttgard. On leaving this he came to America, and 
settled in Philadelphia, w r here, from 1839 to 1845, he was a 
member of the Washington Guard, a volunteer militia company. 
For the Mexican War he volunteered as a jmvate in the First 
Pennsylvania, in which he was made First Lieutenant of Com- 
pany E. On his return from Mexico, he again joined the volun- 
teer force, and became Captain and Major. From 1853 to the 
breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, he was employed in the 
United States Mint at Philadelphia. 

He was commissioned Colonel of the Twenty-first regiment for 
three months' service, which he had been active in recruiting, 
and which had received the designation of the First Rifle regi- 
ment. With this he served in the Shenandoah Valley, and after 
being mustered out at the expiration of the term, was authorized to 
recruit the Ninety-eighth regiment for three years, and w r as made 
its Colonel. He was with McClellan upon the Peninsula, was 
on the advance guard from Williamsburg to Richmond, and until 
arrived at Malvern Hill participated in all the actions of the 
•campaign. At Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Get- 
tysburg, and that entire series of actions from the Rapiclan to 
Petersburg, and in the siege of that place, down to the surrender 
at Appomattox Court House, including the brilliant campaign in 
the Shenandoah Valley, which was an episode to the regular 



6 54 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

season's work, the Ninety-eighth bore an important and honora- 
ble part. In the action of Salem Heights, where the Sixth corps 
was saved from annihilation by the steady valor of this, together 
with the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania, Colonel Ballier 
received a painful wound which completely incapacitated him 
for duty. In the action at Fort Stevens, before Washington, in 
July, 1864, where the rebel General Early sought by a sudden 
dash with his corps to capture the Capital, he was again wounded. 
He was, in this battle, in command of the First brigade Second 
division. The last wound proved serious, causing a rupture and 
permanent disability. He was promoted to Brevet Brigadier- 
General for meritorious services. After the close of the war he 
was employed as Inspector in the United States Custom House 
at Philadelphia, until 1867, when he was made City Commis- 
sioner, in which capacity he served until 1871. 

f. ames Starr, Major of the Sixth cavalry, was born at Phila- 
delphia, on the 19th of July, 1837. He was the second 
son of Isaac and Lydia Starr, and was educated at Harvard Uni- 
versity, where he graduated in 1857. He served as a private 
in Company F, Seventeenth regiment, in the three months' cam- 
paign, and at its close recruited Company I of the Sixth cavalry, 
of which he was commissioned Captain. At the First Fredericks- 
burg he served as Aide-de-camp to General Franklin, commander 
of the left Grand Division. He was with the head-quarters of 
General Hooker at Chancellorsville, and aid to General Meade at 
Gettysburg. In March, 1864, he was promoted to Major, and 
took command of his regiment in the spring campaign. In the 
action of Todd's Tavern, on the 7th of May, he received a gun- 
shot wound in the face, by which he was for a time disabled for 
field duty; but returned to his command, then before Petersburg, 
on the 12th of July. He led his regiment in Sheridan's cam- 
paign in the Shenandoah Valley, and was mustered out at the 
expiration of his term of service in October. He was brevetted 
Lieutenant-Colonel " for highly gallant conduct at the battle of 
Todd's Tavern," and Colonel " for meritorious services during the 
campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, and while in command of 
the Remount Camp at Pleasant Valley, Maryland." 



JAMES STARR.— DE WITT C. McCOY. (355 

9fe\E Witt Clinton McCoy, Colonel of the Eighty-third regi- 
<3§; ment, was born January 18th, 1824, near the town of 
Mercer, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John and Elizabeth 
(Mourer) McCoy. Until the age of sixteen he was employed upon 
such work as he was able to perform in his father's shop, which 
was that of a wheelwright. He was then apprenticed for a term 
of three years to learn the business of chair-making. His oppor- 
tunities for early education were, consequently, very limited, not 
having had the advantage of more than twelve months' instruc- 
tion, and this of. a few weeks at a time, at long intervals between 
the ages of nine and fifteen. But being endowed by nature with a 
good degree of mental activity he acquired a large stock of useful 
information, as many another has done, without the aid of teach- 
ers. After serving faithfully his apprenticeship, he commenced 
business on his own account in the village of Sheakleyville, Mer- 
cer county. In 1850, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for 
a period of five years. In the following year he sold out his 
interest in the chair factory, and procuring the necessary books 
commenced in earnest the study of the law, which he designed to 
make his permanent business, and in which he found employment 
congenial to his tastes. This he diligently prosecuted in the inter- 
vals of his official business until 1853, when he was admitted to 
practice in the courts of Crawford county. In the following 
year he resigned the office of Justice, and. removed to Meadville, 
where he commenced the practice of his profession. In 1859 he 
was elected District Attorney for a term of three years. But 
when the cry was heard for troops to crush rebellion, he left a 
lucrative and honorable office, and buckling on his sword, went 
to the field as Captain of Company F of the Eighty-third regi- 
ment, commanded by John W. McLane. Upon the Peninsula, 
Captain McCoy led his company in the siege of Yorktown, in the 
battles of Hanover Court House and Gaines' Mill. In the latter, • 
when the fighting was of the most desperate character, he was 
wounded. 

Pieturning, after a brief absence, he was engaged at Bull Run, 
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In 
the latter battle the brigade of Vincent, in which was the Eighty- 
third, performed prodigies cf valor, preserving to the Union com- 



G56 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

mander Little Round Top — the key point of the whole Gettys- 
burg field — when attacked by the impetuous General Hood lead- 
ing on a powerful body of the foe, fully intent on possessing it. 
The company of Captain McCoy occupied a prominent place on 
the very breast of the little mount, looking toward the Devil's 
Den; but fortunately being shielded by rocks and small trees, was 
able to inflict grievous slaughter, without being itself greatly 
injured. Early in the year 1864, he was promoted to the rank 
of Lieutenant-Colonel. 

On the first day in the battle of the Wilderness, the leader of 
the Eighty-third, Colonel Woodward, was severely wounded and 
the command devolved on Lieutenant^Colonel McCoy. It was 
at a moment of great peril in the fortunes of the day, but ably 
did he execute the trust, pushing forward with unflinching valor 
and sweeping the enemy far back through the thickets of that 
gory field. Through all the battles of this terribly wasting and 
bloody campaign, from the Rapidan to the opening of the isiege 
of Petersburg, he continued to have the leadership of the Eighty- 
third, manoeuvring his command in the face of the enemy with 
the skill of a veteran officer. As an instance of this, the follow- 
ing, given by Mr. Greeley, in his History of the American 
Conflict, may be cited. The regiment had just crossed the 
North Anna, and was hastening to the relief of imperilled troops. 
"In making this advance," says Greeley, "the Eighty-third 
Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel McCoy, swept closely past the 
flank of Brown's (rebel) column, when McCoy instantly wheeled 
his forward companies into line, and gave a volley, which, 
delivered at close quarters on the flank and rear of the rebel 
column, threw it into utter disorder and rout, one of McCoy's 
men seizing Brown by the collar and dragging him into our 
lines, while nearly a thousand of his men were gathered up as 
prisoners." 

At the expiration of his term, on the 14th of October, 1864, 
he was mustered out of service. On the 25th of April, 18G5, he 
was brevettcd Colonel, to date from August 1st, 1864, by the 
President, " for gallant and distinguished services at the battles 
of Spottsylvania and the North Anna." Upon his retirement 
from the army he resumed the practice of his profession, and 




• ^PGeoiMPei ■'■ ' ' 



3 C O^C,%?#y 



: c P V 



JAMES A. BEAVER. 657 

became associated with Joshua Douglass, the firm, under the 
title of Douglass and McCoy, attaining a rank as one of the 
most eminent and successful in the State. In person Colonel 
McCoy is above the medium stature, deep-chested and powerfully 
made, and of a grave and dignified bearing. In military dress, 
which his grey locks set off to admirable advantage, he has the 
look and bearing of the ideal soldier. He was married on the 
17th of April, 1846, to Miss N. J. Nelson. 

ffAMES Addams Beaver, Brevet Brigadier-General, was born 
on the 21st day of October, 1837, at Millers town, Perry 
county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Jacob and Eliza 
(Addams) Beaver. He was educated at Jefferson College, Can- 
nonsburg, where he graduated in August, 1856. Subsequently he 
studied law and was admitted to practice at Bellefonte, Centre 
county, in January, 1859. He was for some time Lieutenant of 
the Bellefonte Fencibles, a volunteer company of which Andrew 
G. Curtin — since Governor of the Commonwealth — was Captain, 
and acquired some knowledge of elementary tactics. 

When the echoes of rebel guns turned upon Fort Sumter 
aroused the loyal North, few troops were more prompt to rally 
to the national standard than the Bellefonte Fencibles. It was 
the third company to arrive at the camp of rendezvous at Harris- 
burg, and of this he was chosen Second Lieutenant. It became 
Company H of the Second regiment, and he was soon after pro- 
moted to First Lieutenant. He served in this capacity to the 
close of his term, and after being mustered out was commis- 
sioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-fifth regiment. With this 
organization he proceeded to South Carolina, and was stationed 
in command of a battalion of five companies, at Fort Walker, 
occupying the fortifications commanding the entrance to Port 
Royal Bay. For several months he was engaged in active duty 
upon the sea islands before Charleston, for the most part having 
an independent command, and frequently meeting the enemy, 
by day and by night, in hostile encounters. 

Towards the close of July, 1862, the regiment returned north, 
and, near the beginning of September, Lieutenant-Colonel Beaver 
was promoted to Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth, 

42 



G58 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

one of a number of new three year regiments then being re- 
cruited. The Antietam campaign was just opening when he 
assumed command, and he was ordered to guard a portion of the 
Northern Central Railway most exposed to incursions by the 
enemy, and one of the main lines of supply for the Capital and 
the army. Upon the eve of the battle of Fredericksburg, he was 
ordered up, but was not put into the fight. At Chancellorsville, 
Colonel Beaver, while leading his command and while at close 
quarters with the enemy, was shot through the body and carried 
off the field. He was removed to a hospital in Washington, 
where he received the most skilful medical aid and attendance. 
It was near the middle of July before he was sufficiently 
recovered to return to his regiment. In the meantime the 
battle of Gettj-sburg had been fought and won, and the army 
Avas again advancing into Virginia. At Bristoe Station, and at 
Mine Run, he was actively engaged, at the former place the 
enemy being handsomely repulsed. 

At Po River, on the fourth day after the opening of the spring 
campaign of 18G4, Colonel Beaver led his command in a deter- 
mined fight, holding his ground in the most intrepid manner. 
At Spottsylvania, the North Anna, and Tolopotomy, the struggle 
on the part of the two armies was no less desperate, but still 
indecisive. In the first of these, Colonel Beaver was struck by 
a Minie ball, but fortunately was shielded from its full effect 
by a memorandum book, in the thick cover and leaves of* which 
its deadly power was spent. In the charge delivered at Cold 
Harbor by the division to which he was attached, the most 
desperate resistance was met, and upon the fall of the leader of 
the brigade, Colonel Beaver succeeded to its command. Here, 
too, he was again struck, but not disabled. 

In the first assault upon the works before Petersburg, on the 
evening of the lGth of June, while gallantly leading his brigade 
amid the crash of musketry, and a terrific fire of artillery, he 
received a serious wound from the fragment of a shell, inflicting 
internal injuries, and cutting a ghastly gash in the side. Again 
was he confined to the hospital for weary weeks. Eager to be 
with his men at the front, he left it before he had entirely 
recovered. He chanced to reach the field just as his division 



LANGHOBNE WISTEB. 659 

was preparing to go into battle at Reams' Station, and at once 
assumed command of his brigade. The fighting here was of 
unparalleled severity. Round shot and shell ploughed the field. 
Assault followed assault without decided advantage, and neither 
party was disposed to yield. In their desperation the combatants 
came hand to hand, and the crossing of bayonets and deadly 
thrusts were of frequent occurrence. In the midst of this terrible 
strife, as though some demon was its guide, he was again struck 
by the fatal missile, and so shattered was his right limb that 
amputation above the knee had to be resorted to. Possessed of 
temperate habits, he was able to withstand the shock, and soon 
recovered his accustomed health and vitality. 

On the 1st of August, 1864, he received the brevet rank of 
Brigadier-General, as a recognition of valuable services rendered 
while commanding his brigade at Cold Harbor. After the close 
of the war he returned to his home at Bellefonte, and resumed 
the practice of the law. He was married, on the 26th of Decem- 
ber, 1865, to Mary A. McAllister, daughter of H. N. McAllister, 
of Bellefonte. In person he is five feet ten inches in height, and 
previous to entering the military service was of a delicate or- 
ganization, but became more robust and healthy while in the 
field — a vigor which he still retains. Sincerely devoted to the 
interests of his country, he displayed remarkable tenacity of 
purpose in the discharge of his duty, and though singularly 
unfortunate in having been often the mark for the shafts of 
the foe, was enabled to render signal service at a period when 
the most desperate and continued fighting of the whole war was 
in progress. 

^X-gANGHORNE Wister, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fiftieth 
} ^4 regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General of volunteers, was 
born at Germantown, Philadelphia, on the 20th of September, 
1834. He was the son of William and Sarah Logan (Fisher) 
Wister. His boyhood was spent in the country, where a natural 
fondness for out-door life had full play. He was educated at the 
Germantown Academy, which he left at the age of eighteen to 
engage in business. 

He received no military education, but on the 19th of April, 



GGO MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

scarcely a week from the firing upon Fort Sumter, entered the 
service. He was successful in recruiting, and when the noted 
Bucktail regiment was formed he joined it with a company of 
which he was elected Captain. At Dranesville, where he first 
met the enemy in close combat, he stood with his company in a 
position where he w r as the object of the severest fire experienced 
by any of the Union troops on that field, and received the warm 
commendations of the commander of the regiment. His single 
company had two killed and four wounded. Six companies of 
the Bucktails, including Captain Wister's, under Major Stone, 
were sent to join McClellan on the Peninsula, and reached him 
in time to take the advance in the movement upon Mechanics- 
ville. They were the first to meet the enemy as he came out to 
oiler battle, and with wonderful skill and daring held him in 
check, skirmishing gallantly until the main line of battle was 
formed behind Beaver Dam Creek, and rifle pits completed. In 
the engagement which ensued, and in the subsequent retreat to 
Gaines' Mill, no troops could have acted with greater steadiness, 
or have rendered more efficient service. To the Bucktails was 
given the difficult and dangerous duty of skirmishing with the 
enemy, on the morning of the 27th, while the main body fell 
back. In all these manoeuvres and hard fighting Captain Wister 
was among the most reliable and trusted of a battalion that was 
;i special object of regard throughout the whole army. In the 
battle of the 27th, he received a severe contusion of the right 
ankle, but was able to keep the field, and at Charles City Cross 
Roads, where the Reserve corps for a third time in the Seven 
Days' fight was put at the fore-front, and made to bear the 
brunt of the battle, sustained his part with the same unflinching 
valor as on the preceding fields. 

Soon after the retirement of McClellan's army from the Penin- 
sula, the formation of a Bucktail Brigade was ordered, and Cap- 
tain Wister was selected to head one of the regiments — the One 
Hundred and Fiftieth. The reputation which he had gained as a 
fader of one of the old Bucktail companies inspired confidence, 
and made it from the outset almost the equal of a veteran regi- 
ment. He was stationed a while at Washington, whence he was 
ordered to the Army of the Potomac, then lying about Falmouth. 



LANGHORNE WISTEB. 6(31 

In the preliminary movements to the battle of Chancellorsville, 
this brigade performed a leading part, marching to Port Conway, 
for a feint, afterwards operating with the First corps to which it 
belonged at the lower crossing before Fredericksburg, and finally 
joining the main army in the great battle itself, occupying the 
right of the line, and meeting every advance of the enemy with 
cool courage. 

At Gettysburg Colonel Wister led his regiment upon the field 
at a little before noon of the first day, where the gallant Buford 
had presented a bold front and had held the enemy in check. 
covering the town until the infantry should come up. His posi- 
tion was upon a slight ridge, a little in rear of that held by 
Buford, and in advance of Seminary Ridge. Here, exposed to a 
fierce artillery fire, and the frequent assaults of the enemy's 
infantry, he held his men, changing front to meet every advance, 
until Colonel Stone, who commanded the brigade, was badly 
wounded and borne from the field, when he assumed control, 
turning over the regiment to Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper. 
The situation was every moment becoming more and more criti- 
cal, as the enemy, having already brought up the main body of his 
forces, began to close in on all sides and to press heavily in front. 
With remarkable skill Colonel Wister manoeuvred his small body 
of men to meet the masses brought against him, when he also was 
wounded, a Minie ball striking him in the face and shattering 
the jaw. " Colonel Wister," says Colonel Stone, in his official 
report, "though badly wounded in the mouth, while command- 
ing the brigade, and unable to speak, remained in the front of 
the battle." 

In recognition of his gallantry, General Doubleday made 
honorable mention of him in his report, and recommended him 
for promotion to Brevet Brigadier-General, which rank was con- 
ferred by the President and confirmed by the Senate. He 
resigned his commission in February, 1864, and resumed the 
business which he had left on entering the army — that of manu- 
facturer of iron at Duncannon. A resolute purpose and un- 
daunted heroism characterized him from his first entrance to 
military life, and the Bucktail corps had no more worthy or 
valiant representative. 



CHAPTER VIII. 




'OHN FREDERICK HARTRANFT, first Colonel 
of the Fifty-first regiment, Brigadier and Brevet 
Major- General, and Governor of Pennsylvania, 
was born in New Hanover township, Montgomery 
county, on the 16th of December, 1830. He was 
the son of Samuel E. and Lydia (Bucher) Hartranft, 
both of German origin, their ancestors having emi- 
grated to this country in the first half of the last 
century. He received his elementary training in 
his native county, from the lips of those esteemed 
educators, John F. Evans, Philip Cressman, and 
s Samuel Aaron. At the age of nineteen he en- 
tered Marshall College, and at the end of one year 
passed to Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he gradu- 
ated in 1853. He distinguished himself in mathematics and civil 
engineering, and was popular among his fellows, being selected as 
their leader for society positions likely to be hotly contested, and, 
as in later years when on the broad arena of State and national 
politics, was sure to come out of the struggle bearing the palm. 

He practised his favorite employment, civil engineering, for a 
time, having been engaged in running the line of the Mauch 
( hunk and Wilkesbarre Railroad, and subsequently of a proposed 
route from Chestnut Hill to Doylestown or New Hope. In 1854 
he was made Deputy Sheriff of Montgomery county by the in- 
cumbent of the office, M. C. Boyer, though of opposite politics, 
Il.utranft's business tact and popularity commending him above 
all others who were eligible. In this position he continued for 
nearly two terms, a period of four and a half years, in which he 
had a good opportunity for the development of his capacity for 
settling intricate business transactions, this being one of the largest 
counties in the State, and its interests varied. In the meantime, 

662 








JOE:. 



JOHN F. HARTRANFT. 663 

he read law with James Boyd, and finally in the office of A. B. 
Longacker, and was admitted to practice in 1859. The citizens of 
Norristown, where he now dwelt, manifested their confidence in 
him, thus early, by electing him a member of the Council, School 
Director, and President of a fire company — offices of little or no 
emolument, but demanding judgment and sound discretion. 

For several years he had been active in a militia organization, 
serving in various grades up to that of Colonel, in which capacity 
he was acting when the war broke out. Though opposed to 
the policy of the new administration, his resolution was at 
once formed. It was enough for him to know that the flag 
of his country had been fired on, and that its government 
was in peril. He proceeded to Harrisburg and tendered the 
services of his regiment, which were promptly accepted, and it 
became the Fourth of the line. Its term of three months expired 
just previous to the first battle of Bull Run, and it was mustered 
out; but Hartranft returned to the field and was assigned to duty 
on the staff of General Franklin. On that terrible day, when the 
hopes of twenty millions of people were dashed, and hosts of 
brave soldiers went down, he was in the hottest of the fight, 
encouraging the brave and holding the wavering, himself a tower 
of strength. " His services," says Franklin, in his report, " were 
exceedingly valuable to me, and he distinguished himself in his 
attempt to rally the regiments — Fifth and Eleventh Massachu- 
setts — which had been thrown into confusion." And McDowell, 
in a letter afterwards addressed to him, said: "I always regretted 
that I did not make an exception in your case in my report of 
the battle of Bull Run, and name you for your good conduct, 
instead of leaving it with General Franklin. I regret this the 
more as General Franklin's report was not printed." 

Some time previous he had sought and obtained permission to 
recruit a regiment for three 3-ears or the war. The fires of Bull 
Run had only tried, not weakened his ardor to serve his country, 
and before the smoke of that awful struggle had cleared away, he 
was on his way to Pennsylvania to call his trusty followers of his 
old command about him. An organization was speedily com- 
pleted, in which he was Colonel, and it was sent under Burnside 
to the coast of North Carolina. The troops had a stormy pas- 



664 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

sage, find were with difficulty landed. The enemy was found 
intrenched on Roanoke Island. To attack in front was to entail 
disaster. Hart ran It was, accordingly, sent to lead his men 
through a swamp, which the foe had supposed was impassable, 
and to storm the works. The result was a signal victory, nearly 
the entire rebel force being captured. It was the key-note to the 
campaign, and inspired all with hope. The mainland was 
reached on the loth of March, 1862, and an advance at once 
commenced upon Newbern. The place had been well fortified, 
the approaches being guarded by thirteen finished redans, well 
provided with artillery to sweep the ground for miles around. 
Skirmishing commenced early in the day, and at noon the battle 
became general. For three hours the roar of artillery and the 
crash of small arms was incessant. Finally, the Fifty-first was 
ordered to lead in a charge on the works. It was planned with 
judgment and executed with gallantry. A redan was carried 
from which the enemy fled in precipitation. It was the signal 
for a general advance, and the whole rebel line of works was soon 
waving with the stars and stripes. The city fell without further 
struggle, and the entire North Carolina coast was under the 
power of the Union arms. Hartranft was not present in the 
affair at Camden, the only engagement in which his regiment had 
a part while he remained at its head in which he did not partici- 
pate. Sickness in his family induced him to ask for a furlough 
of twenty daj^s. Two of his children died, and after committing 
them to the grave he hastened again to his post. 

It was about this time that he was asked by his political 
friends to accept the nomination for Surveyor-General of the 
State. His answer discloses the feeling which actuated him in 
going to the field, and of what manner of man he was : " I thank 
you," he says, " and my friends in Blair county, for your kind 
intentions; but I do most positively decline to have my name 
brought before the public as a candidate for office. I desire to 
serve my country in no other position, during the continuance of 
the Rebellion, than that in which it has been my fortune to act 
since President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 men." 

On the 22d of July, 18G2 — Burnside having returned to Vir- 
ginia with his troops, except Foster's division, and Stevens 



JOHN F. HARTRANFT. 665 

having joined him with a division from Port Royal — was organ- 
ized the Ninth corps, with whose career — a long succession of 
glorious achievements — Hartranft and his regiment were iden- 
tified. It was hurried forward to the relief of Pope, who was 
beginning to feel the weight of the enemy's power. Hartranft 
was sent with the brigade — Ferrero, its commander, being absent 
— to dispute his crossing the Rapidan. Without attempting to 
force a passage the enemy moved above, and soon had turned 
the right of Pope's army. Hartranft was ordered to retire 
across the Rappahannock, and act as rear-guard to the column 
in its movement back. A few days of manoeuvring and fight- 
ing brought the two armies upon the old battle-ground of 
Bull Run, Hartranft' s position on the line being almost identical 
with that on which he had fought in the former battle. It was 
at a critical moment in the struggle when the Union forces, 
broken and overborne, were being forced back, that Ferrero's 
brigade was posted in support of Graham's guns, to check the 
oncoming foe. Three times with desperation the enemy charged; 
but he met an unyielding resistance. Finally Ferrero with one 
of his regiments retired under a misconstruction of orders ; but 
Hartranft, who had received his commands from General Reno, 
held fast his ground with the two remaining regiments, until the 
way was clear, when he withdrew with his guns unmolested. No 
less calm and considerate was his conduct at Chantilly. He had 
posted his guns where they would be particularly effective, when 
he was ordered by Reno to withdraw them. This he refused to 
do until he had seen that officer and explained his situation. 
Relying upon his judgment Reno directed him to remain ;. and 
when, in the progress of the fight, the fiery missiles of that bat- 
tery rolled back the torn columns of the foe, it was seen how 
clear and correct was the judgment of Hartranft. 

At the southern pass near Turner's Gap of the South Mountain, 
he again met the enemy. They were screened from view, and as 
he led on his regiment to the support of troops who had been 
ordered before him, and where he supposed a line had been 
established, he was suddenly assailed by a powerful force. Fall- 
ing back to a wall near by he opened in reply, and by steady and 
stubborn fighting held his assailants in check until reinforced. 



G66 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The bridge of Antietam has come to be celebrated with that of 
Lodi. It is on that part of the Antietam field, where it was 
necessary for the left of McClellan's forces to cross in order to 
reach the foe. Burnside with the Ninth corps was there, and he 
had ordered parts of Crook's and Sturgis' divisions to carry it. It 
is a stone structure of three arches, and the causeway leading over 
it was commanded by artillery which swept it from end to end, 
while infantry crouching behind the walls that skirt the roads 
leading above and below, and in the wooded thickets overhanging, 
were ready to shoot down any force which should approach from 
the Union side. Crook made a good fight but was beaten back. 
Sturgis charged gallantly, and. his men reached the head of the 
bridge ; but they also were unable to stem the tide of destruction 
setting against them. Is that bridge to defy the whole Ninth 
corps, glorying in valor, and never defeated ? Shall a half of 
McClellan's army lie idly by, and see their comrades upon the 
right devoted to destruction for the lack of a crossing? It was not 
in the nature of the stubborn Burnside to bend to this humiliating 
alternative. When told that two determined attempts had been 
thwarted he exclaimed : " What ! not carry that bridge ! I will 
see ! Ride to Ferrero's brigade, and tell Hartranft that I order 
him to open a passage." From a sheltered position Hartranft 
had watched all that had been done, and when the order came 
from his chief his plan was already matured. Avoiding the 
highway which leads up the bank of the creek, and where he 
would be -exposed to a withering fire in reaching the bridge, he 
led his command along the bluff till he had come to a point 
opposite its head, when he burst like an avalanche upon it. 
Scarcely had the enemy time to point his guns before Hartranft 
was already upon the bridge. The Fifty-first New York, Colonel 
Potter, was advanced rapidly to his assistance, and though torn 
by shot and shell and many of his bravest stricken down, no 
destruction nor danger could deter his troops, and that narrow 
causeway, obstructed by the mangled and the dying; was crossed 
and the enemy dispossessed. " It was not till after Lodi," said 
Napoleon, "that I was struck with the possibility of my becoming 
a decided actor on the scene of political events. There was first 
enkindled the first spark of a lofty ambition." The triumph at 



JOHN F. HARTRANFT. 667 

this bridge may not have inspired such ambitious desires, but it 
was no less signal and complete. 

When Burnside, then in command of the Army of the Potomac, 
crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg to offer battle, he 
put the Ninth corps upon the right centre ; and here Hartranft 
manifested the same sterling qualities as on other fields. It was 
from the start a struggle against hope ; but he faced the terrible 
storm with the intrepidity inspired of success. 

In the campaign before Vicksburg he led a brigade, and though 
prostrated by sickness, directed the movements in the march 
upon Jackson from an ambulance. But in no part of his career 
were his talents and military skill more conspicuous than in the 
management of the retreat from Loudon to Knoxville, Tennessee, 
previous to siege of the latter place by Longstreet. He had just 
risen from a protracted illness, and had been placed in command 
of the Second division of the Ninth corps. Longstreet, who had 
suddenly cut loose from Bragg before Chattanooga, had come upon 
a fragment of Burnside's force unawares, and was likely to sever 
and overwhelm it. His purpose was discovered in time to thwart 
it. And to Hartranft was given the difficult task. Longstreet 
had already got upon the most direct road to Campbell's Station, 
a point where several thoroughfares cross, and the party which 
should reach it first was sure to win. Hartranft had heavy artil- 
lery and long trains to move. The roads were sodden, and terribly 
cut by the passage of heavy pieces. All night long his men 
toiled on. A stout heart and never yielding courage triumphed. 
Hartranft reached the menaced point .in advance, and deploy- 
ing upon the Kingston road was ready to meet the foe when 
they arrived. Burnside posted his artillery and infantry, as they 
arrived, in commanding positions, and as the masses of Longstreet 
came on, he hurled them back, torn and bleeding. But he was 
everywhere immensely outnumbered, and it was only for a little 
time that he could hold his ground. By retiring to new positions 
as often as turned out of the preceding, and at every turn fight- 
ing with the most determined spirit, Hartranft held Longstreet 
at bay until darkness set in, when the struggle was given over, 
and under cover of night the whole force with its guns and trains 
were brought safely into Knoxville. Here Burnside was closely 



668 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

besieged, and the troops were kept busy night and day fortifying 
for its defence. The place was invested by the foe and the siege 
vigorously pushed ; but before Longstreet was ready to assault, 
the defences were measurably complete, and his best efforts to 
carry it were fruitless. At the point where Hartranft's division 
lay was a small stream, by damming which it was made to Hood 
a considerable area, rendering his position secure. Finally the 
troops began to suffer from famine, and were driven, at last, to 
subsist on meagre and unwholesome diet; but they never for one 
moment filtered, and their endurance was at length rewarded 
with success; for Sherman, who had been detached by Grant at 
Chattanooga, came thundering upon the rear of Longstreet, caus- 
ing him to relax his firm grip, and make a hasty retreat towards 
Virginia, whither he was pursued and sorely harassed. 

The three years for which his regiment had enlisted being now 
near its close, he returned home and was joyfully welcomed, " his 
foresight on the march, his coolness, bravery and judgment on 
the battle-field,' being publicly recounted and commended. His 
regiment reenlisted and was strengthened with recruits, and he 
again entered, with the Ninth corps, the Army of the Potomac. 
At the Wilderness, where many of his troops were raw, he was 
fearful lest they might be thrown into confusion by the sudden 
attack of the enemy. To assure them, he freely exposed his per- 
son, riding down the whole front of his line while the battle was 
on, and just as they were ordered to make a charge, and pausing 
before each regiment to give a word of advice. Its effect was 
electrical, and he had rip difficulty ever after in manoeuvring 
them in the nl'ost exposed positions. Few troops were more con- 
spicuous for gallantry in the obstinate and bloody battle around 
Spottsylvania Court House than were those of Hartranft's 
brigade. He led them in a charge which shattered the rebel 
front, and for the time a marked advantage was gained, guns and 
prisoners falling into his hands; but the enemy rallying and 
receiving strong supports, checked him in his progress, and 
entailed a desperate struggle, in which both sides sustained 
terrible losses. From this charge dates Hartranft's commission 
as Brigadier-General. It had been fairly won at Bull Run, at 
Antietam, at Fredericksburg, and at Campbell's Station, each of 



JOHN F. HARTRANFT. 669 

which should have brought the promotion. But from none of 
these was the general advantage gained equal to the expecta- 
tions of the Government, and it was consequently slow in recog- 
nizing even conspicuous merit. 

In the actions at Cold Harbor and before Petersburg, his con- 
duct was alike worthy of notice ; but it is unnecessary as it is 
impossible to exemplify all of that brilliant series of actions with 
which his name will ever be honorably associated. During the 
excavation of the noted Petersburg mine, it was given to him to 
guard the engineers and working parties. Wilcox's division was 
chosen by Burnside to make the attack, and Hartranft's brigade 
was selected to lead; but before the explosion occurred, which 
gave to destruction an immense fort with all its heavy armament 
and garrison — lifting the huge mass high in air, and then bury- 
ing all in undistinguishable ruin — the plans were changed, and 
what was hoped might result in the rout of the rebel army ended 
in ignominious failure, though not from any fault of the troops 
making the assault : for never did men behave with greater gal- 
lantry. General Hartranft led his command resolutely forward to 
the crater ; but the movement had been so long delayed that the 
enemy had fully rallied from the surprise, and had concentrated 
his fire upon the men huddled together, and no valor would 
suffice to gain an. advantage. The only course dictated by wis- 
dom in the emergency was to get the troops back with as little 
loss as possible. Hartranft was the ranking officer, and when 
the order came to retire, he sent a messenger out requesting that 
the guns to right and left should be opened upon the enemy, 
under the fire of which he might move. For a long time he was 
held in painful suspense; but finding no indications of compliance, 
and discovering that the enemy was preparing to deliver a 
relentless charge, gave the order to fall back, as commanded. 
This he managed to accomplish, narrowly escaping with his own 
life, men falling on every side. 

A notable example of General Hartranft's presence of mind 
and soldierly judgment is afforded in his conduct at the Weldon 
Railroad, on the 18th of August. His brigade was supporting 
General Warren, who had captured an important portion of the 
road. There was danger that the enemy would assault at some 



(370 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

vulnerable point and retake it. Towards the close of the day he 
was ordered to go to the assistance of General Ayers, the enemy 
just then attacking. But he had but a few moments before come 
from the head-quarters of that officer, and knew from the sound 
of the fray that Ayers was not in danger. He accordingly acted 
upon his own judgment and replied, " I will move in the di- 
rection of the lire." Most fortunate was the decision ! For the 
rebel General Mahone, having attacked, routed and captured a ■ 
considerable part of Crawford's division, was bearing down all 
before him, and making for the very vital point in Warren's 
corps. Forming rapidly, Hartranft met him, and after a deter- 
mined struggle beat him back and saved the whole corps from 
inevitable discomfiture. Hartranft's horse was killed under him, 
and his losses were very severe. 

In December, 1864, General Hartranft was assigned to the 
command of a division of new troops, consisting of six full regi- 
ments — all Pennsylvanians. To the disciplining of this force, 
0000 strong, he gave himself unreservedly. With this division 
he was engaged in two actions which will be ever memorable in 
the history of this war. The first was the recapture of Fort 
Steadman. Early on the morning of March 25th, 1865, the rebel 
commander, having assembled a powerful body of his best troops, 
assaulted just before clay, and captured this strong fort with all 
its outlying works, and was advancing unchecked upon the rail- 
road that led to City Point, where were the immense stores of 
the whole army. At four in the morning General Hartranft was 
aroused from sleep by an unusual noise, occasioned by the 
moving of signal officers upon the roof of his head-quarters. 
Springing from bed, he had not had time to dress, before it was 
reported to him that the enemy had assaulted and captured Fort 
Steadman. His faithful aide, Captain Dalien, was despatched to 
verify the report, and he at once got his division under arms. In 
the meantime he received orders from Parke, who commanded 
the corps, to support Wilcox, whose division was upon the front 
and had been thus suddenly broken in upon. His whole division 
was speedily in motion, all bearing upon the dissevered line. 
Wilcox was found, but was in total ignorance of the real condition 
of affairs — his Adjutant-General and McLaughlin's brigade having 



JOHN F. HARTRANFT. 671 

been captured — and was mounted with his staff, his tents struck, 
in readiness for a movement to the rear. Hartranft perceived at 
a glance that what was to be done must be done quickly, and that 
he must rely upon his own troops unaided. He accordingly made 
his dispositions, and having drawn a cordon around the break, 
and resolutely driven back the enemy from his advanced position, 
ordered an assault along his whole line. At the moment of 
moving he got an order from General Parke to defer his attack 
until support should be sent. But his troops were full of spirit 
and confident of success ; and he deemed it unwise as it would 
have been difficult to arrest a movement which was already in 
progress. He accordingly led on, and though fearfully exposed 
on all sides and suffering severe losses, he paused not until the 
entire works were in his possession, and nearly the whole rebel 
force were captives in his hands. His loss in killed and wounded 
was less than two hundred and fifty, while that of the enemy, in 
killed, wounded, and prisoners exceeded three thousand. "When 
you were about to make your final charge," said a rebel officer to 
Captain Sholler, who was detailed to deliver up the dead under 
flag of truce, " our Generals were holding a council of war ; but 
it was the shortest council of war you ever saw ; for when they 
beheld such magnificent lines advancing, they adjourned by each 
taking to his heels without ceremony." This action brought the 
eyes of the whole army upon Hartranft, and he received uni- 
versal applause. The President immediately conferred upon him 
the rank of Brevet Major-General, and he was everywhere hailed 
as the Hero of Fort Steadman. 

The second action was his assault upon and capture of the 
enemy's works before Petersburg, on the 2d of April. As a 
military exploit it far exceeded, in daring and resolute courage 
that at Steadman, and had it been executed before the army had 
moved on its final victorious campaign, when the whole heavens 
were resounding with the noise of battle, it would have been 
bruited as one of the great triumphs of the war. The rebel works 
stood as they 'had for nearly a year previous, defying the best 
efforts of the Union arms. They were manned by as strong a 
force as they had ever been ; the only difference being that there 
were no supports behind them. His division had never been in 



G72 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

but one heavy engagement before — that at Steadman — and in 
that it had been successful. It accordingly went to the work 
with a confidence that old troops would have lacked. The left 
of his line rested upon the Jerusalem Plank Road, with a part of 
Wilcox's division upon his right, and Potter's upon his left. The 
enemy were on the alert and their artillery was in full play, the 
sky being ablaze with bursting shells, and the fiery trails of the 
mortar missiles. At daybreak a rocket was sent up from the 
head-quarters of Hartranft, which was the signal for the advance. 
It was gallantly executed, Colonel Cox of the Two Hundred and 
Seventh leading the way. A murderous fire from the whole 
rebel front tore their ranks ; but they unfalteringly moved on, 
fired by the spirit of their leader, and rested not until they had 
passed picket line, double line of chevaux-de-frise, moat and 
ditch, and had scaled the steep sides of the main works. The 
victory was complete, the enemy being driven, and his own guns 
turned upon his fleeing troops. The rebel cordon of works was 
broken, and that city which for so many months had defied the 
most subtle arts known to war, was finally compelled to yield 
to the gallant division of Hartranft. 

Hostilities soon after ceased and the armies returned home. In 
the meantime the good President had been assassinated, and the 
conspirators who had plotted the foul deed had been appre- 
hended. The Secretary of War was seeking some fearless, 
vigilant officer to take charge of them and hold them securely. 
General Hancock was consulted. He named Hartranft, and the 
appointment was immediately made. It was a just tribute to a 
true man. He executed that trust, as he had all others, with 
fidelity, and, while he showed the prisoners every kindness, he 
suffered no laxity of duty. 

In the summer of 1865 he was nominated for Auditor-General 
of Pennsylvania, an office the most responsible of any in the gov- 
ernment, even more so than that of the executive. He was 
triumphantly elected. At the end of three years he was reelected, 
and by the unanimous action of the Legislature held it for a part 
of a third term. In 1872 he was nominated for Governor, and 
though, in the complication of party and personal interests, he 
was violently opposed, he was again triumphant. 



RICHARD COULTER. 673 

In person Governor Hartranft is tall and commanding, of dark 
complexion, with a fine prominent eye, and is well preserved by 
temperance and sobriety. In all that pertains to executive 
ability in the management of the complicated affairs of State he 
is unsurpassed, the Commonwealth having rarely if ever had an 
executive so fully master of every subject himself, and so little 
dependent upon his constitutional advisers. He was married on 
the 26th of January, 1854, to Miss Sallie Douglas Sebring, 
daughter of William L. Sebring, of Easton. The issue of this 
marriage has been six children, of whom four survive — two sons 
and two daughters. 

mO ichard Coulter, Colonel of the Eleventh regiment, and 
Jp\ Brevet Brigadier and Major-General. The Mexican War 
schooled many a soldier who figured prominently on either side 
in the War of the Rebellion. Of such, none proved a more apt 
scholar and none served in the latter contest with more signal 
ability than Richard Coulter. 

He was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland count} r , Pennsyl- 
vania, on the 1st day of October, 1827. His father, Eli Coulter — 
an active business man and prominent politician, holding the 
office of prothonotary for many years — was a brother of the 
Hon. Richard Coulter, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl- 
vania, and died on the 18th of April, 1830. His mother was a 
daughter of Colonel John Alexander, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 
an officer of the Revolution, and a sister of Major John B. Alex- 
ander, of Greensburg, and of General Samuel Alexander, of 
Carlisle. She was a woman preeminent for her Christian charac- 
ter, amiable disposition, and many virtues, and died on the 7th 
of August, 1854. 

The son was educated at the Greensburg Academy, at the 
University Grammar School at Carlisle, and at Jefferson College. 
After leaving college in 1845, at the age of eighteen, he entered 
the office of his uncle, Richard Coulter, then a leading member of 
the Westmoreland bar, as a student at law, where he remained 
until the breaking out of the war with Mexico. 

On the 24th of December, 1846, he was enrolled in the service 
of the United States, as a private in Company E, Second regi- 

43 



074 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ment, Pennsylvania volunteers, to serve during the war, and was 
on active duty throughout its entire period of service. He was 
engaged in the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, in the battles of 
Cerro Gordo, at the storming of Chapultepec, Garita de Belen, 
and in the capture of the City of Mexico. Returning at the close 
of the war he was mustered out of service, with his regiment, at 
Pittsburg, on the 14th of July, 1848. 

lie immediately resumed the study of the law, and was 
admitted to practice on the 23d of February, 1849. His uncle 
having in the interim been elevated to the Supreme bench, the 
nephew, upon his admission to the bar, succeeded to the business 
of the office, and zealously pursued his profession until the open- 
ing of the Rebellion. 

The mutterings of treason were listened to with, an attentive 
ear, and when, in the early spring of 1861, the intelligence was 
brought to the young law}^er that the old flag had been fired on, 
he had no question as to his duty. Turning his back upon a suc- 
cessful and lucrative practice, he sounded the call for recruits, and 
on the 20th of April reported at Camp Curtin, in Ilarrisburg, with 
a full company, of which he was chosen Captain. His company 
became part of the Eleventh regiment, of which he was made Lieu- 
tenant Colonel. At Falling Waters this, with other troops, was 
pitted against rebel forces commanded by the afterwards famous 
Stonewall Jackson, and in the brisk skirmish which ensued that 
commander was driven, Coulter's regiment bearing a leading 
part and being crowned with the credit of that achievement. 

At the conclusion of the three months' service, for which all 
Pennsylvania troops had been called, Colonel Coulter set about 
reorganizing his regiment for three years. It was composed 
largely of the men of the old regiment, and retained its former 
number. Of this he was appointed Colonel. During the Penin- 
sula campaign he remained with McDowell, opposing the demon- 
strations of Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. In Pope's 
campaign he rendered signal service at Cedar Mountain, upon the 
line of the Rappahannock, and at Thoroughfare Gap, in opposing 
the progress of the rebel army ; and in the battle of Bull Run his 
command suffered great loss in men and officers. In the midst 
of the latter battle, the fall of General Tower and Colonel 



RICHARD COULTER. (575 

Fletcher Webster left Colonel Coulter at the head of the brigade, 
who, with his accustomed heroism and daring, succeeded in 
checking the enemy's onset, and in bringing off his command. 

On the morning of the 17th of September, the brigade, now 
commanded by General Hartsuff, was led into action on the field 
of Antietam with the corps of Hooker. With almost the first 
shot, Hartsuff was wounded, and Coulter took command of the 
brigade. For four hours he faced the enemy fighting to maintain 
their well-chosen position ; but the valor of those troops led by 
the gallant Coulter proved superior, and the enemy was forced 
back. When relieved, one-half of the effective strength of the 
brigade had fallen, having lost six hundred and three out of 
twelve hundred and eleven. In the battle of Fredericksburg 
Colonel Coulter was severely wounded, and for a considerable 
time he was confined to the hospital ; but a few days before the 
battle of Chancellors ville he was so far recovered as to resume 
command, and led his regiment in the desperate fighting of that 
unfortunate field. 

At Gettysburg Colonel Coulter was upon the soil of his native 
State, and within sound of the homes of many of his relatives 
and friends; and never did the begrimed veterans of this 
regiment meet the storm of battle with stouter hearts. They 
were of the First corps, which soonest met the shock, and the 
ground on the right flank, where repeated assaults were triumph- 
antly met, and the desperate charges of his men were rewarded 
with substantial fruits, is thickly strewn with the graves of 
friend and foe. In the desperate encounter of that First corps, 
when opposed by thrice their number, the commander of the 
First brigade, General Paul, was severely wounded. Thereupon 
the Eleventh Pennsylvania regiment was transferred from the 
Second brigade, where it belonged, to the First, and Colonel 
Coulter was ordered to assume command in place of the fallen 
General. In the last desperate struggle, on the afternoon of the 
third day of the battle, Colonel Coulter, while in the act of lead- 
ing his brigade to a threatened part of the line, received a severe 
wound in the arm ; but he persisted in remaining with his com- 
mand until the battle was ended. 

In the campaign of the Wilderness and before Petersburg, 



G7G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Colonel Coulter was constantly at the post of duty, leading his 
own regiment, endeared to him by years of constant and devoted 
service, or the brigade and division as the exigencies required. 
For his services in these campaigns he was made a Brevet 
Brigadier-General, a recognition tardily bestowed, and not until 
after many an officer with far less experience and merit but more 
pretension had received it. General Coulter was now assigned 
to the command of the Third brigade, and started on the spring 
campaign with the Grand Army in its last struggle with the 
foe. It was of but short continuance, and ended in triumph 
at Appomattox Court House, General Coulter sharing the fortunes 
of his brigade to the last hour of its service, and until every 
enemy of the Government was willing to lay down his arms, and 
acknowledge that flag which in the beginning had been derided 
and trampled in the dust. 

The rank of Brevet Major-General was conferred upon General 
Coulter for meritorious services in the final campaign, and in 
four years of constant and devoted duty. The record of the 
casualties which befell him show how well he deserved of his 
country. In the Second Bull Run, his horse was shot under him. 
At Fredericksburg, he was severely wounded, in the heat of the 
battle. At Gettysburg, he was struck in the arm. On the first 
day in the Wilderness, he had his horse killed and on the second 
day another horse wounded. At Spottsylvania, while drawing 
up his brigade for a charge upon the enemy's works, he received 
a wound in the left breast from a missile of the enemy's picket. 

On being mustered out of service at the conclusion of the war 
General Coulter returned to the practice of his profession at 
(Ireensburg. In person he is five feet and eleven inches in 
height and stout, of fair complexion, and blue eyes. 

A D0Lri1 Busciibeck, Colonel of the Twenty-seventh regiment 
J~^\. and Brigadier-General. On the evening of Saturday, the 2d 
of May, 1862, the Eleventh corps of the Army of the Potomac, 
while in position on the right wing on the field of Chancellors- 
ville, was attacked on its right flank and rear by Stonewall 
Jackson, with an overwhelming force of the rebel army. At the 
time this attack was made, Buschbeck's brigade was occupying a 



ADOLPH BUSCHBECK. 677 

position on the extreme left of the corps. "At about four o'clock 
p. M.," says General Steinwehr, who was commanding the division, 
in his report to General Howard, "you ordered me to send the 
Second brigade, General Barlow commanding, to support the 
right wing of General Sickles' corps, then engaged with the 
enemy. The brigade started immediately and, accompanied by 
yourself and myself, reached the right wing of General Birney\s 
division of Sickles' corps in about an hour's time. We found 
General Birney's sharpshooters skirmishing with the enemy, and 
as no engagement was imminent, I returned to the First brigade, 
Colonel A. Buschbeck, commanding, near Dondairs Tavern. 
Soon I heard heavy firing in that direction, which showed that a 
strong attack was being made upon our corps. When I arrived 
upon the field I found Colonel Buschbeck with three regiments 
of his brigade still occupying the same ground near the tavern, 
and defending this position with great firmness and gallantry. 
The fourth regiment he had sent to the south side of the road to 
fill the place lately occupied by the Second brigade. The attack 
of the enemy was very powerful. They emerged from the woods 
in close columns, and had thrown the First and Third divisions 
— which retired toward Chancellorsville — into great confusion. 
Colonel Buschbeck succeeded to check the progress of the enemy, 
and I directed him to hold his position as long as possible. His 
men fought with great determination and courage. Soon, how- 
ever, the enemy gained both wings of the brigade, and the 
enfilading fire which was now opened upon the small force, and 
which killed and wounded nearly one-third of its whole strength, 
forced them to retire. Colonel Buschbeck then withdrew his 
small brigade, in perfect order toward the woods, the enemy 
closely pressing on. Twice he halted, faced around, and at last 
reached the rear of General Sickles' corps, which had been drawn 
up in position near Chancellorsville. There he formed his 
brigade in close column and you will recollect offered to advance 
again to a bayonet charge." 

Rarely on any field were soldiers subjected to such an ordeal 
as were those of Colonel Buschbeck in this terrible conflict. The 
whole right wing of the army was flying in disorder. The first 
troops to meet and interpose a check to the hordes of the enemy 



078 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

rushing forward, exultant and victorious, was this small brigade. 
The heroism there displayed is of so signal and pronounced a 
character that it stands out as one of the striking events in 
that battle, and as a brilliant achievement in the life of its 
commander. 

Adolph Buschbeck was born on the 23d of March, 1822, in 
Coblentz, Prussia. His father, Adolph Buschbeck — Major in the 
Engineer corps — and his mother, Minna (Morgenstern) Busch- 
beck, were natives of Dresden, Saxony. From his eleventh to his 
seventeenth year he was a cadet in the military school at Berlin. 
He received the full education necessary to enter the University, 
besides instruction in tactics for infantry, cavalry, and artillery, 
practical surveying, and in the German, English, and French 
languages. Upon his graduation from the military school, he 
was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Prussian army, and in 
1846 was commended by the then Prince of Prussia, now the 
Emperor William. General von Steinwehr said of hiiu, " I can 
also state from personal knowledge that Colonel Buschbeck is one 
of the most thoroughly educated officers of the service." 

Colonel Buschbeck came to this country several years before 
the war, and in September, 18G1, was commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers. A 
month later he was made Colonel of the regiment, and on the 
25th of October, 1802, was assigned by General Banks to the 
command of the First brigade, Second division of the Eleventh 
corps. During the winter of 18G4 he commanded a division of 
this corps, and was subsequently brevetted a Brigadier-General 
of volunteers. 

Of the character of General Buschbeck, the authority of his 
superior officers will be received as conclusive. General Sherman, 
in his report of the 19th of December, 18G3, says: "The brigade 
of Colonel Buschbeck, belonging to the Eleventh corps, which 
was the first to come out of Chattanooga to my flank, fought at 
the Tunnel Hill, in connection with General Ewing's division, 
and displayed a courage almost amounting to rashness. Follow- 
ing the enemy nearly to the Tunnel gorge, it lost many valuable 
lines." General von Steinwehr, in a communication of the 
2Gth of February, says of him: "He distinguished himself partic- 



CHARLES P. HERRIXG. 679 

ularly in the battle of Cross Keys, where he saved his regiment 
and a battery attached to it during the action, by resolute 
determination and intrepidity." General Hooker says, in a com- 
munication addressed to the Secretary of War, dated March 3d, 
1864, at his camp in Lookout Valley: " His mode of governing 
men and enforcing discipline is excellent. He is cool, prompt, 
and fearless in battle and his private relations are unexceptiona- 
ble." General Buschbeck since the close of the war has for the 
most part resided in Philadelphia, where he married Agnes, 
youngest daughter of the late Doctor William E. Horner, Pro- 
fessor of Anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania. 

harles P. Herring, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Eighteenth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was 
born in the city of Philadelphia. Until the opening of the Rebel- 
lion he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In June, 1861, he 
became Second Lieutenant of Company C, of the Grey Reserves, 
commanded by Captain Charles M. Prevost. In May, 1862, he 
acted as Adjutant of the battalion under Colonel Charles S. Smith, 
in its service in quelling the Schuylkill county riots. In August, 
1862, he was commissioned Major of the One Hundred and Eigh- 
teenth regiment, and commanded the camp for recruits in Indian 
Queen Lane, near the Falls of Schuylkill. With little opportunity 
for drill the regiment was called to the front at a time when the 
Antietam campaign was in full progress. On the 20th of Sep- 
tember, 1862, two days after the battle of Antietam, Barnes' 
brigade, which embraced the one Hundred and Eighteenth, was 
ordered across the Potomac to follow up the retreating foe. But 
Lee had left a strong rear-guard under A. P. Hill, which was held 
in ambush, and this regiment, which was in advance, was no 
sooner over than the enemy attacked and overwhelmed it, 
killing, wounding, and capturing considerable numbers. Its com- 
mander, Colonel Prevost, received a severe wound, when the 
direction of affairs partially devolved upon Major Herring, who 
with rare tact and judgment brought off the remnants of his 
troops. In the battle of Fredericksburg he was wounded in both 
arms, and at Chancellorsville was in command of the rear-guard 
in the retreat of the army across the river. The service at 



680 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Gettysburg was no less trying. He was brought upon the field 
at a critical period in the fortunes of the day on the afternoon 
of the 2d of July, 18G3, and aided in checking the foe in his 
crushing blow aimed at the Third corps. 

In November he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. On the 
7th of May, 1804, in the midst of the fierce conflicts of the 
Wilderness, Colonel Herring was placed in command of a brigade 
of five regiments, two of them of the regular army, and with it 
made a brilliant charge, driving the enemy and holding his 
ground. On the following day, at Laurel Hill, occurred the most 
notable act of his military life. General Crawford was moving 
forward with his command to charge the enemy when, at five 
p. m., Colonel Herring with his brigade arrived upon the ground, 
and was ordered forward to support the movement. He had been 
on picket all the previous night and had been marching all day, 
but he w r ent gallantly out, and met and signally repulsed one of 
the most determined and desperate charges made by the enemy, 
preserving throughout the struggle an immovable front, inflicted 
terrible slaughter, captured two hundred prisoners, and took two 
stands of colors. General Warren, in a familiar letter written 
just two years later, says: "Your successful engagement of the 
enemy on the evening of the 8th of May, two years ago, with its 
captures, will help relieve a record made up of many gloomy 
repulses so trying to us all." He continued with the army under 
General Grant, and was conspicuous in all the engagements in 
which his regiment had a part before Petersburg and Richmond. 
On the 6th of February, 1865, at Dabney's Mill, while at the 
head of his command, he was severely wounded in the leg, which 
resulted in its amputation. For his gallantry here he was 
brevet tod Brigadier-General. After his recovery he sat upon a 
general court-martial convened in Philadelphia, and soon after 
his muster out of the service, in June, 1865, was appointed 
Brigade Inspector of the National Guard, in which capacity he 
was influential in resolutely holding up the standard of excel- 
lence. In a remarkable degree he had the confidence and friend- 
ship, not only of his own command, but of his superior officers. 
General Barnes, in allusion to his loss of a limb, said: "You bear 
with you the evidence of the perils of the field. This gives me 



s MATTHEWS. QUAY. 681 

no cause for surprise ; for I had seen you at Shepherdstown, at 
Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg." " Gallant and ever reliable 
as an officer," says that bold soldier, General Griffin, " he was 
humane and considerate towards those under him, always being 
solicitous for their welfare. On the field of battle, or in camp, his 
manly bearing won for him the friendship of all. His record is 
one that he not only should feel proud of, but his State should 
prize as belonging to one of her sons." " With a moral courage," 
says Major-General Chamberlain — late Governor of Maine — who 
served with him, " scarcely excelled by his physical daring, he 
won and held my perfect confidence and love." 

Eatthew Stanley Quay, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Thirty-fourth regiment, was born on the 13th of Septem- 
ber, 1833, at Dillsburg, York county, Pennsylvania. He was 
the. son of Anderson B. and Catharine (Kane) Quay. He was 
educated at Jefferson College, where he graduated at the age of 
sixteen. After completing his course he travelled in the South, 
but finally settled in Beaver as a student at law, where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1854. In 1856 he was appointed Pro- 
thonotary of Beaver county, and in the fall of the same year 
was elected to that office by the people, and reelected in 1859. 
When the tocsin of war was sounded in April, 1861, he resigned 
his civil employment, and received the appointment of Lieuten- 
ant in Company F, Tenth Reserve regiment. In June following, 
he was elevated to a more arduous and responsible position, that 
of Assistant Commissary-General of the State. On the 1st of 
January, 1862, he was selected by Governor Curtin as his 
private Secretary. In August, ' when the General Government 
was importunate for troops, he again took the field as Colonel of 
the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth regiment. He was brought 
upon the ground at Antietam near the close of . the battle, and 
remained under arms in momentary expectation of a renewal of 
the fight, until it was discovered that the enemy had fled. On 
account of serious ill health he was obliged to tender his resigna- 
tion, which was accepted about a week previous to the battle of 
Fredericksburg. When he ascertained that a battle was immi- 
nent, he refused to leave the field, and volunteered as aid upon 



G82 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the staff of General Tyler, commanding the brigade to which his 
former regiment belonged. In this capacity he was in the hottest 
of the fight at the Stone Wall on Marye's Heights, and by his 
courage and endurance won the high commendation of his com- 
mander, both upon the field and in his official report. In closing 
the detail of the action of his brigade, he says: "Colonel M. S. 
Quay, late of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania 
infantry, was on my staff as a volunteer aide-de-camp, and to 
him I am greatly indebted. Notwithstanding his enfeebled 
health, he was in the saddle early and late, ever prompt and 
efficient, and especially so during the engagement." 

When his health had become measurably restored he was 
appointed agent of the State at Washington, where he per- 
formed highly important and useful labor in looking* after and 
protecting the interests of Pennsylvania soldiers. He had not 
been long engaged in this capacity when he was recalled to 
Harrisburg, to perform official duty near the person of the 
Governor. At the State election, in October, 1SG4, he was 
chosen, by the almost unanimous vote of his district, a member 
of the Legislature, where he exerted a commanding influence, 
and on being returned for the succeeding term was selected as 
Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means — the virtual 
leader of the House. He was returned for a third term, when he 
was a prominent candidate for Speaker. After retiring from this 
office he founded at the seat of his county the Beaver Radioed, an 
eight-page sheet, which, under his skilful and able management, 
gained a large circulation and an influence scarcely second to any 
in the State. When Governor Ilartranft, at the opening of 1873, 
formed his cabinet, he called Colonel Quay to occupy the first 
place — that of Secretary of State — which he still worthily holds. 
In person he is above the medium height, well formed, and of a 
vigorous and determined mien. In debate he is ready and 
persuasive; and as a writer, terse and sententious, with few 
equals in the editorial corps. 

SkACOB H. Dewees, Colonel of the Thirteenth cavalry, was 
£*) born in Philadelphia on the 5th of December, 1831. He 
was the son of Henry and Louise Charlotte (Schollosser) Dewees. 



JACOB H. DEWEES.—EVERARD BIERER. gg3 

He was brought up upon a farm, and received a liberal English 
education at the public schools and at the Lower Dublin Acad- 
emy, especially distinguishing himself in mathematics and civil 
engineering. He was fond of field sports, and was a good horse- 
man. 

Before entering the United States service he had been con- 
nected with a volunteer company, known as the Washington 
Cavalry, where he acquired some knowledge of this arm. In 
May, 18G2, he was commissioned Captain of Company A of the 
Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry. For the rough riding, in 
which he delighted, he now had ample opportunity; for bands 
of the enemy led by the daring partisan chieftains Moseby, 
White, and Imboden were active in the Shenandoah Valley, 
whither with his command he was sent, and it required all the 
skill and courage of which the ' Union forces were master to 
match them. In November, 18G3, Captain Dewees was promoted 
to Major, and in the campaign of the Wilderness rode with 
Sheridan in advance of the Grand Army. The cavalry was 
tireless in this campaign, raiding upon the enemy's communica- 
tions, pushing up to the very doors of Richmond, and away on 
the Trevilian Station enterprise. Finally, in the hard battle at 
St. Mary's Church, on the 24th of June, 18G4, Major Dewees 
was taken prisoner, and for a period of nearly nine months, 
at a time when Union captives were treated with the greatest 
severity, was in the enemy's hands, being confined first at Macon, 
Georgia, for two months under fire of the Union siege guns in 
the city of Charleston, and finally at Columbia. Early in March 
he was released, and on rejoining his regiment was promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel. At the conclusion of the war, he returned 
to his home in Philadelphia, and has since been actively engaged 
in the construction of railroads, for which he has natural talent. 
He was married on the 29th of January, 18G7, to Bella M. Dale, 
of Venango county, Pennsylvania. 

Qp^VEKARD Bierer, Colonel of the One Hundred and Seventy- 
(^i first regiment, was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 9th of January, 1827. His father, Ever- 
hart Bierer, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, having 



684 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

been born in 1795, near Stuttgard. His mother was Catharine 
Margaretta Rukenbrod. He was reared amidst agricultural 
pursuits. He received his education at the common schools, and 
at Madison College, in his native county. A few days after the 
call of the President for troops, he commenced recruiting, and on 
the 23d of May was commissioned Captain of Company F, Elev- 
enth regiment of the Reserve corps. He did good service with 
his company at Beaver Dam Creek, and in the desperate fighting 
to which his regiment was subjected on the following day at 
Gaines' Mill — where it was brought up as a forlorn hope — was 
taken prisoner. With other officers captured on that field, Cap- 
tain Bierer was marched to Richmond, gratifying the eyes of the 
populace eager for a sight of Yankee prisoners, and was confined 
in Libby Prison. He was released on the 14th of August, and 
returned to his command in time to lead his company in the 
assaults at South Mountain. In the midst of the battle, while 
the enemy was contesting every inch of ground with the greatest 
obstinacy taking shelter behind rocks and wooded heights, the 
regiment was ordered to charge. Captain Bierer was the first of 
his company to issue from the covert of woods through which 
the line was moving, and, dashing forward into an open field 
amidst a storm of bullets, led the way. His heroic conduct re- 
assured his men, and their onward move was resistless ; but 
before the summit of the mountain was reached, while pressing 
on, he was struck just above the elbow, breaking the arm and 
injuring the joint. He was carried off the field, and his wound 
dressed ; but not until the 25th of November was the ball ex- 
tracted. The wound finally healed and the arm was saved. 

As soon as he was fit for duty, he was appointed, by the Gov- 
ernor, commandant of Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, with the 
rank of Colonel, and not long afterwards was chosen Colonel of 
the One Hundred and Seventy-first regiment. With this he was 
sent first to Suffolk, Virginia, and thence to North Carolina, 
where he was engaged against the rebel General Hill. At Blount's 
Creek, on the 9 th of April, the brigade of Spinola was obliged to 
retire before superior numbers. To Colonel Bierer was assigned 
the command of the rear guard. The duty was critical, the 
enemy crowding upon him and attacking in heavy force. Nearly 



ROBERT THOMPSON. G85 

the entire night, in the midst of intense darkness, through pine 
forests and cypress swamps, the march was pushed, and he finally 
succeeded in bringing off the column, with the trains and all the 
wounded. He was subsequently advanced to the command of 
the brigade, which he led in a diversion towards Richmond, from 
Fortress Monroe, and subsequently to Maryland, to the aid of 
the Army of the Potomac in its conflicts with Lee. The term 
of service of his regiment soon after expired, when he was mus- 
tered out. In person he is nearly six feet in height, of an iron 
frame, and was never sick except when confined in Libby. Stu- 
dious and industrious, he has acquired varied information, and 
by his integrity and worth commands respect and confidence. In 
October, 1850, he was elected district attorney of Fayette county, 
and in November, 1864, was one of the Presidential electors for 
Pennsylvania. He was married on the 8th of April, 1852, to 
Miss Ellen Smouse. In 1865 he removed to Hiawatha, Brown 
county, Kansas. In November, 186 7, he was elected a member 
of the Kansas Legislature. His occupation has in the main been 
that of farming, stock-raising, and the practice of law. 

§0 obert Thompson, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifteenth 
^pV regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was "born on the 
19th of July, 1828, in Philadelphia. His father was Robert 
Thompson. His mother was daughter of Dr. William Delaney, 
a surgeon in the Revolution, and a niece of Sharp Delaney, a 
prominent patriot in that struggle, contributor to the Robert 
Morris fund, first Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, having 
been appointed by Washington, and the founder of the Friendly 
Sons of Saint Patrick, from which strictly the First Troop, Phila- 
delphia City Cavalry, originated. He received a thorough educa- 
tion in the schools of his native city. In the July riots of 1844, 
he served with the Washington Grays, an artillery corps, and 
subsequently, in 1849, attached himself to the First Troop. In 
1852, he was married to Elizabeth S. Winebrener. Just pre- 
vious to the breaking out of the Rebellion he raised a militia 
company, known as the State Guard, which became Company E 
of the Seventeenth regiment, commanded by Colonel Francis 
E. Patterson, and served as Captain through the three months' 



686 MARTLiL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

campaign. When, in April, 1862, the One Hundred and Fifteenth 
regiment was formed, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. His 
first duty was to take charge of five hundred rebel prisoners cap- 
tured in the fight at Winchester, in April, 1862, whom he took 
to Fort Delaware, and thence proceeded to Fortress Monroe with 
his regiment. He joined the Army of the Potomac in July, and 
had part in the second engagement at Malvern Hill. In the 
fierce fighting at Bristoe Station, with the enemy under Stone- 
wall Jackson, and at Bull Run, which immediately followed, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson commanded the regiment, in the 
former being particularly commended for a charge in which he 
led, and in the latter was complimented by General Carr, in the 
report of the battle, for his courage and gallantry in the face of 
a bold and defiant foe. At the close of Pope's campaign, he 
was obliged to leave the service on account of illness and loss of 
hearing incurred in the line of duty, the last four days of this 
campaign having been very depressing and exhausting. The 
command was without food, blankets, or covering during all this 
time, and he was compelled, from the loss of his horse, to march 
fifty miles, and led in three battles. Upon the recommendation 
of General Joseph Hooker, who commanded the division, he was 
brevetted Colonel, and Brigadier-General, which appointments 
were confirmed by the Senate. 

Joseph H. Horton, Lieutenant-Colonel ot the One Hundred 
*§) and Forty-first regiment, was born at Tarrytown, Bradford 
county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of June, 1842. He received a 
common school education, and engaged in mercantile pursuits 
previous to entering the service of the United States. He en- 
listed in August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Forty-first Penn- 
sylvania regiment for the war, and was elected First Lieutenant 
of Company A. In August, 1862, he was promoted to Captain. 
At Fredericksburg he had his first experience of severe fighting, 
his regiment being in Birney's column. The battle of Chancel- 
lorsville brought hard marching and sharp conflict, the regiment 
sustaining heavy losses. At Gettysburg it performed important 
service, holding a very exposed position, and keeping back the 
masses of the enemy until it was finally pushed by sheer weight 



JOSEPH H. HORTON.— JOSEPH W. HAWLEY. 687 

of numbers. " Captain Horton," says the Colonel of the regiment, 
" though severely stunned by the concussion of a shell, remained 
on the field, and I am greatly indebted to him for his services, 
as he was the only Captain left with the regiment." He was at 
Auburn, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, United States Ford, and 
the Wilderness, preserving, by his devotion to duty, his title to 
gallantry. At Spottsylvania he was wounded in the left arm 
and left hip by a gfun shot. Neither proving serious, he was on 
duty again in time to take part in the battle of Cold Harbor, and 
continued through the siege of Petersburg down to the surrender 
of Lee. In January, 1864, he was promoted to Major, and in 
March, 1865, to Lieutenant-Colonel. The regiment made the 
final campaign under his command, and when he was about to 
start for home, on the morning of May 30th, 1865, General Pierce, 
who commanded the brigade, said : " I regret that the early hour 
at which you leave will forbid my turning out the brigade and 
firing a salute as you start for those homes you left some three 
years ago to battle for your country. You have all performed your 
duties faithfully, and the result is, our country is redeemed from 
traitors, the old flag now waves over every State in the Union, 
and you go home to be received by a grateful people, who will, 
I trust, not forget your sufferings and deeds of valor." Since the 
war, Colonel Horton has been Superintendent of the Sullivan 
Anthracite Coal Company. 

v&oseph W. Hawley, Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
^5 fourth regiment, was born in Lionville, Chester county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 14th of July, 1836. His boyhood was 
spent at school and in the intervals in a country store. He re- 
ceived, in addition to that of the public schools, instruction for a 
year and a half in the best academies of the county. At the 
breaking out of the war he was paying teller of the Bank of Ches- 
ter County, at West Chester. He was granted leave of absence 
therefrom, and recruited a company for the nine months' service, 
of which he was made Captain. It became part of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania regiment, which was 
ordered to the front under his command with the expectation of 
having Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas S. Bell of the Fiftv-first made 



688 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

its leader. But this was not permitted, and Captain Hawley was 
commissioned Colonel. In the battle of Antietam his regiment 
was in the hottest of the fight, and was terribly decimated. 
Colonel Hawley received a rifle ball in the neck which just 
missed the jugular vein, lodging in the muscle. Its removal 
being considered dangerous it was allowed to remain, where, after 
the lapse of more than ten years, it still holds its place. His 
wound was sufficiently healed at the end of sixty days to enable 
him to return to his regiment, which in the battle of Chancellors- 
ville was again exposed to a withering fire, and lost heavily. Its 
term of service expired a few days afterward, and Colonel Hawley 
returned to his place in the bank. He was afterwards commis- 
sioned Colonel of the Twenty-ninth regiment, Pennsylvania vol- 
unteer militia, called out for the emergency in 1863, but was in 
no engagement with the exception of a slight skirmish at Clear 
Spring, Maryland. On being mustered out he returned to his 
former duties. In January, 18G4, he was appointed paying teller 
of the First National Bank of West Chester, and in March fol- 
lowing was made cashier of the First National Bank of Media, 
Delaware county. 

foiiN Herron Cain, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty- 
fifth regiment, was born at Pittsburg, on the 18th of 
November, 1839. He is the son of Henry P. Cain, a native of 
Trenton, New Jersey. His mother was Caroline (Wilson) Cain. 
He was educated at Bethel under the instruction of the Rev. 
George Marshall, receiving a good English training. He enlisted 
on the 19th of April, 1861, in the City Guards of Pittsburg, which 
subsequently became Company K, of the Twelfth Pennsylvania 
regiment, and for a term of three months served as a private. 
He was here associated with Alexander Hays, killed in the 
Wilderness campaign, with James H. Childs, who fell while 
leading a brigade at Antietam, with A. S. M. Morgan, who was 
fearfully wounded at the head of his regiment at Fair Oaks, and 
with A. B. Bonaffon, who also became eminent as a soldier, and 
yielded up his life while in the line of duty. On the 29th of 
August, 1862, he was chosen Captain of Company C, of the One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania regiment, which he had 



JOHN H. CAIN— HORATIO N. WARREN. 689 

been instrumental in recruiting, and three days thereafter was 
made Major. In this capacity he participated in the battles of 
Antietam and Fredericksburg. In the latter, the regiment was 
subjected to an ordeal such as seldom falls to the lot of even 
veteran soldiers. In this trying situation he acquitted himself 
gallantly, and two weeks after was promoted to the rank of Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, and given the active command of the regiment. 
At Chancellorsville, on the morning of the 3d of May, he was 
brought into conflict with the hitherto invincible troops of 
Stonewall Jackson, and the fighting was of a desperate character. 
When the division of Humphreys, to which the One Hundred 
and. Fifty-fifth belonged, was obliged to fall back behind the guns, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Cain conducted the movement of his own men 
with much skill. In the battle of Gettysburg he was posted on 
the. summit of Little Round Top, and was largely instrumental 
in holding that key-point of the field. Sharpshooting was rife, as 
almost every bush and rock concealed a rebel marksman, and 
many brave men of his command fell. A month after this battle 
he was promoted to Colonel, and soon afterwards resigned. Since 
the war he has been engaged in producing oil at various points in 
Venango county. 

nTri'ToBATio N. Warren, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- 
(it-r- second regiment, was born in Clarence, Erie county, New 
York, on the 26th of October, 1838. He received a good English 
education in the Clarence Academy. His early occupation was 
that of a clerk, and lie afterwards engaged in business on his own 
account. He was married on the 9th of September, 1861, to Miss 
Mary M. Everhart. On the 8th of August, 1862, he was commis- 
sioned Captain of Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second 
regiment. He at once took the field, and in the battles of Freder- 
icksburg, Salem Church, and Gettysburg, led his company, ex- 
hibiting soldierly' qualities. In February, 1864, he was promoted 
to Major and took command of the regiment. In that terribly 
wasting and bloody campaign from the Rapidan to the James, 
and subsequently before Petersburg, he displayed the most 
devoted gallantry, never having been absent from his command 
for an hour from the time when the army first plunged into 

44, 



COO MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Wilderness, on the 4 th of May, to the 4th of July, when it 
finally settled down to the siege of Petersburg. He was com- 
missioned Lieutenant-Colonel on the 17th of September, and 
in the actions of the Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, Dabney's 
Mill, where he had his horse shot from under him, and Boyd ton 
Plank Road, he displayed like devotion and steadfastness. In 
the battle of Five Forks, on the 5th of April, 18G5, he was 
severely wounded, and had to be removed to the hospital at City 
Point. For his gallantry in this action he was promoted to 
Colonel, and at the close of the war was mustered out of service 
with his regiment. 

>Oamuel B. M. Young, Colonel of the Fourth cavalry, and 
^? Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 9 th of January, 
1840, at Forest Grove, Allegheny countj^ Pennsylvania. His 
lather, J6hn Young, was of English descent as was his mother, 
Hannah (Scott) Young. His early years were spent upon the 
farm and at school, where, in addition to the common English 
branches, a knowledge of civil engineering was acquired. His 
youthful inclination was for a military life, and the opening of 
the Rebellion, just as he was coming of age, afforded him the 
coveted opportunity. He enlisted in the Twelfth United States 
infantry, in April, 1861, and was made Corporal in the following 
June. On the Gth of September, 18G1, he was commissioned 
Captain in the Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry. At the Peach 
Orchard, and at Charles City Cross Roads, he had experience in 
hard lighting, and, mere youth though he was, showed that he 
was constituted with those qualities of which heroes are made. 

He led the famous charge of one squadron of his regiment, 
and one section of Tidball's guns under Lieutenant Dennison, 
across the Stone Bridge on the left centre of the line, in the 
battle of Antietam, where in the mortal conflict which ensued in 
defence of the Union guns the gallant Colonel Childs met his 
death. In November, 18G2, with two squadrons of the Fourth, 
lie attacked the rear of J. E. B. Stuart's column at Jefferson ville, 
Virginia, and dismounted two guns, destroying the carriages 
before the supports arrived. In the Fredericksburg and Chan- 
cellorsville campaigns the Fourth regiment was with Averell, and 



SAMUEL B. M. YOUNG. G91 

had little hard fighting, though in the latter the cavalry was in 
motion towards Gordonsville. But in the Gettysburg movement 
a close conflict occurred at Aldie and Upperville, where Major 
Young led his battalion in repeated charges with the steadiness 
and determination of a veteran officer. Moving on the right flank 
of the Union army this regiment stretched away in its course to 
the Susquehanna river, arriving at the Wrightsville head of the 
Columbia bridge just after its destruction. Hastening back, it 
came up on the flank of the army upon the Gettysburg field 
during the morning of the 2d of July. In the remainder of the 
struggle, and in the pursuit of the enemy upon his retreat, it was 
kept in constant service. 

On the 12th of October, when Lee attempted his flank move- 
ment, the Fourth was sent to the relief of the Thirteenth Penn- 
sylvania cavalry, which, while on picket duty near Jeflersonville, 
on the right bank of the Rappahannock and opposite the White 
Sulphur Springs, was attacked and hard pressed by the advanc- 
ing enemy. What bravery could accomplish was done, the two 
regiments making a bold stand and fighting with remarkable 
courage ; but it was hopeless, as the overwhelming masses of the 
enemy were pressing forward from all sides, and a large number 
of both regiments were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. 
Major Young was conspicuous for his valor, and in the heat of 
the engagement was struck by a Minie ball in the right elbow- 
joint, inflicting a painful and serious wound. After six months 
of intense suffering, the arm was saved ; but the joint was left 
permanently stiff. In an action on the 20th of July, 1864, this 
arm was again hit, both bones of the fore-arm being broken. 
Youth and a good constitution favored recovery, and in a com- 
paratively brief period he was again with his regiment. In the 
following year the same arm was a third time struck ; but from 
all its hard fate it holds out, and in striking for country is a 
good arm yet. 

In October Major Young was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and in December followinn: to Colonel. The action at Hatcher's 
Run, in February, 1865, proved unfortunate for the Union arms; 
especially disastrous was it to Crawford's division. After an 
unsuccessful attempt had been made by an infantry brigade to 



092 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

drive the enemy from his iutrenchments, Colonel Young was 
ordered to charge with his brigade of cavalry. Gallantly was 
the command executed, and the intrenched line before which the 
infantry had recoiled the cavalry carried. Colonel Young was 
complimented, in the presence of the entire division, by General 
Gregg for this heroic action. The rebel General John Pegram 

CO o 

was killed in this encounter. Colonel Young was active through- 
out the entire final campaign of Sheridan's cavalry, from Five 
Forks to the surrender, in which the movements were remarkable 
for rapidity and skill. He led a charge of his brigade even after 
the surrender had been consummated, though not known upon 
the front, routing a rebel brigade and capturing its colors. For 
this action he was bre vetted Brigadier-General. At the conclu- 
sion of the war he was appointed to a lucrative position in the 
Pievenue Department of the General Government, but refusing to 
sacrifice his principles to party purposes, he was removed by 
President Johnson. He was soon after appointed Second Lieu- 
tenant in the Twelfth infantry. At the reorganization of the 
army, in July, I860, he was commissioned a Captain in the Eighth 
Tinted States cavalry, and with one exception has achieved re- 
markable success in every campaign against the hostile Indians in 
Arizona and New Mexico, whither his command was ordered. 

v T.oiix Makkoe, Colonel of the Seventy-first regiment, and B.re- 
*$*) vet Brigadier-General, was born in the city of Philadelphia, 
on the 9th of January, 1844. The family came from Denmark 
to St. Croix, and afterwards to Philadelphia. His great-grand- 
father, Abraham Markoe, was the first Captain of the Philadel- 
phia Troop of Light Horse, which acted as escort to Washington 
in the battle of Trenton. He graduated from the University of 
Pennsylvania in the class of 1860. He was fond of athletic 
sports, and held the bow oar in two races by the Univer- 
sity boat. When recruiting of the Washington Grays for the 
three months' service commenced, he was the first man to affix 
his name upon the books as the}' were opened, and served as a 
private in th.it regiment throughout that campaign. He proved 
himself a good marksman, having been excused from guard duty 
for a time for having made the best shot at target practice. 



JOHN MARKOE. 693 

While in camp at Kalorama, near Washington, he was tendered 
the position of Second Lieutenant in Colonel Baker's California 
regiment, Seventy-first Pennsylvania, then being recruited for the 
war, which he accepted, and was soon after promoted to First 
Lieutenant of Company A. At Fort Schuyler, New York har- 
bor, where the regiment was encamped before taking the field, 
he drilled officers and men in the manual of arms and skirmish 
practice. The regiment was first ordered to Fortress Monroe, 
where he was promoted to Captain. After the first battle of 
Bull Run, it moved to Washington, and in the night advance to 
Munson's Hill he commanded the skirmishers, which were fired 
into by other United States troops, and had several killed and 
wounded. 

In the action at Ball's Bluff, where Baker fell, Captain Markoe 
was selected to lead two companies of skirmishers upon the left 
wing. " Captain Markoe," says Colonel Wistar, " had a company 
I could trust, an excellent company, and I sent it out. . . . They 
had got about ten paces in the woods, and I was about thirty 
paces behind with the second company, when the whole of the 
Eighth Virginia regiment arose up from the ground, about thirty 
paces off, and ran right at them with the bayonet, without firing 
a shot. Captain Markoe held his men steady. I ran up with 
my company, and a very hot fire immediately commenced on 
our part. ... I put these two companies in charge of Captain 
Markoe, and ran back as hard as I could to take command of my 
regiment. Captain Markoe, with his two companies, held his 
position there for about fifteen minutes, during which time they 
lost all their officers, all their sergeants but two, one of them 
wounded, all their corporals but three, and two-thirds of their 
privates, when the rest of them, under the command of the only 
remaining sergeant unwounded, fell back in pretty good order, 
bringing with them a First Lieutenant and fourteen men of the 
Eighth Virginia regiment prisoners, under the fire of the whole 
regiment." Captain Markoe received a severe wound in the 
shoulder and fell into the enemy's hands, after having himself 
taken Lieutenant Berry and three privates prisoners. His men- 
did fearful execution in this engagement, as the enemy, being in 
greatly superior numbers, were much exposed, while his own 



6 94 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

stood in open order. For four months he was a prisoner in Rich- 
mond. During that time his name was twice deposited with 
those from which hostages were to he drawn; but he fortunately 
escaped the fate of the victims of retaliation. 

On being exchanged he returned to his regiment in time to go 
with McClellan to the Peninsula. He was at Yorktown, West 
Point, and in the fierce fighting at Fair Oaks was severely 
wounded in the left thigh and right hand. For nine weeks lie 
was unable to move. After the healing of his wound he was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln to the additional corps of aids, with 
the rank of Captain, and for a time served on the staff of General 
McDowell. But he soon tired of inactivity, and again returned 
to his regiment, of which he was made Lieutenant>Colonel, and 
had the active command. He led in a reconnoissance to Charles- 
ton, and in the battle of Fredericksburg, on the loth of Decem- 
ber, 1862, was of the column under Howard, where his troops 
were exposed in open ground to fire of infantry and artillery 
behind intrenchments, and were terribly cut to pieces. Colonel 
Markoe himself suffered greatly from his old wound which was 
still open, the weather being intensely cold. He was ultimately 
compelled on this account to resign, which he did on the 27th of 
February, 1863. He was subsequently brevetted Colonel and 
Brigadier-General. Few more resolute or heroic soldiers faced 
the enemy in the late war than John Markoe. 

T.'oiin Baillie McIntosh, Colonel of the Third cavalry, Briga- 
*x*) dier and Brevet Major-General, was born at Tampa Bay, 
Florida, on the 6th of June, 1829. His father, James S. Mcin- 
tosh, was a Colonel in the United States army, and a native of 
Georgia. His mother was Eliza (Shumate) Mcintosh. He was 
educated at Nazareth Hall, Pennsylvania, at S. M. IlammiU's 
School, Lawrencevillc, New Jersey, and at Marlborough Church- 
ill's Military School at Sing Sing, New York, receiving a good 
classical and English training. His tastes were military, and 
efforts were made to have him appointed a cadet at West Point; 
but having one brother there already, they were unsuccessful. 
( )n concluding his studies he entered the navy as a midshipman, 
in 1848, at the age of nineteen, but after two years of experience, 



JOHN B. McIXTOSH. 695 

resigned. On the 2d of October of that year, he was married to 
Miss Amelia Short, of New Brunswick, New Jersey. In person 
he is five feet ten inches in height, and of robust health. 

Soon after the opening of the Rebellion he was appointed Sec- 
ond Lieutenant of the Fifth United States cavalry, his commis- 
sion bearing date 8th of June, 1861, and on the 27th of April, 
1862, was promoted to First Lieutenant. With this regiment 
he served upon the Peninsula in the summer of 1862, and won 
the rank of Major by brevet in the affair at White Oak Swamp. 
On the 26th of September, 1862, he was appointed Colonel of 
the Third Pennsylvania cavalry, which he led in the campaigns 
under Hooker. In the battle of Kelly's Ford, he led a brigade 
under General Averell, in which Fitz Hugh Lee and Stuart were 
defeated and driven. " To the intrepidity," says General Averell, 
" promptitude and excellent judgment of Mcintosh on that occa- 
sion our success was chiefly attributable. Although off duty from 
illness, he voluntarily joined his brigade in the field and dis- 
played all the vigor of an indomitable soldier." After the battle 
of Chancellorsville he was placed in command of the First brigade, 
Second division, of the cavalry, Army of the Potomac. At the 
battle of Gettysburg, and subsequently in pursuit of the rebel 
army, he won for himself an enviable reputation as a leader. 
When the fighting at Gettysburg was ended, Mcintosh's brigade 
of cavalry and Neill's of infantry were detached to follow up 
the line of rebel retreat, while the main body of Meade's army 
marched down on the south side of the Blue Ridge. On the 10th 
of July, Mcintosh fell in with the rebel force at old Antietam 
Forge, where a brisk engagement ensued. In recognition of his 
services throughout this entire campaign he was brevetted Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel in the regular army, having been previously bre- 
vetted Major, and in the December following he was promoted 
to the full rank of Captain. 

At half past six on the morning of the 5th of May, 1864, he 
held Parker's store with a single regiment of cavalry, and re- 
ceived the first attack of the enemy in the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. It was made by the advance of a whole corps, but it was 
withstood with all the stubbornness and determination of which 
so small a force was capable, and was finally driven down to near 



696 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the intersection of the Brock road, where it was relieved by a 
division of the Sixth corps under General Getty. On the 8th 
of May Mcintosh charged with his brigade into Spottsylvania 
Court House, took the town and captured many prisoners. 
Moving forward he attacked the rear of Longstreet's corps, and 
only withdrew upon the order of General Sheridan. Having 
defeated W. H. F. Lee's brigade at Hanover Court House on the 
31st of May, he achieved a brilliant success on the following day 
at Ashland, where, with only three regiments, he withstood for 
two hours the combined attack of three brigades of rebel cavalry, 
and finally retired with the loss of only a few led horses. For 
his gallantry here he was brevetted Colonel in the regular service 
and made Brigadier-General of volunteers. He had already won 
a reputation for skill and bravery as a cavalry leader before 
entering with Sheridan upon the Shenandoah Valley campaign, 
and when that skilful General sought men for desperate and 
daring work, he chose Mcintosh and was not deceived. The 
Shenandoah Valley, previous to the advent of Sheridan, had 
been literally the " valley of the shadow of death " to the Union 
arms. From the start, he was determined to turn the tide of 
disaster, and at once initiated an active campaign. By adroit 
manoeuvres he succeeded in drawing his opponent, Earl}', for- 
ward to the Opequaii creek. Then did he believe had come his 
time to act, and falling upon his adversary with the whole weight 
of his force, he scattered those legions which before had been 
invincible, as the wind drives the dust of the summer threshing- 
floor. In that marvellous achievement, Colonel Mcintosh bore 
a conspicuous part. " Although the main force," says General 
Sheridan in his report, "remained without change of position 
from September 3d to 19 th, still the cavalry was employed every 
day in harassing the enemy, its opponents being principally 
infantry. In these skirmishes the cavalry was becoming edu- 
cated to attack infantry lines. On the loth one of those hand- 
some dashes was made by General Mcintosh, of Wilson's division, 
* apturing the Eighth South Carolina regiment at Abram's Creek." 
And of the great battle of the 19th, he further on in his report 
says : " Wilson, with Mcintosh's brigade leading, made a gallant 
charge through the long canon, and, meeting the advance of 



JOHN B. McINTOSH. 697 

Ramseur's rebel infantry division, drove it back and captured the 
earth-work at the mouth of the canon. This movement was 
immediately followed up by the Sixth corps." 

But though triumph could not have been more complete or 
glorious, it proved a costly victory to General Mcintosh. He was 
struck, in the heat of the battle, in the leg, and so mangled was 
the limb that amputation had to be resorted to. If wounds must 
of necessity be received, an action could not have been chosen 
in which to have had them inflicted, more full of joyful and 
proud recollections, than this. "For distinguished gallantry, 
and good management at the battle of Opequan," such was the 
language in which the distinction was conferred, he was promoted 
to the rank of Major-General by brevet. In reviewing his record, 
General Averell said : " I beg to remark that there are few subal- 
terns thoroughly capable of leading an advance guard. I do not 
remember above six in the cavalry, and Mcintosh stood at the 
head of the list. As a brigade commander, either in camp or in 
action, he had no superior." And General Stoneman said : " His 
bravery, loyalty, and integrity are equal to his capacity, and all 
are conspicuous." On the 28th of July, 1866, he was appointed 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-second United States infantry, 
Veteran Reserve corps, which position he held until the reduc- 
tion of the army. In the summer of 1869, he was retired upon 
the rank of Brigadier-General. 




CHAPTER IX. 




'INFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK, Major-General in 
the United States Army, was born in Montgomery 
county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of February, 
1824. He was educated at West Point, where he 
graduated in 1844. He entered the service as 
Brevet Second Lieutenant in the Sixth infantry, 
and distinguished himself in the war with Mexico, 
receiving the brevet rank of First Lieutenant 
for gallantry at Cherubusco, and subsequently 
becoming the Quartermaster, and afterwards Ad- 
jutant of his regiment. He was made First 
Lieutenant in 1853, and on the 7th of November, 
1855, was promoted to Captain in the Quarter- 
master's Department, and ordered to duty in California, where 
he exerted his influence in retaining that State in the Union. 

Possessed of a thorough military training, enriched by experi- 
ence in active warfare in Mexico and against the crafty savage, 
he entered the volunteer service on the 23d of September, 1861, 
as a Brigadier-General. Youthful in appearance, modest in 
demeanor, with a countenance frank and open, he held the 
hearts of his associates and won the confidence of the stranger. 
He was fortunate in his first battle. Hooker had arrived in 
front of the rebel forces in their intrenchments at Williamsburg 
and had promptly attacked ; but soon found his single division, 
though fighting gallantly, overmatched. Messenger after mes- 
senger was sent for reinforcements, first to Heintzelman and then 
to Sumner, who had that day superseded Heintzelman. Sumner, 
a true soldier and a skilful, sent Hancock with his brigade to the 
extreme right of the line. At the outset Hancock found himself 
outnumbered and was unsupported. It was a perilous situation ; 
but that resource which never failed him — cool courage — proved 

C98 




" ACKSON 





OWEN JONES, 




•S J.JORDAN, 
'^n Pa.Nat.Gd. 




IRAWBRIDCE, 






POBERT C COX. 
Col 20',- 



WINFIELD S. HANCOCK. 699 

equal to the emergency. He at first retired as if in trepidation, 
but with his force well in hand, and when the enemy came on 
pell-mell with overweening confidence, he gave them several 
heavy volleys, and then turned upon them with the bayonet, 
routing their entire force, killing and capturing 600 of their 
number, with a loss on his own part of only thirty men. It was 
the turning point in the battle, and assured the victory. It was 
a gallant exploit, and it glorified the name of -the actor. Hancock 
was henceforward a household word. 

The reputation thus early won was maintained, and when, at 

Antietam, General Richardson fell, Hancock succeeded to the 

command of his division and led it to the end of the battle. It 

consisted of the brigades of Zook, Meagher, and Caldwell, which 

he continued to lead in the battle of Fredericksburg, having in 

the meantime been promoted to Major-General of volunteers, and 

brevetted Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Colonel in the regular 

army. He followed French's division in the assault of the 

famous Marye's Heights, which bristled with artillery, and along 

the foot of which, screened by a stone wall, crouched the rebel 

infantry. French's men could effect nothing. Hancock moved 

rapidly to his assistance, and though his men displayed heroic 

bravery — returning again and again to the assault, Meagher's 

Irish brigade manifesting a reckless daring — he could effect no 

more than French. Two other divisions, those of Howard and 

Humphreys, followed ; but no earthly power could stand against 

the storm of shot and shell, and the deadly missives which 

poured like ceaseless hail upon their defenceless and unsheltered 

heads. The day was lost, but through no want of valor. In the 

battle of Chancellorsville Hancock held the left centre, and 

with Geary's division of the Twelfth corps — at a moment when 

the enemy, having seized some key positions, was bearing down 

all before him, and the Union lines to right and left were 

crumbling — checked the rebel onset until the new line could be 

taken and the integrity of the army could be secured. After this 

battle he succeeded to the leadership of the Second corps. 

When General Meade relieved General Hooker in command of 
the Army of the Potomac, and commenced the movement into 
Pennsylvania in pursuit of Lee, he kept the Second corps on the 



700 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

centre of the line of march ; and when on the morning of the 1st 
of July he found that the left wing of his army had struck the 
enemy, and Reynolds had fallen, reposing great confidence in 
Hancock, he sent him upon the field to assume supreme com- 
mand. Upon his arrival he found affairs in great extremity. 
The First and Eleventh corps had alone been pitted against 
a full half of the rebel army, and broken and bleeding were 
retreating through the town to Cemetery Hill, where the well- 
planted artillery of Steinwehr formed the nucleus for rallying, 
and where he saw at a glance was a favorable point for making 
a stand. It was with a thrill of gladness that the weary and 
begrimed soldiers hailed the face of the good chief. Howard, 
the leader of the Eleventh corps, who had been in command, 
was already there. Hancock made known his instructions from 
Meade. " You cannot take command over me," says Howard, 
" for I rank you." This was true, and by the organic law of the 
army General Meade had not the power to put a junior officer 
over a senior. " Well," says Hancock. " then I must return to 
General Meade." " No, no," says Howard, the nobility of his 
nature being aroused, "in this moment of dire necessity Aga- 
memnon and Achilles must not quarrel. Stay and let us 
prepare to meet the common foe. I will not stand in the way. 
Our country at this hour needs us both." Soon General Sickles 
came upon the field, riding in from Emmittsburg ; and he like- 
wise ranked Hancock. But in the spirit of Howard he also 
waived his right and they all went resolutely to work. 

Hancock had an excellent military eye. He could take in at 
a glance the advantages and defects of a great battle-field. The 
character and composition of the army, too, were perfectly 
familiar to him. His first care was to secure immediate safety, 
and to preserve it until darkness should come, when he could 
retire to a new position, if necessary ; for as yet General Meade 
had not decided where lie would fight. Hancock was instructed 
before leaving head-quarters to watch for good positions as he 
rode up. He was pleased with the Gettysburg ground and so 
notified Meade, though he detected its inherent weakness in its 
liability to be turned upon the left. His dispositions were 
wisely made. The resolute Wadsworth was sent to Culp's Hill 



WINFIELD S. HANCOCK. 701 

to cover the little ravine that makes up in rear of Cemetery Hill, 
and there also he posted the artillery of Stevens. To the indomi- 
table Geary was given the vulnerable ground stretching towards 
Round Top. The Eleventh corps was disposed upon the crest of 
Cemetery Ridge. Along the open ground on the left flank he 
placed the watchful Buford, and in rear of all, as a reserve, the 
dauntless Doubleday, with the remnants of the First corps, grim 
veterans who had all day long received unmoved a baptism of fire. 
When the troops had been posted and all seemed secure, he 
turned over the command to Slocum, who had now arrived, and 
who also ranked him, and returned to head-quarters. His action 
was approved, and his dispositions were carried out in every partic- 
ular by Meade when he came upon the field. On the afternoon of 
the following day, when the tornado of battle burst upon the army, 
and Sickles was wounded and his corps crushed, Meade called for 
Hancock, and put him in command of the whole left wing, which by 
vigorous efforts he succeeded in bringing into form and comeliness. 
On the evening of this day, when the Louisiana Tigers made their 
furious charge upon Cemetery Hill, without waiting for orders — 
knowing that peril was imminent — he sent Carroll's brigade to the 
rescue, which, advancing upon the run, came in time to repel the 
assault. In speaking of this event afterwards, Hancock said that 
he felt in his bones that there was urgent need of help. On the 
third day of the battle the grand charge of Longstreet fell full 
upon Hancock's corps ; and gallantly was it met and its massed 
columns swept away as flax by fire. In the midst of this ter- 
rific onset, and when the whole heavens were wrapt in flame, 
while dashing over the ground unheeding danger, he was struck 
and severely wounded. He was laid in an ambulance but 
refused to leave the field until he saw the enemy beaten, and 
victory perching upon his standards. Nor was the bleeding hero 
yet content. " When I was wounded," he says, " and lying down 
in my ambulance and about leaving the field, I dictated a note 
to General Meade, and told him if he would put in the Fifth and 
Sixth corps, I believed he would win a great victory." By a 
joint resolution of Congress he received the thanks of that body 
for "his gallant, meritorious, and conspicuous services in that 
great and decisive victory." 



702 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In the battle of the Wilderness, in May, 1864, his corps, now 
recruited and enlarged beyond its pristine strength, was early in 
the fight and drove the enemy, inflicting great slaughter, until 
Hill, who was in his front, was reinforced by Longstreet, when 
he was in turn obliged to fall back. But it was at Spottsvl- 
vania Court House, on the morning of the 12th of June, that he 
achieved his greatest success and won his proudest trophies. 
The two armies for several days had been hurled against each 
other with terrific violence. The slaughter had been terrible. 
The keenest strategy had been employed on either side to gain 
an advantage, and the commanders had grown wary and vigilant. 
Not a soldier threw himself upon the ground for a half hour that 
he did not cover himself with a rifle-pit. Failing in his frequent 
endeavors to break the enemy's line, General Grant determined 
to strike a heavy blow upon the rebel right centre, nearly at 
right-angles to the opposing main line. Hancock was chosen to 
deliver it. On the evening of the 11th, marching quietly to the 
rear, he made a circuit to the designated point and at midnight 
was in readiness to move, having come in close upon the rebel 
position. At a little before daybreak the signal was given ; and, 
moving forward under cover of a dense fog, he came upon the 
enemy unawares, capturing nearly 5000 prisoners with their 
battle-flags, and twenty pieces of artillery. But the resist- 
ance became more determined as rebel supports were hurried 
to the scene of the disaster; and finally, on reaching a new 
and main line of works — well manned and supplied with artil- 
lery — it became impossible to push farther, and preparations were 
made to hold what had been gained. This was now no easy task, 
for the enemy, nettled by his loss, was intent on regaining his 
works; and charge after charge, at each time by fresh troops, 
until five had been delivered, was made upon Hancock's ex- 
hausted men. But in each assault the foe was thrown back with 
great slaughter. Encouraged by the first successes, Hancock in- 
dulged the hope of winning a still greater triumph, and sent this 
message to Grant : " I have captured from thirty to forty guns. 
I have finished up Johnson and am going into Early." But he 
was soon after checked. It was subsequently discovered that 
he had come close in upon Lee's head-quarters, and had the rebel 



WINFIELD S. HANCOCK. 703 

army nearly cut in two. The troops captured were General Ed- 
ward Johnson's, of E well's corps. Johnson and General George 
H. Stewart were among the captives. The latter had been an 
old army friend and companion of Hancock, and when he was 
brought in, Hancock in a friendly way held out his hand in 
recognition, saying, " Stewart, I am glad to see you." But Stew- 
art persisted in showing his teeth, and drawing back replied, 
" Under the circumstances, sir, I cannot take your hand ;" to 
which Hancock quickly replied: "And under any other circum- 
stances, sir, I would not have offered you my hand." He was 
made a Brigadier-General in the regular army, to date from 
this action. 

In the battles at North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, and 
in the operations around Petersburg, he led his corps with his 
usual skill. On the evening of the 17th of June, 1864, on ac- 
count of the wound received at Gettysburg, which was still open, 
and from which during the entire campaign he had suffered great 
pain, he was obliged to turn over the command of his corps to 
another and seek repose. He was sufficiently recovered to resume 
his place on the 27th, and at Deep Bottom on the 12th of August, 
where he led, in addition to his own, the Second and Tenth corps 
and Gregg's cavalry, he had a number of sharp engagements, 
gaining a decided advantage. On the 25th he fought the battle 
of Reams' Station against a superior force, and at the Boydton 
Road, on the 27th of October, drove the enemy with severe loss, 
capturing nearly a thousand prisoners and two stands of colors. 
In November, he was ordered to Washington to command an 
army corps of veterans which was to consist of 50,000 men. He 
remained in this duty until February 26th, 1865, when he was 
assigned to the Middle Military Division, comprising the Depart- 
ment of Washington, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with 
35,000 men. But the rebel power was now rapidly waning. 
The war soon after ended, and the roar of battle which for four 
long years had sounded in his ears was hushed. He was bre- 
vetted Major-General in March, 1865, for gallant conduct at 
Spottsylvania, and in July, 1866, made a full Major-General in 
the regular army. In 1866 he was at the head of the Department 
of the Missouri, and made a campaign against the hostile Indians 



704 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

in Kansas and Colorado. In September of the following year he 
was assigned to the Department of the Gulf, with head-quarters 
at New Orleans, where he showed good administrative ability in 
civil affairs. In March, 1868, he was relieved at his own request, 
and was assigned to the Division of the Atlantic, but in the fol- 
lowing March was placed over the Department of Dakota, where 
he remained until November, 1872, when he was again given 
the Division of the Atlantic, with head-quarters at New York. 

tnoMAS Jefferson Jordan, Colonel of the Ninth cavalry and 
Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 3d of December, 
1821, at Walnut Hill, in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin 
county, Pennsylvania. The family was of Scotch origin and 
came to this country in 1720, first settling in King and Queen 
county, Virginia. In 1742, his great-grandfather, James, left 
Virginia, and with his slaves came to Pennsylvania, where he 
bought a large tract of land on the Susquehanna river, near 
Wrightsville, York county. This he sold in a few years, and in 
1754 bought and removed to Walnut Hill, at which place the 
grandfather, Thomas, and the father, Benjamin Jordan, were 
born. During the war of the Revolution the grandfather was a 
paymaster with the rank of Major, and served as such during the 
entire war. The father married Molly, the only daughter of 
Edward Crouch, a Captain in the Revolutionary army, she being 
a granddaughter of General James Potter, of Pennsvalley, also a 
soldier of the Revolution. The father during a long life sus- 
tained the reputation of an honest Christian gentleman, a true 
friend, a good citizen, and died universally regretted. He served 
six years in the House of Representatives, and two terms in the 
Senate of Pennsylvania. 

During the first fourteen years of the son's life, he was edu- 
cated, as were other farmers' boys, in the country school. At 
the end of that time he was sent to a seminary at Mount Joy, 
where he remained till the summer of 1839. In December of 
that year he entered the law school connected with Dickinson 
College, under the charge of Hon. John Reed. In 1842 he was 
admitted to practice, and followed his profession till the open- 
ing of the Rebellion. He early evinced a liking for military 



THOMAS J. JORDAN. 705 

life, before he was of age having been. an aid to Genera. Alexan- 
der, of Carlisle, and afterwards held commissions from Captain 
to Lieutenant-Colonel. 

On the 18th of April, 1861, he was mustered into the service 
of the United States, as Aide-de-camp to General Keim, who 
commanded one of the divisions of Patterson's army, and with 
him assisted in organizing the three months' levies. He first met 
the enemy at Falling Waters, on the -2d of July, when Reims' 
division struck Stonewall Jackson's brigade, and after a sharp 
skirmish drove him back on Martinsburg, which place was occu- 
pied on the following day. At the end of the campaign he was 
appointed Major and ordered to recruit a regiment of horse, which 
was known as the Lochiel Cavalry, afterwards the Ninth Penn- 
sylvania, Ninety-second of the line. The regiment was ordered 
west to the column commanded by General Buel, then at Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, where it arrived in November, 1861. Major 
Jordan was soon after detached and ordered with one battalion 
to the front at Murfreesboro, and participated in all the move- 
ments of the army against Nashville in the spring of 1862. In 
the action at Lebanon, Tennessee, on the 6th of May, while in 
command of a detachment of his own and the First Kentucky 
cavalry, he assisted in defeating General John Morgan. On the 
7th of July, at Tompkinsville, Kentucky, he again encountered 
General Morgan, but being largely outnumbered, was compelled 
to retreat, after a spirited action, and with his rear guard was 
captured. For five months he was a prisoner, first at Madison, 
Georgia, and afterwards at Richmond, Virginia. 

He was exchanged, and returned to his command early in 
January, 1863. In the meantime the Colonel had resigned, and 
the Lieutenant-Colonel was sick even unto death. Jordan was. 
accordingly, appointed Colonel. At Shelbyville he led the charge 
on the left, a most gallant action, which scattered the enemy 
and put him to inglorious flight, At Thompson's Station, when 
Colonel Coburn of an Indiana regiment had tamely surrendered, 
he brought off the surviving forces, saving the artillery and bag- 
gage, and fighting heroically against a force of 5000 cavalry, led 
by the redoubtable General Forrest. At the moment when Gen- 
eral Bragg's army was retiring across the Cumberland mountains 

45 



706 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

at Cowan, Tennessee, Colonel Jordan charged with his command 
and captured over five hundred of his men. In the battle of 
Chickamauga, when ruin was impending on other parts of the 
field, he heroically defended the right of General Thomas, ena- 
bling that gallant soldier to stem the tide of disaster. For his 
good conduct here General Thomas mentioned him in terms of 
appreciation in his report. He fought and defeated General 
Dibbrel at Reedy ville, though the latter was at the head of a 
force of 2500 men. He was active in the campaign against 
Longstreet in East Tennessee in the winter and spring of 1863-64, 
and fought in the battles of Mossy Creek, Dandridge and Fair- 
garden. In the battles of Lafayette, Dalton, Kenesaw, Big 
Shanty, Resaca, New Hcpe Church, Peach Tree Creek, and in 
front of Atlanta, Colonel Jordan was incessantly employed. 
When the enemy finally retreated, he followed close upon the 
trail and was sharply engaged at Jonesborough and Lovejoy's 
Station. He was placed in command of the First brigade of the 
Third division of the cavalry in the campaign to the sea, with 
which he met Wheeler at Lovejoy's Station, and after a sharp 
engagement routed him and captured all his artillery, retaining 
the pieces which were of superior quality in his command until 
the end of the war. He again defeated General Wheeler at 
Waynesburg, Georgia, where he led his brigade in a charge upon 
the enemy's position, and ended the fight before the reserves, sent 
to his relief, could arrive. He first invested Fort McAllister near 
Savannah, driving the rebels within their works, and was only 
prevented from carrying them by assault by the arrival of Gen- 
eral Hazen, with his division of infantry, who superseded him in 
command. 

On the march through the Carolinas Colonel Jordan crossed 
the Savannah river in advance of the infantry at Sister's Ferry, 
and covered the left wing of the army under General Slocum. 
His position in the column on the march north was such that 
he was brought often to severe conflict. He led the charge 
at Blackville, dislodging the enemy from the town. He held 
the position at Lexington, protecting the flank of the infantry, 
while Columbia was being occupied. With Wheeler and 
Hampton he had a stubborn action at Lancaster, and crossing 



WILLIAM McCANDLESS. 707 

into North Carolina led the advance to Fayetteville, daily and 
hourly skirmishing heavily. The battle of Averysborough, which 
opened early in the day, was sustained by his command unaided 
until two in the afternoon, when the infantry of the Twentieth 
corps came to his assistance. In this action every twelfth man 
in his entire force was either killed or wounded. At Bentonville 
he held the left flank, and participated in all the movements 
of the day. In the advance against Raleigh he again had 
the lead, and entered the city on the morning of April 12th, 
1865. On passing through, he found that the rebel cavalry were 
ready for action on the Hillsborough road, and at once moved 
forward to the attack, driving them before him the entire day. 
At Morristown he was met by a flag of truce, with a letter for 
General Sherman from General Joseph E. Johnston, proposing to 
surrender, when fighting ceased. On the 23d of February, 1865, 
his appointment as Brevet Brigadier-General was confirmed by 
the Senate of the United States, and he was commissioned ac- 
cordingly. This promotion was asked for by General Thomas, 
in a letter to the President, written soon after the battle of 
Chickamauga, for gallant and meritorious services in that action. 
With his regiment and brigade he was mustered out on the 18th 
of July, 1865. 

^^Tilliam McCandless, Colonel of the Second Reserve regi- 
Jcr merit, was born on the 29th of September, 1834, in the 
city of Philadelphia. After passing through the public schools, he 
was apprenticed to Richard Norris and Son, to learn the business 
of a machinist, where he remained for a period of five years. Im- 
pelled by the sense of its exalted nature and an aptness within 
for its mastery, he turned from his trade to the study of the law, 
and was admitted to practice in 1858. When the call for troops 
was made in 1861, he enlisted as a private. At the organization 
of the Second regiment he was chosen and commissioned Major, 
and subsequently was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and to 
Colonel. At the head of the upper road, in the battle of Beaver 
Dam Creek, stood McCandless. It was his first fight; but a 
veteran could not have behaved with greater valor. Repeatedly 
did the enemy assail him, yet with steady nerve he met and 



708 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

hurled them back, and at last begged permission to deliver a 
counter-charge ; but this would have hazarded too much. No 
loss fearless was his bearing at Gaines' Mill, where he was 
thrown into the breach when the line of battle had given way, 
and in the dread encounter at Charles City Cross Roads. 

At the Second Bull Run Colonel McCandless was severely 
wounded in the groin, after having manoeuvred his regiment 
with rare skill throughout almost the entire battle, and fought 
with desperation in face of great odds. He attempted still to 
lead, and grasped the flag to advance ; but had to be carried from 
the field. He was borne to a hospital in Washington, where, 
under skilful treatment, he rapidly recovered, and rejoined his 
regiment at Sharpsburg. At Fredericksburg he led in the assault 
on the enemy's works, where the only advantage — a gleam of 
sunshine in a most black and awful day — was gained, and where 
by his dash he captured an entire regiment of the enemy — the 
Nineteenth Georgia. The command of the brigade devolved 
upon him while on the field, and he led it in the battle of 
Gettysburg. In that memorable struggle on Pennsylvania soil, 
a victorious foe was pressing on, having overcome brigade after 
brigade, division after division, and portions of three corps, 
when McCandless formed for a charge to check and hurl him 
back in his triumphant course, the enemy having already come 
within easy rifle-range of the famous Little Round Top. The 
bullets were flying thick on every hand when the order to 
advance was given. Never was a charge more resolutely made 
or more successful in its results. The foe was checked and 
driven, and a firm line of battle established. On the following 
day the ground in front, which had run red with the blood of 
innumerable victims, was swept over, a battery captured, and 
prisoners, battle-flags, and small arms in abundance. 

During the winter of 1863 Colonel McCandless commanded the 
division. He entered the Wilderness at the head of the First 
brigade. In obedience to orders he led it forward in that tangled 
field, where friend could scarcely be distinguished from foe, until 
he found himself surrounded and the way of retreat cut off. Fortu- 
nately he managed to elude his captors and returned to camp. 
At Spottsylvania Court House he was severely wounded in the 



ST CLAIR A. MULHOLLAXD. 709 

hand and disabled from immediate duty, the Reserves then 
having but a few days longer to serve. The commission of a 
Brigadier-General was tendered him but he declined it, and 
returned to Philadelphia, where he resumed the practice of his 
profession. In 1865 he was elected a member of the Penn- 
sylvania Senate, where he served with great acceptance for a 
period of six years. Possessed of a pleasing elocution, and ready 
in debate, he held a commanding influence in that body. He 
was nominated, in 1872, for Auditor-General of the State, but 
was defeated. He is at present engaged in his profession at the 
Philadelphia bar, where he has a large and lucrative practice. 

t. Clair A. Mulholland, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier and Major-Gen- 
eral, was born in Ireland in 1839. He came to this country in 
childhood. His tastes early inclined him to military duty, and 
he became a member of a militia company in the city of Phila- 
delphia, where his family had settled. On the 1st of September, 
1862, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hun- 
dred and Sixteenth, which he had been active in recruiting. 
Upon joining the Army of the Potomac he was assigned to 
General Meagher's Irish Brigade. While advancing to battle on 
the field of Fredericksburg, the commander of the regiment, 
Colonel Heenan, was severely wounded by the bursting of a 
shell, when Lieutenant-Colonel Mulholland assumed command, 
and in one of the bloodiest and most desperate struggles in which 
it was engaged during the war, he led it with dauntless bravery, 
until he was himself wounded and rendered incapable of duty. 
When his wounds were sufficiently healed he returned to the 
field, though not with promotion as the reward of gallantry 
and honorable scars, but with even a reduction of rank ; for his 
command, having been fearfully cut to pieces, was so much 
reduced as to be unable to retain a regimental organization, and 
it was consolidated in a battalion of five companies, which he 
led with only the rank of Major. 

In the battle of Chancellorsville, this battalion was charged with 
supporting the Fifth Maine battery. These pieces were in con- 
flict with a number of powerful batteries of the foe, and gallantly 



710 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

maintained the unequal contest ; but when, after repeated losses, 
the ammunition began to fail, and the guns were in danger of 
falling into the enemy's hands, Major Mulholland rushed forward 
and drew them off to a place of safety. During the 4th and 5th 
of May, he was field officer of the day for Hancock's division, 
and with fidelity preserved his lines, extinguishing the fires 
raging in the forest on his front, where many of the Union 
wounded were suffering excruciating torments. 

At Gettysburg he led his command over the celebrated Wheat 
Field, which, in consequence of the large number of troops from 
several corps brought into conflict there, has been called the 
Whirlpool. The struggle was fearful in the wooded, rugged 
ground where it fought, and it held its position with determined 
valor ; but the division, being unable to maintain its ground, was 
withdrawn, after having sustained severe losses. 

In the winter of 1863-G4, the battalion was recruited to the 
full strength of a regiment, and Major Mulholland was pro- 
moted to Colonel. The Wilderness campaign proved one of 
unparalleled severity, and its commander suffered by repeated 
wounds. In the first day on the Wilderness field, at Po River, 
and Tolopotomy Creek, he was struck by the enemy's missiles, in 
the latter receiving what was supposed to be a mortal hurt. He 
however recovered, and being of that spirit Avhich is not intim- 
idated by hostile weapons, returned to duty, having been re- 
warded with the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. He was 
placed in command of the Fourth brigade, First division of 
the Second corps, in October, 1864, and on. the 27th of that 
month, while heavy detachments from the whole army were 
moving to Hatcher's Run, he assaulted and carried one of the 
enemy's earthworks, which was permanently held, taking many 
prisoners. For his intrepidity in this affair he was brevetted 
.Major-General. To the close of the war he was at the post of 
duty, and won for himself the enviable reputation of being among 
the most reliable of officers. After leaving the army, he was 
appointed Chief of Police of the city of Philadelphia, a position 
of great responsibility and power, and has acquitted himself with 
that ceaseless vigilance which characterized him in the field. 



samuel McCartney jackson. 71 i 

>c ^amuel McCartney Jackson, Colonel of the Eleventh Reserve 
£& regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Arm- 
strong county, on the 24th of September, 1833. He was the son 
of John and Elizabeth (McCartney) Jackson, both of Scotch-Irish 
lineage. He early shared in the toils of farm life, and in his 
sixteenth year was sent to the Jacksonville Academy, in Indiana 
county ; but the death of his father at the end of a year necessi- 
tated his abandonment of a more liberal course of study which 
he had contemplated. He early developed a special liking for 
history and biography, in which he became well versed. In his 
thirteenth year he joined the militia as a drummer, and after 
several years was promoted to Lieutenant, and finally to Captain. 
He recruited a* company for the Eleventh Reserve, of which he 
was Captain. In July, 1861, he was promoted to Major, in 
October following to Lieutenant-Colonel, and in April, 1863, to 
Colonel. On two occasions he received slight wounds. 

The principal battles in which he was engaged were Gaines' 
Mill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Freder- 
icksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Bethesda 
Church. He particularly distinguished himself in the actions at 
South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and 
Spottsylvania, where the conflicts were of such a nature as to 
thoroughly test his manhood. In the latter he commanded a 
brigade and was bre vetted a Brigadier for his gallant conduct. 
At Gettysburg he was thrown forward upon the bloody ground 
where the Third corps had been driven back, and supports from 
several corps which had been sent to the relief of the Third had 
been terribly broken. The position there taken was held and 
the entire field was subsequently regained. At the Wilderness, 
while in command of his own and the Second regiment, he was 
cut off from the balance of the division by a strong force of the 
enemy ; but rallying his men around him he charged the hostile 
lines, and by a circuitous route reached the Union front, where 
he had for several hours been given up for lost. At the close 
of his term of service he was mustered out and returned to 
private life. In the fall of 1869, he was elected to the Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature, and was re-elected in the following year, where 
he maintained the character of a valuable and faithful legislator. 



12 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

:n^7iLLlAM Jordan Bolton, Colonel of the Fifty-first regiment 



XcJf and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 22d of 
October, 1833, at Norristown, Pennsylvania. He was the son 
of James and Mary Ann (Kirk) Bolton. He was bred a ma- 
chinist and engineer. He completed his education at Freemount 
Seminary, under the Rev. Samuel Aaron. He early manifested 
a taste for military life, when a mere boy forming a company of 
his companions which he headed as Captain. For seven years 
he was a member of the volunteer militia, holding the position 
of Second Lieutenant. At the commencement of the war he 
recruited Company A of the Fourth regiment, of which he was 
Captain. At the conclusion of its service he recruited and re- 
organized his company for the Fifty-first, a veteran regiment. It 
went with General Burnside to the coast of North Carolina, 
returning in time to take a leading part at the Second Bull Run 
and Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. 
Early in 1863 the corps was transferred to the West, and at 
Yicksburg, Jackson, and in the siege of Knoxville, performed 
much wearisome and perilous duty. In 1804, it returned to the 
Army of the Potomac and was with Grant throughout the re- 
maining campaigns. In storming the bridge at Antietam Captain 
Bolton received a gun-shot wound in the face, the ball passing 
through the angle of the jaw on the right side, crashing on 
through the mouth, and emerging just below the ear on the left 
side. For his conduct here he was promoted to Major. 

In the progress of the siege of Knoxville, in a night attack, 
the enemy had obtained possession of the Union picket line. 
Towards daybreak an order was received to retake it, and it was 
desirable that the attempt should be made before light. The 
progress of the preparations seemed dilatory to the chivalrous 
Bolton, and fearing that the darkness would entirely be dissi- 
pated, he went to the commander and with some impatience 
inquired if it was the intention to move. On being assured that 
it was, he asked and received permission to lead in the attack. 
Rapidly disposing his regiment, he led it on with unflinching 
bravery, and in three minutes had routed the foe and was in 
possession of the lost works. Soon after the arrival of the army 
before Petersburg, he was ordered to take his regiment out upon 



WILLIAM J. BOLTON.— JOHN I. CUETIN. 713 

the picket line where afterwards was the crater of the mine. 
For several days and nights other regiments had been there 
exerting themselves to make an unbroken line, but still there 
was a space of a hundred yards reaching across the Petersburg 
roaVl that they had utterly failed to cover. On that piece of 
" sacred soil " an enfilading fire of infantry and artillery was un- 
ceasingly kept up, apparently with the fixed determination to 
prevent its occupation. Waiting until the shadows of night had 
fallen, and aided by his brother Joseph K., he went resolutely to 
the work. On the first three nights every attempt to get posses- 
sion failed ; but on the fourth, profiting by previous experience, 
hugging the ground closely and crawling stealthily forward, they 
reached the coveted position, though a perfect storm of deadly 
missiles was poured without cessation upon them. His coolness 
and daring inspired his men, and daylight revealed to the aston- 
ished rebels a continuous line of Union pickets so well protected 
by rifle-pits as to defy their fire. In his charge upon the enemy 
immediately after the explosion of the mine, on the morning of 
the 30th of July, 1864, he received another severe wound in the 
face. In June of this year he was promoted to Colonel, and in 
March, 1865, to Brevet Brigadier-General. One who had served 
under him says, " As a disciplinarian he had few superiors. His 
government was not harsh, but was tempered with kindness and 
reason. He subjected himself to strict discipline, and he exacted 
unquestioning obedience from those beneath him." 

f.OHN Irwin Curtin, Colonel of the Forty-fifth regiment, and 
Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 17th of June, 
1837, at Eagle Forge, Centre county, Pennsylvania. His pater- 
nal grandfather, Roland Curtin, emigrated from Ireland in 1797, 
and was one of the earliest and most enterprising settlers of that 
county. His maternal grandfather, John Irwin, was also from 
Ireland, who with his brothers pushed out towards the central 
part of the State, ascending upon a flat-boat from Columbia to 
Lewistown, and thence across the mountains on foot to Penn's 
Valley, then a wilderness, but which he lived to see bud and 
blossom as the rose. He is the second son of Roland Curtin, Jr., 
and a nephew of ex-Governor Curtin. He was educated at 



714 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Academia, Juniata county, and Dickinson Seminary, at Wil- 
liamsport. He was of the corps of engineers which located the 
Bald Eagle Valley Railroad, and when the war opened, volun- 
teered in the Bellefonte Fencibles, which became part of the 
Tenth regiment, sent first to defend the bridges on the line of 
railway leading to Washington, and subsequently to Patterson 
in the Shenandoah Valley. At the close of the three months' 
term, he recruited a company, of which he was made Captain, for 
the Forty-fifth, a veteran regiment. Soon after taking the field, 
in the fall of 18G1, this regiment was sent to the Department of 
the South, landing at Hilton Head, and engaging, until July, 
18G2, in the operation undertaken for the reduction of the fore- 
most of rebel cities. It was then ordered north and became part 
of the Ninth corps, under General Burnside. On the 30th of this 
month, Captain Curtin w r as promoted to Major, and to Lieutenant- 
Colonel on the 4th of September following. At Turner's Gap, in 
the South Mountain, Lee, glorying in his recent triumph at Bull 
Run, was met, and after a severe struggle was routed. Colonel 
Curtin here had command of the regiment and was struck in the 
right elbow, disabling the arm for a time, but not preventing his 
continuance in duty. 

Soon after the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg, in which the 
regiment took part, the Ninth corps was ordered west, and for 
a while performed duty in Kentucky ; but subsequently was sent 
to Vicksburg, where it participated in the siege, and shared in 
the glories of the capture. It then moved out under Sherman 
to Jackson, where, after a brief conflict, that able rebel chieftain 
was put to flight. In the meantime Lieutenant-Colonel Curtin had 
been made Colonel. The corps now returned to Kentucky, but 
was greatly reduced by sickness, a fever prevailing of which Gen- 
eral Welsh, the original commander of the regiment, died, and 
Colonel Curtin was prostrated and returned on furlough to his 
home. In his absence the Ninth corps was sent to Knoxville, 
where, after having triumphantly entered and advanced towards 
Chattanooga to cooperate with the forces under General Grant, 
found itself confronted by a larger force, that had been detached 
from the main rebel column. For twenty-two days Burnside 
was shut up, making a stout and very gallant resistance, until 



JOHN I. CURTIN. 715 

Longstreet, who was in chief command, withdrew. In the mean- 
time Colonel Curtin, who had recovered from his sickness, 
while on the way to the front was placed in command of a brigade 
at Cumberland Gap, with which he rendered good service upon 
Clinch River in harassing the enemy, and when Longstreet was 
compelled to raise the siege, striking the rear of his column as he 
retreated towards Virginia. 

The Ninth corps returned to the Army of the Potomac before 
the opening of the spring campaign of 18G4. Colonel Curtin was 
here intrusted with the command of a brigade in General Potter's 
division, and wielded it with skill in the fierce fighting which 
ensued. On the 21st of May, he was sent in advance with his 
brigade to secure the crossing of the Po River near Stannard's 
Mill. Before reaching the designated point he met the enemy 
in considerable force, but drove him handsomely, and held the 
hither bank. Though the fighting of the campaign had been 
severe, it was nowhere so terrible and destructive as at Cold 
Harbor. The Ninth corps held the right here, and on the 3d 
of May Colonel Curtin led his brigade in a daring and impetuous 
charge — driving the opposing force, which consisted of parts of 
Ewell's and Longstreet's corps, from their skirmish line and rifle- 
pits, back to their fortifications — and planted his column im- 
movably in the very face of the foe. 

One of the most brilliant of the exploits of Colonel Curtin in 
the course of the war was executed at a little before dawn on 
the morning of the 17th of June. The Union army having just 
crossed the James had come up before Petersburg ; but the enemy 
were already there and intrenched. Potter's division was ordered 
to make a night attack. Curtin and Griffin were to lead with 
their brigades, supported by Ledlie. Woodbury, in his Ninth 
Army Corps, gives a vivid description of this daring charge : 
"At the first blush of the morning," he says, "the word 'For- 
ward!' was passed quietly along the column. The men sprang 
to their feet, and noiselessly, rapidly, vigorously moved upon the 
enemy — Griffin to the right, Curtin to the left, They burst upon 
him with the fury of a tornado. They took him completely by 
surprise. They swept his lines for a mile, gathering up arms, 
flags, cannon, and prisoners all along their victorious pathway. 



716 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

A stand of colors, four pieces of artillery with their caissons and 
horses, fifteen hundred stands of small arms, a quantity of am- 
munition and six hundred prisoners were the fruits of this 
splendid charge. A wide breach had been made in the enemy's 
lines, and it seemed as though the defences of Petersburg were 
within our grasp. But the energetic movement of General Griffin 
was not followed up. Colonel Curtin had most gallantly done his 
part, and General Potter was promptly on the ground to direct 
the assault. But where were the supports?" These were not 
at hand and Curtin and Griffin could only hold fast what was 
gained. In this charge Colonel Curtin was severely wounded in 
the shoulder, and was carried from the field. He was removed 
to the hospital at Annapolis. His wound fortunately healed 
without permanent disability, and in August he again joined his 
brigade. His gallantry was not without its reward. In October, 
the brevet rank of Brigadier-General was conferred by President 
Lincoln. In the fierce encounter at Peebles' Farm the enemy 
succeeded in gaining the rear of the Fifth corps, seriously com- 
promising the position of the left wing of the Union army. Gen- 
eral Curtin that day rode a beautiful horse presented him by his 
old regiment. In the heat of the action it was killed under him, 
and although surrounded, and called on to surrender, he cut his 
way out and escaped while many were killed and captured. 
From this time forward until the close of the war he had com- 
mand of a division. With his regiment he was mustered out of 
service in June, 1865, having served with honor and distinction 
during the entire period of the conflict. Upon his return to 
private life he went to Kentucky, where he was engaged in 
developing oil and coal lands, building a railroad for the use of 
the company. He returned to Pennsylvania in 18G7, and entered 
largely upon the manufacture and sale of lumber in Clinton 
county, where he now resides. 

fosEPH P. Brixton, Colonel of the Second cavalry, was born 
on the 22d of July, 1837, in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania. His father, Judge Ferree Brinton, was of Huguenot 
descent, his ancestors having been among the earliest settlers in 
that county, where the family for six generations has resided. 



JOSEPH P. BRINTON. 717 

His mother, Elizabeth (Sharpless) Brinton, was descended from 
the earliest Quaker settlers in Chester county. The boy received 
careful rudimentary instruction from private Quaker teachers at 
the Watson boarding-school, and afterwards in the University of 
Pennsylvania, where he graduated in the Law Department. He 
further prosecuted his professional studies in the office of Eli K. 
Price, from whence he was admitted to practice at the Phila- 
delphia bar. 

As a }^outh he manifested a fondness for equestrian exercises, 
which naturally led him to choose the cavalry when he came to 
enter the service. When the call of the President was pro- 
claimed he was a private in that historic body, the First City 
Troop, and with it he volunteered, serving during the three 
months' campaign with the column of Patterson in the Shenan- 
doah Valley. Returning at the close of this period, he was, upon 
the organization of the Second Pennsylvania cavalry, commis- 
sioned senior Major, and in August following was promoted 
to Lieutenant-Colonel. By the frequent call of the Colonel to 
command the brigade, the charge of the regiment principally 
devolved upon Brinton. From October, 1862, to March, 1863, 
with the exception of a short interval, he had the active leader- 
ship, as he did also from July, 1863, to February, 1864, and from 
May to November of the latter year. During these periods the 
regiment performed almost constant severe service. In the 
actions at Rappahannock Station and Mine Run, in Meade's cam- 
paign of 1863, and at St. Mary's Church, Deep Bottom, Boyd ton 
Road, and Jerusalem Plank Road under Grant, the youthful 
commander particularly distinguished himself. At Trevillian 
Station, where the division was suddenly attacked by a superior 
force of the Confederate army, Brinton led a charge of dis- 
mounted cavalry with such steadiness and daring as to win the 
plaudits of his entire command, and the warm approval of his 
sturdy chief, General Gregg. 

In August, 1864, he was brevetted Colonel, in the language of 
the commission, " for conspicuous conduct and distinguished gal- 
lantry in the battles of Trevillian Station and St. Mary's 
Church." In November, 1S64, he was assigned to duty on the 
staff of General Meade, as Judge Advocate of the Army of 



718 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Potomac, in which position he remained to the close of his 
service, at the end of the war. During his long and active duty 
in the field he fortunately escaped without wounds, though he 
had six horses shot under him at various times, and was twice 
injured by their fall upon him. He was particularly commended 
by General Birney for a scout in the rear of the enemy's lines 
after the second battle of Bull Run — a daring exploit — and by 
General Gregg for his conduct in the Mine Run campaign, in 
addition to those mentioned in his brevet commission. 

Duty in the cavalry arm of the service is more constant and 
harassing than in either infantry or artillery, and for it there is 
far less credit given in the general award. When a great battle 
is fought the cavalry is pushed out upon the flanks, And its 
exploits are scarcely mentioned in the glowing descriptions of the 
field plowed by grape, and the charges of the infantry hosts. 
But often the most critical and daring part of a battle is per- 
formed by this arm. When the battle is over and the infantry 
and artillery are relieved, the duty of the cavalry does not inter- 
mit, and often its most trying and wasting service is when no 
fighting is reported. Few men served with a more constant and 
unremitting valor than Colonel Brinton. 

Kincent Meigs Wilcox, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
% Thirty-second regiment, was born on the 17th of October, 
1828, at Madison, Connecticut. He was the son of Zenos and 
Louisa (Meigs) Wilcox. His boyhood was spent upon the farm, 
and he was educated at Lee's Academy in his native place. For 
some years after leaving school he was engaged in teaching. He 
was married in 185G to Catharine M. Webb. He became an 
officer in the State Militia of Connecticut in 1856, in which he 
displayed considerable enthusiasm. Having become a citizen of 
Scranton, Pennsylvania, upon the formation of the One Hundred 
and Thirty-second regiment he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. 
In the battle of Antietam Colonel Oakford, who led this regiment, 
fell, and the command devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox. 
It held a position of great importance, inasmuch as it was the 
key to the Union position. The line had been broken in other 
parts, but if this could be held there was a chance of regaining 



VINCENT M. WILCOX.— DE WITT C. STRAWBRIDGE. 719 

the portions lost. In the crisis of the battle Colonel Wilcox 
received an order from General French, who commanded the 
division, directing him to hold the ground to the last extremity. 
But the ammunition had all been expended. By searching the 
bodies of the dead a little was obtained, which was economically 
used. When that was gone the Colonel reported the fact to 
General Kimball for orders ; but instead of being relieved he was 
ordered to fix bayonets and charge, which was executed with the 
utmost gallantry, driving the enemy before him and capturing 
a Colonel and several men. The battle raged long and fearfully, 
and the loss among his men was very great ; but he exercised his 
responsible duties with skill and fidelity, holding his position 
against powerful assaults made by a veteran foe. At the close of 
the battle he was promoted to Colonel, to date from the day of 
the engagement, as an acknowledgment of his merit; but his 
health soon afterwards failed, and he was obliged to leave the 
army. His service, though brief, embracing only the battles of 
South Mountain and Antietam, was marked by a full measure of 
devotion, and contributed not a little to the fortunate result of 
the campaign. 

_JT^\E Witt Clinton Stkawbkidge, Colonel of the Seventy-sixth 
Q^f regiment, was born at Millerstown, Perry county, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 5th of August, 1837. His father, David Straw- 
bridge, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. His 
mother was Eve Long, of German origin. He received a good 
English education, embracing the higher mathematics and natu- 
ral sciences, at Sharon, Pennsylvania, and at the Hiram Eclectic 
Institute, Ohio. His first experience in military duty commenced 
on the 20th of April, 18Gl,with the Nineteenth Ohio volunteers. 
On the 2d of July he was promoted to First Sergeant, and partici- 
pated in the decisive campaign in West Virginia, under McClellan ■ 
and Rosecrans, which terminated triumphantly on the loth at 
Rich Mountain. For his capacity and faithfulness to duty here 
lie was promoted, on the 24th of September, to Captain of Com- 
pany B, of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania, and with it proceeded 
immediately to the Department of the South. Early in August 
he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and in this capacity led 



720 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

his regiment in the affair at Pocotaligo, with such good judgment, 
and in the face of such hard fighting, that he was especially com- 
plimented by General 0. M. Mitchell, in chief command. He 
was also conspicuous in the reduction of Fort Pulaski, and in the 
battle on James Island. He was of the force which stormed and 
took the batteries of the southern part of Morris Island, and here 
again his conduct attracted the attention and warm approval of 
General Strong, in command of the brigade. He also took part 
in the first assault upon Fort Wagner, and in the varied opera- 
tions of the campaign conducted by General Hunter. His regi- 
ment having suffered severely in the engagements on Morris 
Island, and being reduced to scarcely two full companies, he was 
sent with the surviving veterans by General Gilmore in August 
to take charge of the post at Hilton Head, and was there placed 
in command of a brigade. 

On account of injuries received in the service, which were 
incurable, he was forced to resign on the 20th of November, 
1863. His health was, however, so much improved that in the 
summer and fall of 18G4 he served as adjutant of the Seven- 
teenth Kansas regiment for a period of five months, and until 
that body was mustered out. In person, Colonel Strawbridge is 
above the medium height. He was married on the Gth of April, 
1868, to Miss Alice L. Turner, of Brookfield, Missouri, where he 
now resides. 

TD obert Levan Orr, Colonel of the Sixty-first regiment, was 
^\ born on the 28th of March, 1836, in Philadelphia. He 
was the son of William Hennessy and Justinia (Scull) Orr. He 
was educated at the public high school, and until the breaking 
out of the war was employed in the dry goods house of the 
Sharpless Brothers. He entered the service on the 25th of 
April, 1861, and at the conclusion of the three months' campaign 
was made Captain in the Sixty-first regiment. In the terrible 
battle of Fair Oaks, the field officers of this body were all cut 
down and the command devolved upon Captain Orr. In a skir- 
mish before Richmond in the month of June, he was wounded. 
He was engaged in all the battles in which the Sixth corps had 
a part, and in the storming of Marye's Heights, in the Chancellors- 



ROBERT L. ORR.— SAMUEL D. STRAWBRIDGK 721 

ville campaign, displayed marked courage. In October, 1863, 
he was promoted to Major. In the battle of Winchester under 
Sheridan, and in all subsequent battles in the Valley, he ren- 
dered distinguished service, and at its close was brevetted Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel. With his gallant regiment he led the assault on 
the works before Petersburg on the morning of April 2d, 1865. 
He received a slight wound in that assault, and was promoted 
to Colonel for gallantry therein displayed. He was mustered out 
with his regiment on the 28th of June, 1865. 

amuel Dale Strawbridge, Colonel of the Second artillery, 
was born on the 31st of August, 1825, in Liberty township, 
Montour county, Pennsylvania. His father was James Straw- 
bridge, of Scotch-Irish extraction, though his father and grand- 
father were natives of Chester county. His mother was Mary 
(Dale) Strawbridge. The son received his education at private 
schools in the neighborhood and in the Danville and New Lon- 
don Academies. He had no military training previous to the 
Rebellion. 

He entered the United States service as First Lieutenant of 
Battery F, Second artillery, in January, 1862, and in December 
following was promoted to Captain of Battery I. The regiment 
was placed on duty in the defences of Washington, where it re- 
mained until the campaign of the Wilderness opened, when, to 
supply the great waste to which the army had been subjected, 
this regiment, which had been recruited to over thirty-three hun- 
dred men, was organized in two, and having been taken from 
their guns, were armed with muskets, and sent to the front. 
They went among veterans and were immediately put upon the 
advance line to do veterans' work. Captain Strawbridge was 
commissioned Major of the new regiment, and throughout the 
hard fighting which followed, and until the reunion of the two 
regiments in September, he was ceaselessly employed. His gal- 
lantry won for him the rank of Brevet Colonel. Of the united 
regiments he became in succession Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
Colonel, and until the muster out in the early part of 1866 was 
faithful and vigilant, commanding the esteem of his men, and 
the approval of his superior officers. 

46 



722 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

foiiN Miller Mark, Colonel of the Ninety-third regiment, 
was born on the 15th of March, 1822, in East Hanover, 
Lebanon comity, Pennsylvania. He was the son of George and 
Elizabeth (Miller) Mark. His boyhood was passed in a rural 
neighborhood and his school advantages were few. He entered 
the service as Captain in the Ninety-third on the 3d of October, 
1SG1, and was promoted to Major in June following, and Colonel 
in November. He was with Peck in the battle of Williamsburg, 
of whom General Couch said, " He had the good fortune to be in 
advance, and arriving on the battle ground at a critical time, 
won a reputation to be greatly envied." In the desperate fight- 
ing at Fair Oaks, Colonel Mark was wounded in the right ami, 
which resulted in the stiffening of three fingers. At Antietam 
he was again with his regiment, and at Fredericksburg was in 
General Wheaton's brigade of General Franklin's Grand Division. 
On the 12th of March, 1863, Colonel Mark was mustered' out 
of service. 

fiiOMAS Forest Betton Tapper was born at Germantown, 
Pennsylvania, August 31st, 1823. His father was John 
Tapper, by birth a Prussian. His mother, Lydia Maria (Vogal) 
Tapper, was a native of the city of Amsterdam, Holland. At a 
very early age he was put to work in a factory, and was also 
employed upon a farm. He subsequently spent four jears in 
learning the trade of a carpenter; but being dissatisfied with 
this, finally became a machinist and engineer — employments for 
which he .had genius. A single term at school when at the age 
of fourteen was all the opportunity he ever had of acquiring 
educational discipline. But being of an inquiring turn of mind, 
he was able to supply, by his own exertions, what of scholastic 
training had by the hard lot of poverty been denied him. 

For several years previous to the war he was Lieutenant in 
the Spring Garden Rifle company. When hostilities opened, in 
April, 1SG1, he was active in recruiting soldiers for the common 
defence, and on the 29th of May was commissioned Captain of 
Company G of the Fourth Reserve regiment. He led that com- 
pany in the battles before Richmond under McClellan ; and at 
Charles City Cross Roads, on the 30th of June, 1862, performed 



JOHN M. MARK.—THOS. F. B. TAPPER— WM. M. MINTZER. 723 

prodigies of valor, receiving a sword-cut on the right arm, and a 
bayonet wound in the left leg. Though suffering intensely, and 
weak from the loss of blood, he kept the field and lay down at 
night with his men on the bare ground without cover. 

At Second Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam, at Fred- 
ericksburg, Cloyd Mountain in West Virginia, and New River 
Bridge, he was with the foremost, and no soldier was more sorety 
tried nor found more vigilant. Few campaigns more severely 
tested the metal of men than that conducted by General Crooke 
in West Virginia. For twenty days the troops were upon the 
march ; skirmishing commencing on the third day out, and con- 
tinuing without cessation until the end of the campaign. But no 
hardship nor fatigue could turn a soldier like Tapper from his 
purpose, and with such, no enterprise was too daring, nor trial 
too great. On the 1st of March, 1863, he was promoted to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, on the 10 th of May, 18G4, to Colonel, and on the 
17th of June following, having served the full period for which 
he had enlisted, was mustered out of service with his command. 

"XffihTiLLlAM M. Mintzer, Colonel of the Fifty-third regiment, 
5£/ and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 7th of 
May, 1837, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was the son 
of Henry and Rebecca (Bechtel) Mintzer. He entered the 
service of the United States on the 19th of April, 1861, as an 
enlisted man for the three months' term, and at its conclusion 
reentered for the war as a Lieutenant in the Fifty-third. In this 
capacity he participated in the battle at Fair Oaks, and subse- 
quently in the Seven Days' battle, in which he belonged to the 
rear guard, stubbornly holding back the foe at Peach Orchard, 
Savage Station, and White Oak Swamp. On the 2d of June, 
1862, he was promoted to Major. In front of the sunken road, 
and the stone fence on the hill beyond, at Antietam, and at 
Marye's Heights in the battle of Fredericksburg, the Fifty-third 
was put to a severe test, but came forth from the ordeal with a 
reputation for valor unsurpassed. On the afternoon of the 2d 
of July, 1863, this regiment was put into the terrible maelstrom 
of battle near the Peach Orchard on the Gettysburg field, and 
here it combated under a deadly fire of musketry and artillery 



724 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

until a large proportion were either killed or wounded. At 
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Po River, Cold Harbor, Peters- 
Mi rn\ and a score of minor battles, he was with his regiment, 
having the active command for the most part, and leading it 
w ith rare skill and judgment. On the 29th of September, 1864, 
he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and on the 30th of Octo- 
ber following, to Colonel. At the Boydton Plank Road, where 
he charged, recharged, and finally took the enemy's works, re- 
sulting in the cutting of the Weldon Railroad, he displayed a 
coolness and courage unsurpassed, was warmly commended by 
his superior officers, and was brevetted Brigadier-General "for 
gallant and meritorious services." 

tiiOMAS Jefferson Town, Colonel of the Ninety-fifth regiment, 
brother of Gustavus W., noticed elsewhere, was born on 
the 9th of October, 1841. Their tastes were not unlike, and 
their education was substantially the same. He entered the 
three months' service as Second Lieutenant of the company of 
which his brother was First Lieutenant, and in the Ninety-fifth 
he was Captain of Company A, from which he was subsequently 
promoted to Major. In the battle at Salem Church, on the 3d 
of May, 1863, when his brother fell dead upon the field, he made 
strenuous efforts to bring off his body ; but while thus engaged, 
received a severe and painful wound in the hip, compelling him 
to abandon the purpose. The field remained in the enemy's 
hands, and the body was never recovered. Major Town was 
commissioned Colonel ; but his wound was of so serious a char- 
acter that in the August following he was mustered out of 
service " for physical disability arising from wounds." In stature 
he is six feet and nearly three inches in height, and well pro- 
portioned. 

fiffiTiLLiAM Ross Hartshorne, Colonel of the One Hundred 



V, ▼ and Ninetieth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, 
was born at Cunvensville, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, on 
the 26th of January, 1839. He was the son of William and 
Sophronia (Swan) Hartshorne. He was educated at the Tusca- 
rora Academy. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of Com- 



THGS. J. TOWN.— WM. R. HARTSHORNE.— NORMAN M. SMITH. 70.3 

pany K, Bucktail regiment, on the 29th of May, 1861. In Au- 
gust following, he was transferred to the Signal corps, in which 
capacity he served on the staff of General Banks. Before the 
Reserve corps departed for the Peninsula, he was made Adjutant 
of his regiment and returned to duty with it. At the battle of 
Beaver Dam Creek he received a severe wound, his skull being 
fractured by a musket ball. The process of trepanning was per- 
formed by rebel surgeons at Savage Station, and he remained a 
prisoner until August 10th, 1862, when he rejoined his regiment 
and participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. 
On the 22d of May, 1863, he was promoted to Major, and after the 
fall of Colonel Taylor at Gettysburg, the command devolved upon 
him. At Gettysburg and the Wilderness he was hotly engaged, 
and led his men with great gallantry. At the close of the term 
of service of the Reserve corps, two veteran regiments were 
formed from the remnants who were willing to reenlist. The 
command of the first of these, the One Hundred and Ninetieth, 
was given to Colonel Hartshorne. On the 20th of Jul}-, 1804, 
he was placed at the head of the Third brigade, Third division. 
Fifth corps, which he led with marked ability in the fierce fight- 
ing before Petersburg. In the action at the Weldon Railroad, 
on the 19th of August, his command was overwhelmed and he 
was taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby Prison, Salisburv, 
and Danville, and not until the 25th of March, 1865, was he 
released, being subjected to great privation and suffering for a 
period of over seven months. Three days after his release he 
rejoined his command and led it till the close of the war. He 
was made Brevet Brigadier-General on the 13th of March, 1865, 
and was mustered out with his regiment on the 2d of July. 

orman Macalester Smitii, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Nineteenth cavalry, was born on the 2 2d of December, 
1841, in Philadelphia. He was the son of Edward T. and Ann 
Macalester (Bacon) Smith. Until his sixteenth year he was 
educated in his native city, and in Burlington, New Jersey. He 
then entered the Norris locomotive works, for the purpose of 
learning practically mechanical engineering, which was frustrated 
by the opening of the war. He was deprived, by death, of a 



1 



726 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

mother at ten, and a lather at fourteen years of age. He volun- 
teered, on the 19th of April, 1861, in the Commonwealth Artil 
lery of Philadelphia, in which he served for three months at 
Fort Delaware. On being mustered out he was appointed Second 
Lieutenant in the Fifty-eighth regiment, but declined the posi- 
tion, enlisting instead in the Anderson Troop, on the 15th of 
October, and serving in it until June, 18G2, having in the mean- 
time participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth. In the 
former he was personal orderly to General Buell, who, in noticing 
the conduct of his staff, said : " I would add that the conduct of 
privates Smith and Hewitt came particularly under my observa- 
tion, and the gallant manner in which, during the hottest of the 
fight, they rallied scattered parties of men, and led them back to 
their regiments, is deserving of the highest commendation." 

In June, 18G2, he was ordered to Pennsylvania to recruit for 
the Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, then being organized, in 
which he was commissioned Captain. In this capacity he par- 
ticipated in the battles of Antietam and Williamsport, Maryland, 
and in Triune, Wilkinson's Cross Roads, Stone River, Lavergne, 
and Woodbury, Tennessee. In June, 18G3, he resigned and 
entered the Nineteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, serving first as 
Quartermaster, then us Adjutant, and finally as Captain of Com- 
panies L and C, participating in the actions at Okaloona, Ivy 
Farm, Mississippi ; Cypress Swamp, Tennessee ; Gun Town, 
Black River, Utica, Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, Mississippi; 
Marion, Arkansas ; Nashville, Hollow Tree Gap, Franklin, 
Anthony's Hill, Tennessee ; and Sugar Creek, Alabama. During 
the summer of 1864 he served as Inspector and Assistant Adju- 
tant-General of the First brigade, cavalry division of the Army 
of West Tennessee. In the Nashville campaign he w r as for the 
most part in command of his regiment, and by his energy and 
skill won for it lasting renown. General Hammond, who led the 
brigade to which it belonged, says : " The Nineteenth Pennsyl- 
vania cavalry was for the greater part of the time commanded by 
Norman M. Smith, who, although only a Captain, was alone able 
to do anything with the regiment. Under him it was efficient, 
and at all times ready for work. I strongly urged that he be 
made Lieutenant^Colonel of the regiment, a rank belonging to the 



HORACE B. BUBNHAM. 727 

position which he holds. I now hope that it is not too late to 
recognize his merit, by the brevets of Major and Lieutenant- 
Colonel, which he richly deserves for his services during the 
campaign when Hood was defeated at Nashville and pursued 
across the Tennessee River, even if he had served nowhere else, 
and for personal gallantry and attention to duty in the field." To 
this unqualified commendation General George H. Thomas added 
his own approval, particularly calling attention to the request. 

orace Blois Burnham, Colonel of the Sixty-seventh regi- 
ment, was born on the 10th of September, 1824, at Spen- 
certown, Columbia county, New York. He received a good 
English education, with some knowledge of the classics, and read 
law with D. A. Lathrop, of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He 
came to the bar in 1844, and practised in the counties of Luzerne, 
Carbon, Wayne, Pike, and Monroe. He was married on the 22d 
of February, 1846, to Miss Ruth Ann Jackson. He entered the 
service in July, 1861, and in October following was made Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of the Sixty-seventh regiment. For more than a 
year and a half it was on duty at Annapolis, Maryland. It was 
at Winchester in the column of Milroy when struck by the head 
of the entire rebel army on its way to Gettysburg, and was 
terribly decimated in the encounter which ensued. He remained 
with the Third corps until the expiration of his term of service, 
on the 30th of October, 1864, when he was appointed by Presi- 
dent Lincoln a Judge Advocate with the rank of Major in the 
regular army, in which capacity he acted on court-martial duty 
and in the Bureau of Military Justice at Washington, until April, 
1867. He was then ordered to duty as Chief Judge Advocate of 
the First Military District, with head-quarters at Richmond, 
Virginia. He was at the same time Judge of Hustings Court 
here, from September, 1867, to May, 1869, and President Judge of 
the Court of Appeals of Virginia, from May, 1869, to May, 1870, 
by appointment, in accordance with an act of Congress. At the 
end of this time he was ordered to Atlanta, Georgia, as Chief 
Judge Advocate of the Department of the South, and subse- 
quently, when the head-quarters of that department were trans- 
ferred to Louisville, Kentucky, he accompanied it thither. On 



728 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the 4 th of November, 1872, he was assigned to duty in the same 
capacity in the Department of the Platte, embracing Iowa and 
Nebraska, and the Territories of Wyoming and Utah, head- 
quarters at Omaha, where he is still engaged. He was brevetted 
Colonel by the President in July, 1865, for gallant and meritori- 
ous services during the war. 

Earcus A. Reno, Colonel of the Twelfth cavalry, and Brevet 
Brigadier-General, is a native of Carrolton, Green county, 
Illinois. His ancestors were of French descent, who. three or 
four generations back, had settled upon the French possessions 
on the Mississippi. His mother was a native of Hyattstown, 
Maryland. His boyhood was spent at school in his native place, 
and he was destined for the mercantile profession ; but, having 
received the appointment at West Point through the influence of 
Senator Stephen A. Douglas, who was a friend of the family, he 
entered that school, and in due course graduated in 1857. He 
engaged immediately thereafter in the national service, as an 
officer of the First United States cavalry, from which, towards 
the close of the late war, he was promoted to Colonel of the 
Twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry, One Hundred and Thirteenth of 
the line. In the action of Kelly's Ford in March, 1863, he was 
severely wounded, which incapacitated him for duty in the battles 
of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, the only battles in which the 
Army of the Potomac had part in which he did not participate. 
He was brevetted a Brigadier-General on the loth of March, 
1865. He was married in 1863 to a daughter of Robert J. Ross, 
of Harrisburg. 



T*j?? William Andrew Robinson, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Y.Y' Seventy-seventh regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, 
was born at North East, Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th 
of June, 1830. He was the son of William A. and Nancy (Cochran) 
Robinson, both of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, his grand- 
father, Thomas, and his great-grandfather, George, were all 
natives of central Pennsylvania. His early years were passed 
upon a farm, and his education was obtained in the district 
school, and at academies in Chatauqua county, New York, and 



MARCUS A. RENO.— WILLIAM A. ROBINSON. 729 

Ashtabula, Ohio. After leaving school and until the Rebellion 
came he was associated with older brothers in business in Pitts- 
burg. When the flag of his country was assailed, and troops 
were called for its defence, he enlisted in a company known as 
the Pittsburg Rifles, in which he served as a Sergeant. Failing 
of acceptance in the three months' force, it was held in camp, and 
became Company A of the Ninth Reserve. In October, 1861, he 
was transferred to the Seventy-seventh regiment, as First Lieu- 
tenant of Company E, and in the April following was promoted 
to Captain. It was one of the few infantry regiments sent to the 
Western army from Pennsylvania, in the early part of the war, 
and was with Grant at Shiloh, being upon the front in the final 
charge and taking many prisoners. At Stone River, on the 31st 
of December, 1862, where the right wing of Rosecrans' army was 
attacked at early dawn with great fury and by overwhelming 
numbers, this was one of the few regiments which was in readiness 
to receive the blow, and made a stubborn defence. Robinson led 
his company with marked valor, and received the warm commen- 
dation of his superior officers. He participated in all the battles 
of the Army of the Cumberland down to the ill-starred contest at 
Chickamauga. Here the Seventy-seventh with some other troops 
were isolated in a critical stage of the battle, and being unsup- 
ported, the field officers, seven line officers, and the greater part 
of the men were taken prisoners. For fifteen months Captain 
Robinson was an inmate of rebel prisons of the worst type, at a 
period when the harshest treatment was accorded to the unfortu- 
nate victims : six months at Libby ; three at Columbia, South 
Carolina ; three at Macon, Georgia ; and three at Charleston, 
under fire of General Gilmore's powerful guns. He was associ- 
ated with Colonels Straight and Rose in tunnelling their way out 
of Libby — a herculean labor, and attended with remarkable im- 
mediate success, but not in the liberation of Captain Robinson. 
While confined at Macon he was selected as one of a committee 
of Union officers to go to Andersonville and make known to 
the Union Government the horrors to which the poor victims 
of cruelty and barbarity were subjected, in the hope that the 
administration would be induced on hearing their report to enter 
upon a system of exchange which the Confederates well knew 



730 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

would redound largely to their advantage. But this committee 
refused to interfere, believing that the Government was well 
aware of the facts and would act wisely. 

After his exchange and a brief furlough, he was placed on 
duty for a time at Columbus, Ohio, whence he was sent to his 
regiment, of which he had command during most of the time 
until his final muster out on the Gth of December, 18G5. After 
the close of hostilities in the East he was sent to Texas, where 
further trouble was anticipated, but which subsided under the 
strong arm of Sheridan. He was promoted to Lieutenant>Colonel 
and Brevet Brigadier-General, on the 13th of March, 1865. 
Throughout his entire term of service he displayed great coolness 
and courage, and wonderful powers of endurance. The terrible 
marches he performed in East Tennessee, where for weeks the 
men were forced to subsist on green corn — his journey home 
through Kentucky after his furlough, where he was captured by 
guerillas — his escape and journey to the Union lines through 
rain and storm — and his long imprisonment would have broken 
the spirit and the constitution of one not preeminently endowed. 
" I asked him," says his brother, the Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, 
D. D., of Harrisburg, " how he managed to come home from 
fifteen months of rebel prison life looking so fat and hearty. He 
answered ' by keeping cheerful and keeping clean.' He was 
strictly temperate, full of patience and endurance, very bright 
and hopeful in disposition and a fine companion in camp. He 
was an excellent singer, and in Libby he had a good chance to 
use his voice. He read and with others acted from the plays 
of Shakspcare, which I sent him while there in six volumes. He 
said he never felt fear but once, and that was when moving under 
a terrible fire at Stone River. There for a moment he leaned 
against a tree. The feeling passed quickly, and he led his com- 
pany on. His picket duty at Stone River and the fighting there 
he considered about as trying as any he ever witnessed." 

fnii. %- Francis Glenn, Colonel of the Twenty-third regiment. 
Few regiments in the volunteer service deserve greater credit 
than the Twenty-third Pennsylvania. It was first commanded 
by Colonel Charles P. Dare ; and upon its reorganization at the 



JOHN F. GLENN. 731 

end of the three months' service was led by that fearless and 
intrepid soldier, Major-General David B. Birney. He was suc- 
ceeded by Brigadier-General Thomas H. Neil, an officer whose 
ability soon gained him promotion, and he was followed by 
Brevet Brigadier-General John Ely. Though these several offi- 
cers in succession held the nominal command, their skill and 
their reliability caused them to be often called to command 
brigades or divisions, and the real leadership fell to an officer of 
minor rank, John Francis Glenn, who finally became its Colonel, 
and continued at its head till the close of its term of service. 

He was born on the 2d of November, 1829, in Philadelphia. 
His father, William Glenn, and his mother, Margaret (Tate) 
Glenn, were both natives of that city. His parents being poor, 
the son enjoyed scarcely any educational advantages, and from 
the age of seven to sixteen was obliged to labor incessantly at 
various occupations. At the close of this period he entered a 
printing office, where he acquired not only practical skill but 
a large fund of useful information. 

In the summer of 1847, upon the call for troops to go to 
Mexico, he volunteered, then at the age of eighteen, as a private 
in Company D, First regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers. After 
his return from a victorious campaign, in which he acquitted 
himself with credit, he joined the National Rifle company, a 
militia organization of Philadelphia, in which he rose to the 
rank of Lieutenant and afterwards to Captain. When the Rebel- 
lion opened no soldier more promptly stepped to the front. He 
raised a company for the Twenty-third three months' regiment, 
and showed himself in the affair at Falling Waters a true soldier. 
Upon the reorganization of this regiment for three years, he 
became Captain of Company A. At the close of the Peninsula 
campaign, in which his regiment served, he was promoted to 
the rank of Major. In the battle of Fredericksburg, he bore 
himself with distinguished gallantry, and fairly won the honor 
which was accorded him at its close, promotion to the rank of 
Lieutenant-Colonel. Scarcely a year later, in December, 1863, he 
was again promoted, and now to the full command of the regiment. 

Colonel Glenn was the recipient of many complimentary 
notices from officers high in command. That veteran soldier, 



732 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

General Heintzelman, at the battle of Fair Oaks, publicly com- 
mended him for volunteering, after he had been wounded, to 
advance with one hundred picked men and a section of Miller's 
battery, to hold the enemy in check until a division, which was 
on its way to the front, could get into position. The duty was 
executed with fearless intrepidity, and with success. At Malvern 
Hill, General Couch warmly praised his courage and steadfast- 
ness in holding his regiment for thirteen hours under a fire 
unparalleled for its severity. At Marye's Heights, General 
Alexander Shaler gave him unqualified commendation for the 
manner in which he advanced with five companies of his regi- 
ment to open the engagement on the morning of the 3d of May, 
ISC).'). At Cold Harbor, General David Russell, following the 
generous impulse of the brave soldier, spoke in the most lauda- 
tory terms of his gallant bearing in the terrible conflicts of the 
1st, 2d, and 3d of June, 1864. 

At the expiration of his term, on the 8th of September, with 
his regiment, he was mustered out of service. Colonel Glenn is 
in person six feet in height, of fair complexion, and of nervous 
temperament, a condition indicative of ceaseless vigilance, which 
signally characterized him. He was married on the 17th of 
February, 1850, to Eleanora Forebaugh. 

^ iiarles M. Betts, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifteenth cav- 
@£ airy, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th 
of August, 1838. His boyhood was passed upon a farm, and 
in attending the public schools. He received, in addition, instruc- 
tion at an academy in his native county, and at Burlington, New 
Jersey. Having a taste for mercantile life, he went to Philadel- 
phia in 1857, where he became clerk in a wholesale lumber estab- 
lishment. In November, 18G1, he was appointed chief clerk in 
the Quartermaster's Department of General Franklin's division, 
then stationed near Alexandria, Virginia, and served in that 
capacity through the entire Peninsula campaign. At Harrison's 
Landing he left that army, and in response to the President's call 
for fresh troops, enlisted as a private in the Fifteenth Pennsyl- 
vania (Anderson) cavalry, which rendezvoused at Carlisle. He 
was soon after promoted to Sergeant, and when the enemy invaded 



CHARLES M. BETTS. 733 

Maryland on the Antietam campaign, he was sent as acting First 
Lieutenant of a detail made to picket the southern border of 
Pennsylvania, and to cooperate with the troops of McClellan. He 
was subsequently commissioned First Sergeant at Louisville, 
Kentucky, whither the regiment had been ordered. 

Upon the reorganization of the command at Murfreesboro, 
Tennessee, in March, he was commissioned Captain of Com- 
pany F, which he led in the stirring campaign of 1863, and near 
the close of the year, in a fight with the Cherokee Indians at 
Gatlinsburg, received a severe wound in the left arm, by which 
he was incapacitated for duty for a period of two months. In 
May, 1864, he was commissioned Major, which gave him the 
leadership of a battalion. As the armies of the Union advanced, 
the duties of the cavalry were greatly increased, requiring inces- 
sant activity. At the opening of the campaign of 1865, he was 
promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and given the active command 
of the regiment. With Stoneman's column he went upon an im- 
portant expedition into North Carolina, and after rapid riding and 
the successful accomplishment of the object, he was put upon the 
trail of Jefferson Davis, who, after the surrender of Lee and Johns- 
ton, was endeavoring to escape to the Gulf with large sums of 
Confederate treasure. " On the morning of the 8th instant," says 
General Palmer, " while searching for Davis near the fork of the 
Appalachee and Oconee rivers, Colonel Betts, Fifteenth Pennsyl- 
vania cavaliy, captured seven wagons, hidden in the woods, which 
contained $188,000 in coin, $1,588,000 in bank notes, bonds, etc., 
of various Southern States, and about $4,000,000 of Confederate 
money, besides considerable specie, plate, and other valuables 
belonging to private citizens in Macon. . . . The wagons also 
contained the private baggage, maps, and official papers of Gen- 
erals Beauregard and Pillow." In closing his report of this 
exciting chase, General Palmer says : " I desire to recommend for 
honorable mention and promotion, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles M. 
Betts, commanding Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, for gallant 
conduct in charging and capturing a South Carolina battalion of 
cavalry, with its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, 
in front of Greensboro, on the morning of April 11th, 1865 ; also 
for thoroughly preserving the discipline of his regiment, on an 



734 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

active campaign during which the troops were compelled to live 
exclusively on the country." At the conclusion of the war, 
Colonel Betts returned to the mercantile business which he left 
to enter the service. In stature, he is six feet and nearly two 
inches in height. 

'x6jffi7'iLLiAM Buel Franklin, Major-General of volunteers, and 
V,Y~ Brevet Major-General United States Army, was born at 
York, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of February, 1823. lie was 
educated at West Point, where he graduated first in the class 
of 1843. In the same year he joined the Topographical En- 
gineers, and was with Kearny in his expedition to the Rocky 
Mountains in 1845. He was on the staff of General Taylor in 
Mexico, and was brevetted First Lieutenant for gallantry at 
Buena Vista. For four years, commencing in 1848, he was As- 
sistant Professor of Natural Philosophy at West Point. During 
a part of the year 1852 he was Professor of Natural Philosophy 
and Civil Engineering in the Free Academy, New York city. In 
1857 he was commissioned Captain, and from 1857 to 1859 he 
was Engineer Secretary of the Light House Board. He was sub- 
sequently appointed Superintendent of the extensions of the Post 
Office and Capitol at Washington, and in March, 1SG1, of the 
extension of the National Treasury building and Chief of the 
Bureau of Construction of the Treasury Department. 

On the 14th of May, 1861, he returned to military duty as 
Colonel of the Twelfth infantry, and in the same month was 
made Brigadier-General of volunteers. In the first battle of Bull 
Run, he commanded a brigade in Heintzelman's division, and 
was active and fearless throughout the long hours of that trying 
day. In the advance up the Peninsula in May, 18G2, McClellan 
sent him in command of a division by transport to White House 
to strike the flank of the enemy's column. On the 15th of May 
he was given a corps, which he held in front of Richmond during 
the first three of the Seven Days, easily repulsing the noisy 
demonstrations of the foe, and on the fourth, the 29th of June, in 
conjunction with Sumner, checked the enemy in his eager ad- 
vance on Savage Station. On the 30th he was in chief command 
at the bridge at White Oak Swamp, holding the enemy at bay, 



WILLIAM B. FRANKLIN. 735 

and preventing him from reaching the Charles City Cross Roads 
field. For his services in this campaign he was made Major- 
General of volunteers, and Brigadier-General by brevet in the 
regular army. In the battle of South Mountain he had the left 
wing, and having swept the enemy from Crampton's Pass, led on 
towards Antietam. It was here McClellan's intention to have 
held Franklin in reserve ; but being hard pressed on the right, 
Franklin was sent to the assistance of Sumner, where he was 
thrown upon the most hotly-contested part of the field. At Fred- 
ericksburg he commanded the left Grand Division, composed of 
the First and Sixth corps, led respectively by Reynolds and 
Smith. He was ordered by Burnside to make a demonstration 
with a division, and be prepared to support it with another. He 
made the attack with the First corps, the Pennsylvania Reserves 
being selected for the assault. It was entirely successful, the 
Reserves penetrating to the rear of the rebel line, and was sup- 
ported by two divisions instead of one as directed; but even 
these were insufficient for more than a demonstration. It would 
seem that Burnside intended that a demonstration should be 
made upon the left, and that the main attack should come from 
the town itself. From the fact that the battle proved a great 
disaster, a disposition was manifested to censure Franklin for not 
cordially supporting Burnside. But the facts do not warrant this 
view. Had Burnside ordered him to attack and break the 
enemy's left, then there would have been cause for blame. 

General Franklin was subsequently transferred to the Depart- 
ment of the Gulf, and during the summer of 18G3 commanded 
at Baton Rouge. On the 15th of August he was placed in com- 
mand of the Nineteenth Army corps. He took part in the Red 
River expedition, being engaged at Sabine Cross Roads, where he 
was wounded, at Pleasant Hill, and Cane River. On the 13th 
of March, 1865, he was brevetted Major-General in the regular 
army, and resigned one year thereafter. He became Vice-Presi- 
dent and general agent of Colt's Fire-Arm Company at Hartford, 
Connecticut, in November, 1865, where he is still engaged. He 
was chosen President of the Commissioners constituted for the 
erection of a new State House in that city, and is at present Con- 
sulting Engineer of the Board. 



CHAPTER X. 




illustrious. 
1836, but 



NDREW ATKINSON HUMPHREYS, Brigadier- 
General in the regular service, and Major-Gen- 
eral of volunteers, was born in Philadelphia, on 
the 2d of November, 1810. He was the son of 
Samuel Humphreys of that city, Chief Constructor 
of the Navy. He was educated at West Point, 
graduating in 1831. Entering the service as Bre- 
vet Second Lieutenant in the Second artillery, 
he served until April, 1832, as Assistant Professor 
of Engineers at West Point. He then took the 
field and was engaged against the Indians in 
Florida, where he displayed that resolution and 
intrepidity which was destined to make his name 
He was promoted to First Lieutenant in August, 
in September following resigned. On the 7th of 
July, 1838, he was reappointed First Lieutenant of Topographi- 
cal Engineers. From 1845 to 1849 he was assistant to the Chief 
of the Coast Survey, having in the meantime been promoted to 
Captain. In August, 1853, he was placed over the Bureau of 
Explorations and Surveys in the War Department. He was pro- 
moted to Major in August, 1861, and in March, 1862, was Aide- 
de-camp on the staff of General McClellan, with the rank of 
Colonel. On the 6th of May, 1862, he was made Brigadier-Gen- 
eral of volunteers. Upon the organization of the regiments from 
Pennsylvania for the nine months' service, late in the summer 
of 1862, General Humphreys was given their command, consti- 
tuting the Third division of the Fifth corps. It was of Hooker's 
Grand Division, and at a critical period in the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg he was ordered in as a forlorn hope. It was in front 
of Marye's Heights, where three veteran divisions had already 



been thrown back torn and bleeding. 

736 



A great harvest of death 







Maj. GEX. a.a.humphr eys . 



ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS. 737 

had been gathered, and ghastly forms covered all the ground 
now drenched with gore. His troops were fresh levies, who had 
never been under fire. But in that hour of desperation they 
knew that they were led by a tried soldier, and obedient to his 
call they were borne onward in the face of a storm of shot and 
shell, over the prostrate forms of the unhappy victims of previous 
charges, up to the very muzzles of the enemy's guns; yet no 
valor was equal to that fearfully destructive fire, and his deci- 
mated columns were compelled to fall back. Where was ever a 
heroism that exceeded Humphreys' in this charge ! He was 
doubtless as well convinced when he went in, as when, scourged 
and almost annihilated, he came out, that the attempt would be 
fruitless ; but obedient to an imperious mandate he went to the 
very verge of destruction, and did all that mortal could do to 
snatch victory and achieve a triumph, perilling life and limb 
without a murmur. 

In the battle of Chancellorsville he again led his division 
where the conflict waged fiercest, and the fire was most destruc- 
tive. On that Sunday morning, the 3d of May, when the 
legions of Jackson were led on by his most resolute Lieutenants, 
with a desperation and determined courage rarely paralleled, they 
met Humphreys. But here, as at Fredericksburg, there were 
inherent defects in the plan and conduct of the battle,, and the 
grandest exhibitions of valor counted for naught. At the close 
of this campaign his division was for the most part mustered out, 
its term of service having expired, and he was given a division 
in the Third corps. When General Meade came to the command 
of the army, he selected General Humphreys for his chief of staff, 
an office of honor and responsibility ; but being upon the point 
of fighting a great battle, he deferred making the change until 
the conflict was over, and Humphreys led his division at Gettys- 
burg. Few positions can be selected in all the great battle- 
grounds of the war more exposed or perilous than that on which 
he was called to stand on this field. But he took it, and held it 
manfully until ordered back ; and when the foe followed with des- 
peration and sought to throw him into rout, slowly and sullenly 
he went, turning often to deal swift destruction to his too san- 
guine pursuers. 
47 



738 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

After the close of this battle he assumed the duties of chief of 
staff, and remained in that position through the fall campaign 
in the Valley of Virginia, during the Wilderness campaign, and 
the siege of Petersburg, to November, 18G4. He was then put in 
command of the Second corps, which he led with great skill and 
gallantry in the remaining operations before Petersburg, and in 
the pursuit and final triumph over Lee, particularly distinguish- 
ing himself at Sailor's Creek. He was brevetted Brigadier and 
Major-General in the regular army in 1865. On the 8th of 
August, 18GG, he was made Chief of Engineers with the rank of 
Brigadier-General, which position he still holds. He is withal a 
man of literary tastes and accomplishments, is a member of 
several learned societies, and in 18G1 published a memoir on the 
Physics and Hydraulics of the Mississippi River. In 18G8 the 
degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the corporation of 
Harvard University. 

Y~^ eorge W. Cullum, Brevet Major-General in the regular 
^fej'* army, was born in the city of New York, on the 25th of 
February, 1809. When he was quite young the family removed 
to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where his boyhood was spent. He 
was educated at the Military Academy at W^est Point, where he 
graduated in the class of 1833. He entered the service as Brevet 
Second Lieutenant in the Engineer corps, was promoted to Sec- 
ond Lieutenant in 183G, and to Captain, in 1838. His life has 
been largely devoted to the construction of coast defences. His 
earliest work was upon the massive structure of Fort Adams, at 
Newport, Rhode Island. For a period of ten years, commencing 
in 1838, he superintended the erection of Fort Trumbull, and the 
battery at Fort Griswold, New London, Connecticut. During the 
last two of these years, he was also engaged upon Forts War- 
ren, Independence, and Winthrop, in Boston harbor. In 1848 
he was Professor of Practical Military Engineering at West Point, 
where he continued until 1855, spending, in the meantime, two 
years in foreign travel for the benefit of his health, and super- 
intending the construction of the Assay (Mice in New York. Sub- 
sequently he was engaged upon the public works in North and 
South Carolina, including Fort Sumter, and in 1858 was placed 



GEORGE W. CULLU3L- ALFRED SULLY. 739 

over the fortifications at New Bedford, Newport, New London. 
and Sound entrance to New York. At the opening of the Rebel- 
lion he was ordered to Washington, where he was assigned to 
the staff of General Scott, with the rank of Colonel. In Novem- 
ber, 1861, he was appointed Brigadier-General of volunteers, and 
Chief of staff and of Engineers to General Halleck, serving with 
that General in his campaign in the West, embracing the siege of 
Corinth. He was for a time in command at Cairo, Illinois. He 
served with Halleck in Washington while the latter was at the 
head of the army, and during almost the entire period of the war 
was a member of the United States Sanitary Commission. In 
September, 1864, he was appointed Superintendent of the Acad- 
emy at West Point, which position he held for two years. He 
was brevetted Major-General on the loth of March, 1865. Gen- 
eral Cullum has been quite a voluminous writer on military sub- 
jects, having published a Register of the Military Academ}- in 
1850, Military Bridges with India Rubier Pontoons in 1849, a 
translation of Duparcqs Elements of Military Art and History in 
1863, and a Biographical Register of the Military Academy in 
two volumes in 1868. He is at present third in the Corps of 
Engineers, with the rank of Colonel. 



lfeed Sully, Brevet Major-General of volunteers, and Briga- 
^^z dier-General in the regular army, was born in Philadel- 
phia, in 1821. He was the son of the eminent portrait painter, 
Thomas Sully. He was educated at West Point, graduating in 
1841, and entered the service in July, as Second Lieutenant in 
the Second infantry. He served against the Seminoles in Florida, 
and in the Mexican war was at the siege of Vera Cruz, for which 
he was made First Lieutenant, and in February, 1852, was pro- 
moted to Captain. On the 4th of March, 1862, just previous to 
the departure of McClellan's army to the Peninsula, he was ap- 
pointed Colonel of the First Minnesota volunteers, and was soon 
after placed in command of a brigade, which he led throughout 
the Peninsula campaign, distinguishing himself at Fair Oaks, and 
receiving the brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the regular 
service. He was also conspicuous at Malvern Hill, and was 
brevetted Colonel. In October, 1862, he was made Brigadier- 



740 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

General of volunteers, having led his command at South Moun- 
tain and Antietam, and in the battles of Fredericksburg and 
Chancellorsville, in all of which he acquitted himself with marked 
gallantry. In 1863, he was in command of a column in Dakota, 
where he remained for three years, having in the meantime 
carried on successful campaigns against the Indians in the North- 
' west, distinguishing himself at the battle of Whitestone Hill. He 
was brevetted Brigadier-General in the regular army and Major- 
General of volunteers, for gallant and meritorious services. He 
was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third infantry in July, 1866, 
and in December, 1870, was assigned to duty with the Nineteenth 
infantry. In December, 1873, he was promoted to Colonel of the 
Twenty-first infantry, with which he is still serving. 

^Piiomas H. Neill, Colonel of the Twenty-third regiment, 
1 Brevet Brigadier-General in the regular service, and Brevet 
Major-General of volunteers, was born at Philadelphia, on the 
0th of April, 1826. He was the son of Henry Neill, M. D., 
and Martha (Butter) Neill. He was educated in private schools in 
that city, and at the University of Pennsylvania, where he had 
passed to the Sophomore class when he was appointed a cadet at 
West Point, graduating in 1847. He entered the army as Second 
Lieutenant, and served in the Mexican War. Until 1853 he was 
on duty on the frontier in Arkansas, against Cherokee, Creek, 
and Indian nations, and in northwestern Texas. He was Assist- 
ant Professor of Drawing at West Point in 1856, and afterward 
served in Utah, on the Plains, and in winter campaigns against 
the Navajoes in New Mexico. As mustering officer at Philadel- 
phia, in 1861, he inducted more than 10,000 men into the 
Tinted States service. During the three months' campaign he 
was Assistant Adjutant-General to General Cadwalader, in the 
column of General Patterson. At its close he organized a bat- 
talion of regulars from fragments of the First, Third and Eighth 
regiments, which had been captured and afterwards paroled, 
in Texas. 

Upon the promotion of Colonel Birney to Brigadier-General, 
Neill was selected to succeed him as Colonel of the Twenty-third 
regiment. The first severe fighting in which he was engaged 



THOMAS H. NEILL. 74 1 

was at Fair Oaks, on the 31st of May, 1862. At two in the 
afternoon, Neill was ordered to the support of Casey's hard- 
pressed troops, where he displayed a bravery that attracted the 
attention and won the applause of all. " Once more," says a 
correspondent of the New York Herald, " the woods were alive 
with fire. Gallant Colonel Neill, with the Twenty-third Penn- 
sylvania, was first into it, and by his presence kept up the spirit 
of his men. His fire had been reserved until the enemy wore 
very near to him, and only six rounds had been discharged when 
his own men and the enemy were fairly face to face. Then 
he gave his men the word to charge, and went in ahead to show 
them how to do it. The enemy gave way and scattered before 
the Twenty-third ; but now Neill had the fire of the foe upon his 
right and left, and began to suffer severely as he fell back to his' 
place." Three color-bearers were stricken down, and Colonel 
Neill had his horse shot under him. At Malvern Hill he 
was thirteen hours upon the front line without relief, and ren- 
dered the most important service. " The left of the regiment," 
he says, " was in a trying position here. It overlapped a battery 
which was obliged to fire over our heads. Several men were 
lost by premature explosion of shells from our own guns. . . . 
The success of this day had a fine effect upon the men, as they 
had a better field in which to act than at Fair Oaks." In 
the Maryland campaign, and afterwards in the pursuit of the 
enemy towards Warrenton, he was temporarily in command of a 
brigade. 

He was now made a full Brigadier-General, and was advanced 
to the permanent charge of a brigade, which he led in the Fred- 
ericksburg battle, in the storming of Marye's Heights in the 
Chancellors ville campaign, and at Salem Church, in which the 
duty was severe. After the battle of Gettysburg, where he was 
held upon an important part of the field in an important period 
in the battle, he was placed in command of a light division com- 
posed of Mcintosh's brigade of cavalry, his own brigade of 
infantry, and Martin's battery, with which he was sent in 
pursuit of the retreating enemy, pushing him through Waynes- 
boro and across the Antietam to Hagerstown. In the battle 
of Rappahannock Station he led his own brigade, and, after 



742 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the fall of General Getty, succeeded to the command of his 
division. In the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, the Bloody Angle, 
at the North Anna and Pamunky, at Cold Harbor and at Peters- 
burg, he was constant in his duty and ever ready to meet the 
foe. He went with the Sixth corps to the Shenandoah Valley in 
the summer of 1864, and fought under Sheridan in the battle of 
Winchester. Afterwards he was assigned to a command in General 
Hancock's First army corps, and was president of a board for the 
examination of officers for colored troops. He was also Recorder 
of a board for the examination of infantry officers in the regular 
army. He was in command of the regiment in the field at camp 
near Fort Hays, and at Fort Riley from December, 1871, to 
August, 1872. He is at present in command of a column 
directed against hostile Indians in Colorado. 



\ 



eorge Shorkley, Brevet Colonel of the Fifty-first regiment, 



^J was born at Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, on the 
20th of May, 1837. His father, James Cushman Shorkley, was of 
Scotch and English origin, and his mother, Julia Annie (Thorn- 
ton) Shorkley, of English descent. Until the age of eighteen he 
remained with his parents acquiring a fair business education, 
after which he removed to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to engage 
with his brothers in the manufacture of iron and agricultural 
implements, and was employed in this business until the opening 
of the Rebellion. He was active in recruiting, and on the 22d 
of September, 1861, was mustered as First Lieutenant of Com- 
pany H, of the Fifty-first. 

The regiment was with Burnside in his expedition upon the 
North Carolina coast, and in the battles of Roanoke Island, New- 
bern, and Camden, Lieutenant Shorkley fought with his company, 
doing efficient service in each, this regiment being assigned 
prominent places, and acquitting itself, though on its first cam- 
paign, in a manner worthy of its gallant commander, Colonel 
John F. Hartranft. In the movement upon Camden, Lieutenant 
Shorkley acted as Adjutant of the regiment, and on the 6th of 
June, 1862, received his commission for that position. He was 
solicited by General Ferrero to become Assistant Adjutant-General 
to the brigade, but this position he declined, preferring to remain 



GEORGE SHORKLEY. 743 

with his regiment. At Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, 
and Antietara, the command was put at the fore-front, proving 
itself, in the most trying emergencies, steadfast and true. In 
the battle of Antietam, it was this regiment which carried the 
celebrated Burnside Bridge, after repeated failures by other 
troops. Adjutant Shorkley in this desperate charge was fearless 
and intrepid, inspiring courage and daring by his example, exe- 
cuting the orders of Colonel Hartranft with fidelity, and actually 
leading the column upon the bridge, swept by the enemy's fire. 
In that terrible ordeal few escaped unscathed, and he was among 
the severely wounded, receiving a musket shot in the left arm. 
He was taken from the field, and sent for treatment, first 
to the Georgetown Seminary Hospital, and from thence to the 
General Hospital at Philadelphia, where he remained until the 
spring of 1863. Though still disqualified for field service, his 
arm requiring the use of a sling, he sought such duty as was 
suited to his condition, and was assigned as Aide-de-camp to 
General D. N. Couch, then commanding the Department of the 
Susquehanna, during the Gettysburg campaign. He was also in 
command of Camp Parole at West Chester. 

In the meantime, the Ninth corps, in which was the Fifty- 
first regiment, had been sent to the Western armies, first to 
Kentucky, then to Grant, at that time pressing the siege of 
Vicksburg, and subsequently to Knoxville, East Tennessee, at 
which place Adjutant Shorkley rejoined it in November, 1863. 
Hartranft was now in command of the Second division of the 
Ninth corps, and with him Shorkley served as Acting Inspec- 
tor-General in the siege of Knoxville. Upon the reorganization 
of the corps, after its return to the Atlantic coast, he was 
ordered to duty as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General to General 
Hartranft, and in this capacity took part in the battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and of the 
Petersburg mine. In the latter he was severely wounded in the 
right hand, which he lost with the exception of the thumb. He 
was sufficiently recovered to return tc duty in November, 1864, 
when he was desired to take the position which he had left, with 
the rank of Captain. But this he declined on account of the loss of 
his right hand, not having yet acquired the habit of writing well 



744 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

with the left, and accepted instead the position of Assistant 
Inspector-General on the staff of General Hartranft, in command 
of a division of Pennsylvania troops. 

In the brilliant engagement at Fort Steadman, on the 25th 
of March, 18G5, Captain Shorkley was again severely wounded 
in the right thigh. While lying in the field hospital he was 
visited by the Commander of the Army of the Potomac, who 
complimented him for his gallant conduct, and gave him leave to 
proceed as soon as able to Georgetown Hospital for treatment. 

As early as May, 1863, while serving in the Department of 
the Susquehanna, he had been commissioned Major, but not 
mustered. In April, 1864, he was commissioned Captain. And 
now, for gallant and meritorious services at Fort Steadman, he 
was bre vetted Lieutenant-Colonel, and a month later Colonel, for 
long, faithful, and valuable services. Rejoining the division in 
April, he was ordered to duty as Acting Inspector-General of the 
Ninth corps, on the staff of General Parke, in which he remained 
until mustered out of the volunteer service with his regiment. 

In February, 1866, he was appointed Second Lieutenant of the 
Fifteenth United States infantry, and was commissioned on the 
same date First Lieutenant. On the 2d of March, 1867, he was 
brevetted Captain in the regular army for " gallant " services 
at Antietam, and Major for "gallant and meritorious" services at 
Fort Steadman. In October following he was commissioned Cap- 
tain in the Fifteenth infantry. He first served as Acting Assist- 
ant Adjutant-General to Generals Shepherd and Hay den, com- 
manding in the District of Alabama, during 1867-8, whence he 
proceeded to Texas with his regiment, and during parts of 1868-9 
was in command of the post at Clarksville. In September, 1869, 
he was placed in command of the post at Fort McRae, New Mex- 
ico, the nearest station occupied by any part of the army to the 
Southern Apache Indians, where he remained till 1872. He is 
at present with his company at Fort Craig. 

i|>g)EVi Maish, Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirtieth regi- 
'£^4 ment, waa born on the 22d of November, 1837, in Cone- 
wago township, York county, Pennsylvania. He was the son 
of David and Sallie (Nieman) Maish. He received a common- 



LEVI MAISH.— LEMUEL TODD. 745 

school education, and in the York County Academy a higher 
English training, but made only indifferent progress in the ancient 
languages. When not at school, he was employed upon the farm 
until the age of seventeen. He then served an apprenticeship to 
a machinist, and remained two years, developing a decided taste 
for this business. 

In July, 18G2, he recruited a company for the service of the 
United States, and with it joined the One Hundred and Thirtieth 
regiment, of which he was soon after promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel. In the battle of Antietam, where his regiment, which 
had had hardly time to learn anything of its duty, was put into 
the fight upon the most hotly-contested part of the field, he 
received a shot in the right lung, which the surgeons were unable 
to extract, and which still remains in its lodgment. On the 14 th 
of December, 18G3, on the day after the fall of Colonel Zinn at 
Fredericksburg, he was promoted to Colonel, and led his regiment 
in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he received a slight 
wound in the right hip. The time of his command expired soon 
afterwards, and with it he was mustered out of service. He 
represented York county in the Legislature, in the sessions of 
1867 and 1868. 

ijpg)EMUEL Todd, Major of the First Reserve regiment, was born 
■£=4 on the 29th of July, 1817, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, of 
Scotch-Irish descent. He was educated at Dickinson College, 
read law with General Samuel Alexander, and, on being admitted 
to the bar in 1841, formed a business partnership with his pre- 
ceptor. His tastes ran in the line of his profession and of politics, 
and he became noted for his effective oratory. In 1849 he mar- 
ried Miss Sarah A. Wilson, granddaughter of Captain David 
Wilson, of Adams county. Upon the call for troops, in 1861, he 
raised a company for the three months' service, but not being 
accepted, he held it for three years' duty, and it was incorporated 
in the First Reserve, of which he was made Major. He partici- 
pated with his command in the battle of Dranesville, in the 
Seven Days' battle upon the Peninsula, in the Second Bull Run, 
and Chantilly. At the end of this time he was obliged, on account 
of severe attacks of disease, to leave the field, and soon afterwards 



746 MARTIAL LEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

resigned. In the fall of 1862, and winter of 1863, under the 
appointment of Governor Curtin, with the rank of Colonel, he 
organized the drafted men of the eastern part of the State, in the 
camp at Philadelphia. He subsequently served on the staff of 
the Governor as Inspector-General, and in that capacity was 
charged with the organization of the militia, and the formation 
of the State Guard. He was a member of the Thirty-fourth 
Congress, and is now serving in the Forty-third. 

Hj~7\avii) Watson Rowe, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hun- 
J-^ dred and Twenty-sixth regiment, was born at Greencastle, 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of November, 1836. 
He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Prather) Rowe. His 
father was a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1853, 
was Surveyor-General of the State from 1856 to 1859, and was 
Speaker of the House during the period of the late war. His 
great-grandfather, James Watson, was an officer in the Revolu- 
tion, his commissions as Captain and Colonel bearing date July 
8th, 1776, and July 1st, 1777. The son early manifested a taste 
for study, and graduated at Marshall College, after which he 
read law. He enlisted as a private in the Second regiment, and 
served through Patterson's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, 
having been promoted to Sergeant-Major and First Lieutenant. 
When the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth regiment was 
organized, he was selected as Lieutenant-Colonel. On the 5th of 
August, 1862, the day previous to his departure for the front, he 
was married to Miss Annie E. Fletcher. He was present at 
Antietam, but was held in reserve and not actively engaged. 
His regiment, in the battle of Fredericksburg, bore itself with 
great steadiness and courage, in the face of a most deadly fire. 
When the battle was at its height, and raging with great fury, 
Colonel Elder was wounded. The command then devolved upon 
Lieutenant-Colonel Rowe, under whose skilful Leadership the 
struggle was maintained, and finally, when it was seen that the 
conflict was fruitless, and that further sacrifice, already fearful, 
was vain, he brought the remnants off, in obedience to commands, 
in good order. General Joseph Hooker was asked by the com- 
mittee which inquired respecting the conduct of the war, 



D. WATSON BO WE. 747 

" How did the men behave during the attack?" 

" They behaved well. There never was anything more glori- 
ous than the behavior of the men. No campaign in the world 
ever saw a more gallant advance than Humphreys' men made 
there. But they were put to do a work that no men could do." 

Lieutenant-Colonel Rowe's command was of Humphreys' divi- 
sion, and this opinion was passed by a soldier who knew what 
gallantry meant, and in what consisted hard fighting. He was 
here wounded in the cheek by a rifle ball. 

On the field of Chancellorsville the conflict on the part of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-sixth was of a character not so des- 
perate as at Fredericksburg ; for here the enemy was obliged to 
show himself, having nothing better behind which to take shelter 
than the dense wood and undergrowth. The enemy having 
turned the Union right, pressed upon the unprotected flank, 
occupied, for the time, by Tyler's brigade, to which Colonel Rowe's 
regiment belonged, and passing around to the rear, threatened it 
with capture. Thus outflanked the regiment was forced to retire, 
which it did in obedience to the commander of the brigade, but 
not until all the ammunition which the men carried had been 
exhausted, and that also had been gathered which could be found 
in the cartridge boxes of the dead and wounded lying near them. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Rowe was in chief command throughout this 
action, and of him General Tyler, in his report of the battle, 
says : " Colonel Rowe exhibited the true characteristics of a 
soldier — brave, cool, and determined ; and his spirit was infused 
into every officer and soldier of his command." 

After his return from the field at the expiration of his term, 
he resumed the practice of his profession, and in March, 18G8, 
when only thirty-one years of age, was appointed by Governor 
Geary, President Judge of the sixteenth judicial district of Penn- 
sylvania, a position of great honor and responsibility, ever filled 
by men of learning and ability ; and in the October following he 
was elected by the people to the same office for the term of ten 
} T ears. In person he is full six feet in height, of a pallid and 
scholastic countenance, a piercing black eye, raven hair, and 
that urbane and dignified demeanor which stamps him as a man 
of mark. 



748 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ffi?f i ram L. Brown, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- 
QS^- fifth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born at 
North East, Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of October, 
1832. He was the son of Hiram L. and Philena (Sears) Brown, 
both natives of this region. When but two years old the family 
removed to the city of Erie. He was educated at the county 
academy, and at the age of fifteen entered upon his novitiate in 
the business of printing, in the office of the Erie Gazette, and con- 
tinued it in that of the Observer, where he remained three years. 
In 18o0, then at the age of eighteen, fired by the fever which 
carried multitudes to the new Eldorado, he went to California, 
and remained one year at the mines about Little Deer Creek and 
Nevada City. He then returned home, and after the death of 
his father, which occurred in 1853, he became proprietor of 
Brown's Hotel, widely and favorably known, and, with the 
exception of one year which he spent in Chicago, so remained 
until the opening of the war. . 

For a year previous he had been a member of that noted vol- 
unteer company, the Wayne Guards, which proved so excellent a 
school for the development of military talent, in which he was 
Corporal and Lieutenant, and was, besides, Major of militia. 
When troops were called for three months, he went as Captain 
of Company B in the Erie regiment, Colonel John W. McLane. 
A new regiment for three years' service — the Eighty-third — was 
promptly formed on the return of this, in recruiting which he 
was active. Tidings of the Bull Run disaster were then fresh, and 
on the Sunday morning after the sad intelligence was received, 
Captain Brown took his command by special train to Warren, 
sixty miles away, where a war meeting was that evening held. 
The military ardor was so aroused that volunteering was rapid, 
and Colonel McLane soon had the ranks of his regiment full. 

Captain Brown's first engagement was at Hanover Court 
House, where the enemy under General Branch were driven. At 
the fierce battle of Gaines' Mill, fought shortly after, his clothing 
was cut in several places, and finally he was shot through the 
body, the ball entering just below the heart, passing quite 
through, and resting in his watch-pocket. The wound was 
supposed to be mortal. He lay all night under a tree upon 



HIRAM L. BROWN. 749 

the left bank of the Chickahominy. In the morning a soldier 
crossed upon a rude raft which he constructed, and brought 
the wounded Captain off. He was taken to Savage Station, 
where he was left in hospital, and where he fell into the 
enemy's hands. After lying here for a month, his wound in the 
meantime healing, he was exchanged. He saved his sword by 
an ingenious device. A brother officer, Captain John F. Morris, 
was so badly mangled as to necessitate his being carried through 
the city of Richmond on a straw tick. In the straw he con- 
cealed his cherished weapon, and it escaped observation. All 
other officers lost their arms. The return of Captain Brown was 
hailed with great joy, as of one resurrected from the dead ; for he 
had been reported among the killed, and his death had been 
noticed in the Erie, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburg papers, and 
the country press of that region. On his arrival at Erie the bells 
of the city were rung amid general rejoicing, and a committee of 
citizens from Buffalo were sent to express their gratification. 

At this time the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, a 
three years' regiment, was being organized, and Captain Brown 
was solicited to become its leader. Though regretting to leave 
his company in the Eighty-third, he accepted and was soon 
absorbed in bringing his new command to a condition of 
efficiency. He hastened to the front during the progress of the 
Antietam campaign, and was at first placed over the receiving 
camp at Chambersburg. He was afterwards sent with his own 
regiment, two pieces of artillery and a force of cavalry, by com- 
mand of General Reynolds, to Minor's Cross Roads, in which 
direction it was anticipated that the enemy might retire from 
the Antietam field. He was afterwards assigned to Meagher's 
brigade, Caldwell's division of the Second corps. 

Colonel Brown was officer of the day on the 13th of December, 
1862, on which the battle of Fredericksburg was fought, and 
was ordered to withdraw his pickets and rejoin his brigade as 
soon as General French had marched over them to open the 
battle. In the progress of the fight he was brought under the 
hottest of the fire, and was shot through the right lung. Though 
slightly stunned he moved forward, and shortly after received a 
wound through the leg above the knee. Just then the blood 



750 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

from the wounded lung began to be discharged from the mouth, 
when he became faint, and it was some moments before conscious- 
ness returned. He walked off the field, and was carried across 
the river to a hospital. Again was he reported mortally 
wounded. The slaughter in his regiment was fearful, more than 
half of an aggregate of nearly five hundred men being carried 
down in the fight. The flag, presented by the ladies of Erie, 
was pierced by forty-three bullets and one shell, the staff broken, 
the eagle which surmounted it carried away, and five color- 
bearers killed under it. In his official report General Hancock 
bore ample testimony to the conspicuous gallantry of the Colonel 
and his fine body of men. 

In the Chancellorsville campaign, it was anticipated that 
resistance would be encountered to laying the pontoons at United 
States Ford, and Colonel Brown was sent, with his own and two 
regiments detailed from General French's command, to cover the 
work; but it was executed without opposition. He led his regiment 
in the various manoeuvres of the army in the early part of the 
battle, and after the rout upon the Union left supported Petti ts' 
battery, the enemy's shells, in response, firing the Chancellor 
House and burning it to the ground. 

At Gettysburg he shared the fortunes of Caldwell's division, as 
it moved to action over the historic Wheat Field, where the 
struggle was obstinate and bloody throughout. The enemy was 
encountered in his lurking places in the wooded ground and was 
temporarily driven. 

Before entering upon the campaign in the Wilderness, in 18G4, 
Colonel Brown was placed in command of a brigade in Barlow's 
division of the Second corps. This he led with marked gallantry 
on that sanguinary field. At the Po river he held the extreme 
right of the line, and was accredited in General Hancock's report 
with having repulsed two successive onsets of a division of 
Hill's men. During the early morning of the 12th of May, with 
the rest of Barlow's forces, he marched to the front near Spottsyl- 
vania Court House, where one of the most brilliant charges of the 
war was made, whereby an entire division with General Johnson, 
its leader, and twenty-two cannon were captured. While the 
fight was raging, Colonel Brown was cut off and taken captive. 



HIRAM L. BROWN. 751 

After enduring the hardships of rebel prisons for some time, 
orders came for fifty officers of the highest rank to prepare 
themselves with four days rations for removal. Confidently did 
these officers anticipate that this was for an exchange ; but what 
was their astonishment to find themselves incarcerated in the 
Charleston jail in company with common felons! By the pay- 
ment of a one dollar greenback for a morning paper, Colonel 
Brown learned that they had been put under the fire of the 
Union guns by order of the Confederate authorities. The United 
States Government shortly put an end to this by exposing a 
like number, and of equal grade, of rebel officers, under the fire of 
their own guns on Morris' Island. This course brought a speedy 
exchange. 

Soon after his return to the front, the army being before 
Petersburg, he was placed in command of a brigade of the Second 
corps, and was brevetted Brigadier-General. The earnestness 
with which General Hancock urged this promotion is shown by 
the following extract of a letter addressed by that officer to 
Judge Watts, of Carlisle: "I have recommended in an official 
manner, some months since, Colonel H. L. Brown, of the One 
Hundred and Forty-fifth, for promotion for Spottsylvania, May 
12th. Since then I recommended him, in a formal manner, for a 
brevet as Brigadier-General for the same action, in order that, 
if he was not made a Brigadier-General of volunteers, he might 
be made a Brigadier-General by brevet. In these formal recom- 
mendations I recapitulated his faithful and gallant services, his 
wounds, so far as I was enabled to get the data. I trust he 
may be promoted and ordered here. We require the services 
of such brave men." 

General Brown remained in the service until February, 1865, 
when, experiencing much trouble from the wound in his lung, 
from which he had never fully recovered, he was honorably dis- 
charged for physical disability contracted in the line of duty. On 
several occasions he was made the recipient of tokens of regard 
from his men, who could best appreciate his worth, and from 
admiring friends. The one which was perhaps most highly 
prized was that of a horse, saddle, and bridle, and full equip- 
ments, presented by the non-commissioned officers and privates 



752 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth regiment, the pommel of 
the saddle being inscribed with the names of the entire number. 
General Brown is unmarried. In person he is over six feet in 
height, and stalwart. Since the war he has been for a term of 
three years Sheriff' of Erie county. 

!onx Swayze McCalmont, Colonel of the Tenth Reserve regi- 
ment, was born at Franklin, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of 
April, 1822. His father, Alexander McCalmont, and his mother, 
Eliza Hart (Connely) McCalmont, were both natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, remotely descended from the Scotch-Irish, who form a 
sturdy and sterling element in the population of the State. He 
was early initiated into the mysteries of a printing office, where 
he labored for several years during the intervals in the terms of 
the public schools. He was afterwards put to the Latin school 
of the Rev. Nathaniel Snowden, and finally to Allegheny College, 
at Meadville. He entered the United States Military Academy 
at West Point in 1838, and graduated with credit in due course. 
He was brevetted Second Lieutenant in the Third regiment of 
infantry in July, 1842, and in the October following was pro- 
moted to Second Lieutenant of the Eighth infantry. Having a 
taste for civil pursuits, and tiring of the inactivity of army life 
in time of peace, after about a year's experience he resigned, and 
devoted himself to the law. 

At the opening of the Rebellion, he was President Judge 
of the eighteenth judicial district, to which office he had been 
appointed by Governor Bigler in May, 1853, and elected in 
October of that year. As he warmly supported the national 
authorities, he tendered his services to Governor Curtin, and 
was commissioned Colonel of the Tenth regiment of the Re- 
serve corps. His knowledge of military duty was of great 
advantage, the mass of volunteer officers, as well as privates; 
being entirely destitute of experience in the art they were called 
to practise. Upon the organization of the division, Colonel 
McCalmont was assigned to the command of the Third brigade 
which he exercised until superseded by General E. 0. C. Orel. 
In the battle of Dranesville, which was fought on the 20th 
of December, 1861, Colonel McCalmont bore himself with gal- 



JOHN S. McCALMOXT. 753 

lantry, and received the approval of Generals McClellan, Orel, 
and McCall. 

Colonel Ayer, who was then serving as Captain of one of 
Colonel McCalmont's companies, makes the following mention 
of his chief in this engagement : " The action was opened by a 
smart firing between our own and the rebel skirmishers, and 
very soon the artillery of the enemy opened uj^on us. Our 
artillery, Captain Easton's battery, was soon in position and did 
terrible work, blowing up one of their ammunition boxes, killing 
eight or nine horses, and doubtless killing and wounding many 
men. Just previous, Colonel McCalmont had ridden up, and 
perceiving that they were shooting too high, called out, ' Point 
your pieces lower, my boys ! You are firing over them ! You 
must lower your guns !' They did so, and with what effect has 
just been described. Colonel McCalmont was everywhere, where 
his presence was most needed, during this engagement, displaying 
great courage and self-possession." 

The operations of the army during the winter of 1861— '62 were 
dilatory, little congenial to the impetuous nature of Colonel 
McCalmont, and warned by failing health that he would be un- 
able to endure the hardships of a protracted struggle he resigned. 
The officers of his regiment in parting with him united in reso- 
lutions recounting his faithful services and gallantry as a soldier. 
" Colonel McCalmont," says Ayer, " was much respected by offi- 
cers and men. Of fine soldierly bearing and a high sense of 
honor, his presence was calculated to inspire all with confidence 
and esteem. A high-toned Christian gentleman, I believe the 
universal feeling was that of regret that we had lost so brave, 
considerate, and kind a commander." Previous to the war he 
had held several offices of honor and responsibility. He was 
Deputy Attorney-General of Clarion, McKean, and Elk counties 
in 1846, a member of the House of Eepresentatives of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1849-50, Speaker of that body in the latter year, 
and a Presidential Elector in 1852, in addition to the judicial 
position above noticed. On leaving the service, he resumed the 
practice of his profession at Franklin. In 1872 he was a lay 
representative of the Erie Conference of the Methodist Protestant 
Episcopal Church in theueneral Conference held at Brooklyn, 

48 



754 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

New York. In stature he is above the ordinary height, being 
six feet two and a half inches, spare but broad-shouldered, and 
of fair complexion. He was married on the 2d of March, 1848, 
to Elizabeth P. Stekley, of Harrisburg. 

*7J\ANIEL White Magraw, Colonel of the One Hundred and 



J — < Sixteenth regiment, was born in the county of Down, Ire- 
land, on the 12th of June, 1839. He was the son of William and 
Rachael (Bailey) Magraw, both natives of Ireland. He came with 
his parents to this country when only three years of age, and 
settled in Pittsburg. He received a good common education in the 
public schools of that city, and on the 19th of September, 1859, 
was married to Miss Sarah J. Matthews. His first entrance to 
military service was in August, 18G1, as a private, and he was 
promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and in March, 18G4, to Captain 
of Company H of the One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment. In 
the battle of Fredericksburg he was severely wounded in the left 
thigh, losing a portion of the bone. He led his company through 
the Wilderness campaign with gallantry, and in November was 
promoted to the rank of Major, having especially distinguished 
himself in the battles at Deep Bottom and Strawberry Plains. 
In December he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. In the 
action at Gravelly Run, on the 31st of March, 1865, he received 
a severe wound in the left leg. He was commissioned Colonel 
not long afterwards, and with his regiment was mustered out on 
the 14th of July, 1864. 

;p~7LiAS Stevenson Troxell, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One 
-*— i Hundred and Fifty-eighth regiment and Major of the 
Twenty-second cavalry, was born on the 14th of June, 1824, 
near Emmittsburg, Maryland. He was the son of Elias and 
Ruth (Stevenson) Troxell. His mother, soon after the birth of 
her son, was left a widow, with four children dependent upon her 
for support, with small means beyond her own exertions. His 
advantages for gaining an education were, consequently, limited. 
But his natural desire to learn, coupled with a strong will, 
enabled him to master the elements of a good English education, 
and to familiarize himself with general literature. He showed 



D. W. MAGRAW.—E. S. TROXELL.—J. M. WETHERILL. 755 

some aptness in composition, and became a contributor to the 
Flag of our Union. At the age of twenty-six he removed to 
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Barbara 
S. Funk. 

He was earnest and active in support of the Government when 
assailed by armed rebellion. In October, 1862, he was commis- 
sioned Captain in the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Pennsyl- 
vania regiment, and in November following became Lieutenant- 
Colonel. During the winter of 1862-63 he was stationed with 
his command at Newbern, North Carolina. While the move- 
ments were in progress, under the direction of General Prince, 
for raising the siege of Little Washington, he led the One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-eighth, and displayed energy and courage. He 
had embarked his men upon two small steamers in readiness to 
run up the Pamlico River, past obstructions and rebel batteries 
commanding the stream ; but was prevented from undertaking 
this daring feat by the officer of the squadron, who was unwilling 
to trust the lives of the men without protection to such a fire as 
they were sure to encounter. He consequently debarked, and 
took part in the operations by land for the relief of the garrison. 
At the conclusion of his term of service he was mustered out ; 
but in March, 1864, again entered upon active duty as Major 
of the Twenty-second cavalry, a three-year regiment which had 
just been recruited, and which rendered important service in the 
Shenandoah Valley, and in West Virginia, during the campaigns 
of that and the following year. In the numerous battles and skir- 
mishes in which Major Troxell was engaged, he proved himself 
a reliable and most devoted soldier. He was mustered out of 
service finally in October, 1865. At the close of the war he be- 
came a resident of Martinsburg, West Virginia, and was in 1866 
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Berkeley county. He has 
been three times in succession elected, his present term not 
expiring until January, 1879. 

fOHN Macomb Wetherill, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighty- 
second regiment, was born in Philadelphia, on the 11th of 
February, 1828. He was the son of William and Isabella 
(Macomb) Wetherill. He was educated in the schools of the city, 



756 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating at the age 
of eighteen. He had a natural liking for military duty, and 
joined a militia organization in which he rose to be Major, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel and Colonel in succession, serving until the 
opening of the Civil War. On the 19th of April, 1861, four days 
after the call for troops, he was mustered into the service of the 
United States as Aide-de-camp, with the rank of Captain, for 
ninety days, the limit fixed by the call. At the expiration of 
this term he was commissioned as Major of the Eighty-second 
regiment. 

At Fair Oaks, on the 31st of May, this organization had its 
first experience of fighting, which indeed proved a baptism of fire. 
It was here that the enemy came out in heavy force and struck 
the division of Casey. The first intimation had that the enemy- 
was advancing was the passing of a guard having in charge an 
aid of Johnston, the rebel Ceneral-in-Chief. Soon after, rapid 
firing gave token of the opening of the battle. Major Wetherill 
was in command of the regiment, which was drawn up on the 
Nine Mile road. In the progress of the battle the. troops posted 
here were flanked, and in danger of being cut off by the yielding 
of Casey's line. In perfect order, and with the guns of a battery 
which the regiment was charged to support under guard, it 
retired a half mile and took up a position on the road leading to 
Grape Vine Bridge. Here it was attacked by an enemy confi- 
dent of victory, who was nevertheless repulsed. Seven times did 
he come on with ever renewed assurance, and with fresh troops ; 
but numbers and reckless impetuosity availed not against the 
valor which fired the bosoms of the men of the Union on that 
devoted line. The victory was complete, and the dead and 
wounded of the foe upon its front were frightful to behold. 
Major Wetherill was warmly complimented for his soldierly con- 
duct on this field. 

At Antietam, on the evening after the battle, he was sent 
forward with his i^egiment upon the skirmish line, near the 
Dunkard Church. The enemy still held the ground, and kept 
up a show of strength to cover his retreat. The rebel sharp- 
shooters had climbed up into the tall forest trees, and, hid- 
den from view by the dark foliage, directed an annoying fire 



JAMES F. BY AN. 757 

upon the men of the Eighty-second. Major Wetherill relaxed 
not for an instant the most rigid discipline, and, by a rapid 
advance on the morning of the 19th, scattered the enemy, taking 
one gun and several prisoners. His conduct here was com- 
mended, and he was, in the following June, promoted to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel. 

In the battle of Cold Harbor, where the Union army displayed 
as much stubborn courage as upon any field of the war, but, 
alas! to little purpose and with vast sacrifice, the Eighty-second, 
unfortunately, had more than its share of danger to meet, and 
disaster to endure. In the face of a fire which swept it as with 
a flaming sword, it was led on, but, unable to reach the enemy's 
breastworks, fell to intrenching, and there passed the remainder 
of the day and the night following. At daylight the men were 
aroused from feverish and troubled rest to again charge. They 
had advanced but a few paces when the fire of the enemy 
became too terrible to withstand, and they again sank upon the 
earth for shelter. By the fall of Colonel Bassett, who commanded 
the regiment, the charge of the line fell upon Lieutenant-Colonel 
Wetherill. The position was a critical one. Seizing the flag he 
planted it in the earth and called upon the men to stand by it. 
His determined manner inspired confidence and renewed courage, 
and by desperate exertions a new protection was thrown up. It is 
thus that in times of peril the valor of the leader preserves the 
morale of his troops, and nerves the timid, even, to heroic action. 

In the engagements before Petersburg, and at Fort Stevens in 
front of Washington, when menaced by the legions of Early, 
Colonel Wetherill led his command with the steady and resolute 
courage which had characterized him from the first. At the 
expiration of his term of service, on the 16th of September, 1864, 
he was mustered out. In the Convention of the State, which met 
in December, 1872, for the revision of the Constitution, he was a 
prominent member. In person he is of medium stature, in 
health robust, and possessed of a dignified presence. 

JmAMES F. Ryan, Major of the Sixty-third regiment, was born 
^} in the county of Clare, Ireland, on the 3d of May, 1824. 
His parents emigrated to this country when the son was but a 



758 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

year old, and settled in Potts ville, Schuylkill county, but sub- 
sequently removed to Pittsburg. He was early inured to labor, 
but obtained, in the public and private schools of that city, 
a good English education. At the age of seventeen he was 
bound an apprentice to the business of tin and sheet iron making. 
He was married on the 6th of September, 1853, to Miss Mary 
McCloskey, of Pittsburg. He recruited a company for three years' 
.service, of which he was commissioned Captain, and which 
became a part of the Sixty-third regiment. He was wounded by 
a fragment of shell in the battle of Charles City Cross Roads, 
but was only off duty in consequence a single week. At* the 
Second Bull Run he received three wounds, but fortunately 
neither proved serious, and he remained on the field, and upon 
the fall of superior officers assumed command of the regiment. 
At Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Wapping 
Heights, in each of which he was at his post, he escaped 
unharmed, though the fighting of the regiment was desperate. 
After the battle of Chancellorsville he was warmly recommended 
for the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, but the return of officers to 
their positions made an adherence to the regular order of promo- 
tion imperative. At the conclusion of his term of service, on the 
1st of April, 18G4, he was mustered out, and returned to his home 
at McKeesport. 

fiiEODORE Frederick Lehmann, Colonel of the One Hundred 
and Third regiment, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, 
Germany, on the 1st of March, 1812. His father, Frederick 
Lehmann, a descendant of an old Hanoverian family, was an 
officer in the army for fifty-two years, and participated in the 
European wars from 1783 to 1815, closing with the battle of 
Waterloo. His mother was Augusta (Holscher) Lehmann. He 
was early put to the primary schools of his country, and was for 
several years in the gymnasia and college, which he left at 
sixteen to enter the military school. He was in the army for a 
period of six years. After having passed through the military 
school, he entered the Polytechnic, where for eighteen months he 
studied languages and the fine arts, giving particular attention to 
drawing and painting, for which from childhood he had mani- 



THEODORE F. LEHMANN. 759 

fested a strong predilection. In 1837 he came to this country 
and was engaged in teaching languages, natural sciences, and 
mathematics, in the city of Pittsburg. 

When the Sixty-second Pennsylvania regiment was organized 
he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and from his thorough 
military education and training was able to render important 
service. In October following, upon the formation of the One 
Hundred and Third, he was promoted to be its Colonel. After 
passing through the Peninsula campaign his regiment was trans- 
ferred to the Department of North Carolina, and during the cam- 
paigns of 18G3-64 Colonel Lehmann commanded a brigade. In 
the unfortunate battle of Plymouth, on the 20th of April, 18G4, 
a small force of seventeen hundred men was attacked upon the 
land by a division of General Pickett, and by water by the rebel 
iron-clad ram Albemarle. Though making a stout resistance, 
inflicting and incurring serious losses, the little force was finally 
surrounded, and after expending its ammunition was compelled 
to surrender. Colonel Lehmann and nearly his entire regiment 
were among the captives. He was confined in rebel prisons, and 
at Charleston was placed under fire of the Union guns, which 
were then employed in bombarding the city. 

On the 30th of August following, after a confinement of over 
four months, he was exchanged and returned to his regiment. He 
was assigned to the command of the sub-district of the Albemarle, 
North Carolina, with head-quarters at Roanoke Island, which 
position lie held until the surrender of Lee. After the close of 
the war he returned to his home in Pittsburg, and was made 
President of the Western Pennsylvania Military Academy. 
Colonel Lehmann was a man of a quiet and unobtrusive de- 
meanor, little given to that sociality which in army life was 
often the avenue to applause and even promotion. It was face- 
tiously told that he was once very near being recommended — 
after making a handsome ba} r onet charge and dislodging the 
enemy — for a promotion ; but it turned out that somebody else 
was recommended in his place for gallant conduct, and was 
made a Brigadier-General. When spoken to upon the subject, 
Lehmann said he was glad of it ; for the poor fellow was sick 
at the time the assault was made, in an ambulance three miles 



760 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to the rear, and that the news of his promotion made him 
quite well. 

He has been three times married : in 1835 to Mile. Adile C. 
Blie, in Nantes, France; in 1842 to Miss Kate McMurtry, of 
Kentucky, a grand-niece of Governor Madison of that State ; and 
in 1857 to Miss Frances M. Lloyd, of Cincinnati. In person he 
is full six feet in height, and of an iron frame, capable of with- 
standing much privation and exposure. He has been a close 
student all his life, his habit of early rising and of strict tem- 
perance contributing to give him great power of endurance. 

iram C. Alleman, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred 
(3y> and Twenty-seventh regiment, and Colonel of the Thirty- 
sixth militia, was born in Highspire, Dauphin county, Pennsyl- 
vania, on the 15th of September, 183G. He was the son of Con- 
rad and Rebecca (Cassel) Alleman, both natives of that county. 
He received a liberal education, at Dickinson College. He was, 
however, prevented from graduating in consequence of continued 
delicate health. He read law with Hon. John Adams Fisher, of 
Harrisburg, and was admitted to the bar during his minority. 
He opened his first law-office in the neighboring town of York. 
His studious habits, affability and energy, and more than all his 
integrity and constant attention to business, soon brought him 
into notice ; while his devotion to his clients gained him practice. 
He early manifested a laudable political ambition, but found him- 
self in a district overwhelmingly against him in sentiment. He 
was, however, from the first recognized as a leader by his own 
party, having twice represented it in State conventions, and 
received a highly complimentary vote as its candidate for Dis- 
trict Attorney. 

Returning to his native count}^ he established himself in Har- 
ris] >urg, and at once entered upon a successful practice. He found 
here the dominant party in accord with his own convictions, and 
for two terms filled the office of County Solicitor. At the break- 
ing out of the Rebellion, he unhesitatingly relinquished his pro- 
fession and enrolled himself as a private in the Lochiel Grays of 
Harrisburg. He was shortly afterwards elected and commis- 
sioned First Lieutenant of the Yerbeke Rifles, which became 



HIRAM C. ALLEMAN. 761 

Company E of the Fifteenth regiment. Having received no 
military education, he applied himself assiduously to drill and 
the study of military tactics. On the 1st of May he was detailed 
as Post Adjutant of Camp Curtin; but accompanied his regiment 
when it moved to the front, and served with it until the expira- 
tion of its term of three months, although he was Judge Advo- 
cate of a Division Court Martial, and filled the position creditably 
during most of this time. His first field service was at the battle 
of Falling Waters, on the 1st of July, 1861, where the enemy 
was driven. 

On being mustered out he resumed his law practice, but was 
soon after tendered the appointment of Major of the Ninety- 
third regiment. He assisted in organizing it, but declined the 
appointment as one of its officers. He, however, continued to 
take, an active part in the recruiting service, canvassing his 
native county at his own expense, and arousing the masses by 
persuasive words. In August, 1862, he was commissioned Cap- 
tain of Company D of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh 
regiment. When the regimental organization was formed he was 
made Lieutenant-Colonel. In this capacity he exhibited fine 
administrative ability, and was regarded as an able and efficient 
officer. In consequence of the assignment, temporarily, of the 
Colonel to the command of a brigade, and of his absence on account 
of wounds, Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman was in full command of 
the regiment for a considerable part of its service, and with it 
participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, 
in both of which he was wounded. Early in the former en°as;e- 
ment Colonel Jennings fell, and Alleman at once assumed com- 
mand. For three days the position in front of the enemy, in 
rear of the town, was maintained. Late on the evening of the 
15th, the last day, while holding the advanced skirmish line, he 
was struck by a fragment of a shell on the right knee. He was 
soon after offered a staff' position by a corps commander; but 
declined it, preferring to remain with his regiment. 

While in camp at Falmouth he was prostrated by a fever, and 
was tendered a- leave of absence by General Burnside, then in 
command of the Army of the Potomac ; but anxious to keep the 
field, he refused to accept it. As general officer of the picket 



762 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

line extending from the Lacy House to United States Ford, 
lie made the first discovery and gave the first information to 
General Hooker, then at Chancellorsville, of the evacuation of 
Fredericksburg and the heights in its rear. Immediate orders 
were telegraphed to General Gibbon to throw his division across 
the Rappahannock, and occupy the town. Preparations were 
at once commenced for laying a pontoon bridge ; but the enemy 
had a strong body of sharpshooters well posted and intrenched, 
who kept up a deadly fire, which so thinned the ranks of the 
working parties as to check their operations. At this juncture 
Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman was detailed to complete it, and 
though with the loss of many men, the bridge was laid by day- 
light of Sunday morning, May 3d. He reported his success, and 
asked to be relieved of staff duty, that he might be with his 
regiment in the impending battle. After paying him a merited 
compliment, General Gibbon granted his request. The troops 
were at once put in motion, and were hurried forward in pursuit 
of the enemy. In the fighting which ensued, while leading a 
wing of his regiment in a charge upon a rebel battery, he was 
struck by a partially spent solid shot, which fractured the ribs 
of the left side. After dislodging the enemy, the brigade was 
ordered back to hold Fredericksburg. Though suffering, he 
volunteered to guard the bridge, and held it until the entire 
command had recrossed the Rappahannock. With his regiment 
he was mustered out of service, and was presented upon the 
occasion with a costly and beautiful sword, studded with jewels, 
bearing the inscription : " Presented to Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. 
Alleman by the non-commissioned officers and privates of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh regiment, as a token of their 
esteem." 

Upon the advance of Lee into Pennsylvania, in June, 1863, 
he recruited the Thirty-sixth militia regiment, and was appointed 
its Colonel. Under orders of General Couch, then at the head 
of the Department of the Susquehanna, he marched his command 
to the gory field of Gettysburg, and upon his arrival was made 
Military Governor of the town and the surrounding battle-field, 
including all the hospitals and rebel camps. His duties here 
were arduous and responsible. His efficiency and success were 



HIRAM C. ALLEMAN. 763 

highly appreciated by the authorities at Washington, and so 
popular was his administration with the people of Gettysburg 
that upon his retirement they united in presenting him an 
address of thanks. 

In the meantime he had been elected a member of the Legis- 
lature from Dauphin county. He was returned the following 
year, and held a prominent rank both as a debater and a work- 
ing member. He was placed upon important committees, and 
was chairman of that on Federal Relations, New Counties, and 
Inaugural Ceremonies. After leaving the Legislature he was 
appointed Bank Commissioner, and as delegate to the Chicago 
National Convention was chairman of the committee from the 
Soldiers' Convention, and presented the resolutions of that body 
to General Grant, the nominee for the Presidency. 

In November, 1867, he removed to Philadelphia, where he 
established himself in his profession. In person he is five feet 
seven inches in height, of slender frame, and of a highly sensi- 
tive and nervous temperament. His habits are strictly tem- 
perate, he never having indulged in the use of spirituous liquors, 
of tobacco in any form, or of any exciting beverage. So far did 
he carry his opposition to a whiskey ration in the army that he 
tendered his- resignation rather than order one to his men, when 
directed to do so by a general order. His business capacity is 
remarkable. He is strong in his attachments, and prompt and 
punctual in all his engagements. In the army he was a good 
disciplinarian, and his example had a telling effect upon his com- 
mand. He was mild, yet firm ; considerate in issuing orders, 
but strict in requiring their implicit obedience. He was mar- 
ried on the 7th of February, 1872, to Miss Emma S. Helmick, 
daughter of the Hon. William Helmick, of Washington, D. C, 
formerly member of Congress from Ohio. In the spring of 1873, 
he was appointed Attorney of the United States for Colorado. 
By a subsequent enactment of the Territorial Legislature he is 
constituted Attorney-General, which office he now exercises, 
residing in the city of Denver. 

He had two brothers in the service — an elder, whose career is 
traced in this volume, and a younger, Silas Horace Alleman, 
who enlisted at the age of sixteen, leaving school for the purpose, 



764 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and performed important service on the staff of the Colonel 
in charge of rebel prisoners on their way to Fort Hamilton, 
Fort Mifflin, and Fort McIIenry, as they were despatched from 
the field of Gettysburg. After the war he was appointed, by 
Governor Geary, Inspector-General with the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel, upon the staff of Major-General Jordan. He was after- 
wards detailed for active duty upon the staff of Governor Geary, 
by whom he was ordered to take command of the troops of the 
Fifth division of the State militia and proceed to Williamsport, 
in July, 1872, to quell a threatened riot. He was there placed 
in command of all the military, by order of Major-General Merrill, 
in which position he acquitted himself with much credit. He 
has since settled in Denver, Colorado, where he is engaged in the 
practice of the law, and as Assistant United States Attorney. 

1\+A iciiael Kerwin, Colonel of the Thirteenth cavalry, was 
^\ r \ born on the 15th of August, 1837, in the county of War- 
ford, Ireland, from which place his family emigrated during his 
early boyhood to America. He was educated in a private acad- 
emy in the city of Philadelphia, and in youth learned the busi- 
ness of a lithograph printer. Of a studious turn of mind, he 
early acquired a good fund of general information. He was a 
member for several years of a volunteer militia company, in 
which he attained considerable knowledge of military organiza- 
tion and duty. 

Three days after the call for troops, in April, 18G1, he volun- 
teered as a private in the Twenty-fourth regiment for three 
months' service. This organization formed part of Patterson's 
army, with which he advanced into Virginia. Before crossing 
the Potomac, where it was known the enemy was present in con- 
siderable force, it became very important to the Union leader 
that he should know what troops he would have to meet. Some 
reliable soldier was sought who should enter the rebel lines and 
gather the desired information. For this dangerous and im- 
portant duty Kerwin volunteered his services. Full well he 
knew that, should he be discovered, death upon the gibbet awaited 
him. But he was not of the temper to hesitate when called 
for any duty which his country might demand. Adopting the 



MICHAEL KERWIN. 765 

necessary disguise he crossed the river, went freely through the 
enemy's camps, which he found near Martinsburg, and after 
making an estimate of the number of men and guns, and outlines 
of fortifications, returned and reported to General Neglej^, then in 
command of the brigade to which he belonged. The successful 
manner in which this duty Avas performed, and the judgment and 
daring which he displayed in executing it, marked him as worthy 
of a better rank than that of bearing the musket. 

In September of this year, after having been discharged at the 
expiration of his first term, he was commissioned Captain in the 
Thirteenth cavalry, and in July following was promoted to Major. 
During the 12th, loth, 14th and 15th days of June, 1863, when 
Milroy's little force, in which the Thirteenth was serving, was 
confronted and finally routed by the advance of Lee's entire army, 
Major Kerwin, at the head of his regiment, rendered important 
service, having frequent conflicts with the over-confident rebel 
horse. After leaving the Valley, the regiment was attached to 
the Army of the Potomac, when Major Kerwin was promoted to 
Colonel and took command of the regiment. On the 12th of 
October, while on the advance picket line near the White Sulphur 
Springs, he was suddenly attacked by a heavy force of the rebel 
army, Lee seeking by a sudden movement to turn the Union 
right. Colonel Kerwin with his own, in connection with the 
Fourth cavalry, combated the head of Ewell's columns for six 
long hours, giving time for Meade to recross the Rappahannock 
and get his army into position to checkmate the wily scheme of 
the rebel chieftain. Gallantly was this duty executed, but at 
the sacrifice of these two noble commands, large numbers cf 
both being killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. 

During the year 18G4, Colonel Kerwin led his forces with 
Sheridan in his operations with the Army of the Potomac, for a 
time being in command of the Second brigade of Gregg's division. 
In February, 1865, he went with his regiment from before Peters- 
burg to City Point, where he proceeded by transport to Wilming- 
ton, North Carolina, to meet Sherman, who was marching up 
from Georgia. On joining the grand column at Fayetteville, 
Colonel Kerwin was assigned to the command of the Third 
brigade of Kilpatrick's division. After the surrender cf Johnston, 



7G6 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Colonel Kerwin Mas ordered to Fayette ville with his regiment, 
and placed in command of the post. He had seven counties 
under his control, and managed the affairs of his department 
with singular skill and ability. After the conclusion of hostilities 
he returned to Philadelphia, where, near the close of July, he 
was mustered out of service, having been on duty continuously 
from the opening to the conclusion of the war. 

f.mix P. Nicholson, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of the Twenty- 
eighth regiment, was born on the 4th of July, 1842, in 
Philadelphia. He enlisted as a private* in that regiment in 
June, 1861, but was soon afterwards promoted to Sergeant. In 
July, 1862, he was advanced to First Lieutenant, and detailed 
as regimental Quartermaster. In December, 1862, he was 
assigned as Quartermaster of the First brigade, Second division, 
Twelfth corps, and was promoted to Captain for faithful and 
meritorious services. He was likewise advanced to the grades 
of Brevet Major and Lieutenant-Colonel for his services in the 
Savannah and Carolina campaign, and during the war. Colonel 
Nicholson won the confidence of his superior officers in a remark- 
able degree, being commended by Sherman, McClellan, Slocum, 
Hooker, Greene, Ruger, Tyndale and others, and from the first to 
the last day of his service was constant and unremitting in his 
attention to duty. He was mustered out on the 6th of August, 
1865. 

foiiN Wilson Phillips, Colonel of the Eighteenth cavalry, was 
born on the 1st of July, 1837, in Wilson count}', Tennessee. 
His father, William Phillips, was a native of Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, where the family had long resided. The old bury- 
ing ground, near the little village of Library, where he was bred, 
shows a large number of his name and family buried there, and 
many others still live in the vicinage. His mother was Nancy 
Waters, a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia. His youth 
was passed upon a farm, working in the summer time and attend- 
ing school in the winter. Until the age of twenty he was 
instructed in the schools and academies of Tennessee, when he 
entered Allegheny College at Meadville, and graduated in the 



JOHN P. NICHOLSON.— JOHN W. PHILLIPS. 767 

class of I860. His tastes were literary, and soon after gradu- 
ating he commenced the study of law in the city of Meadville 
with Hiram L. Richmond. 

Seeing the war fully inaugurated, and no prospect of a speeay 
termination, he determined to devote himself unreservedly to the 
supremacy of the National Government over its entire territory, 
and laying aside his books commenced recruiting for a cavalry 
company, in which he was assisted by James W. Smith, Thomas 
J. Grier, and David T. McKay. It was speedily filled, and 
became Company B of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, of 
which Phillips was commissioned Captain. The first field duty 
was upon the picket line in Virginia before the defences of 
Washington, where Moseby, and a class of bushwhackers — 
unscrupulous as they were cruel — had their haunts, and the ser- 
vice was in no way agreeable or honor-provoking. When the 
army moved northward on the Gettysburg campaign, Kilpatrick's 
division of cavaliy, to which this regiment belonged, was in the 
advance upon the right of the column. At Hanover, Pennsyl- 
vania, the rebel cavalry under Stuart was met and a sharp skir- 
mish ensued, which lasted until nightfall, Avhen the enemy 
retired. In the battle of Gettj'sburg Kilpatrick occupied a posi- 
tion on the Union left beyond Round Top, where the Eighteenth 
was hotly engaged, and where the commander of the brigade, 
Colonel Farnsworth, was killed. Captain Phillips was here 
slightly wounded in the head but not disabled. As soon as it 
was known that the rebels were retreating, Kilpatrick, by a 
rapid march, turned their right flank and came in upon their 
trains near Monterey Springs, routing the guard, capturing and 
destroying many wagons, and bearing away two of their guns 
with some prisoners. At Hagerstown Kilpatrick again fought 
the enemy's cavalry, and held the town until the arrival of 
Lee's infantry in force, when he was obliged to retire. In 
this engagement Captain Phillips led a battalion in a charge 
through the town in a most gallant manner, driving the enemy, 
and making some captures, but losing heavily. In the campaign 
which followed, and which closed the operations of the year, 
he participated, being subjected to much hard riding and frequent 
collisions with the enemy. 



768 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In the first day in the Wilderness, in May, 1864, Major Phillips, 
who had a few weeks previous received his promotion, was 
slightly wounded in the side, but kept the field. When General 
Wilson, who commanded the division, found himself in the midst 
of heavy masses of the enemy's infantry, he ordered a retreat; 
but left the Eighteenth to keep up a show of resistance until the 
main body could be brought out. For a half hour it faced a foe 
swarming at every approach, and its escape seemed utterly hope- 
less. But when the time had fully expired, a dash was made and 
the way forced. Major Phillips and his associates were highly 
complimented by General Wilson for their skill in this action. 
He participated in the raid upon the enemy's communications, 
and in the battles at the defences of Richmond. At Hanover 
Court House, on the 31st of May, where the enemy under Fitz 
Hugh Lee was found in possession of the town, and advanta- 
geously posted behind barricades, a charge was made by the 
Eighteenth led by Colonel Brinton and Major Phillips, before* 
which the enemy was driven. Major Phillips was struck in the 
midst of the charge by a spent ball, but kept the field and shared 
in the triumphal issue. 

Not long after reaching the James, General Sheridan was sent 
to the Shenandoah Valley, and with him went the Eighteenth. 
A campaign of unexampled activity and glory followed, in which 
Major Phillips bore an important and honorable part. In the 
battle of Winchester, on the 19th, his regiment charged the rebel 
infantry in a commanding position covered by breastworks, and 
in less time than it takes to tell the story had routed and driven 
them in confusion. At Front Royal, in the Luray Valley, 
Waynesboro, and Bridgewater, the blows of Sheridan were dealt 
with a rapidity and stunning effect which scarcely gave his 
adversary time to take breath. In the retreat from Harrisonburg, 
during the 7th and 8th of October, where Major Phillips was in 
command, the fighting on the part of the cavalry was without 
cessation ; but on the 9th, having drawn the enemy on suffi- 
ciently far, Wilson's division turned upon him and defeated him, 
capturing six pieces of artillery and many prisoners. In the 
battle of Cedar Creek, on the 19th of October, that single division 
was accredited with bringing in and turning over to the proper 



DAVID McM. GREGG. 7G9 

authorities fifty-one guns and caissons. At this place, nearly a 
month later, the enemy's cavalry, after having routed one of the 
brigades of the division moving on a parallel road, came in upon 
the other unawares, and by a sudden dash succeeded in capturing 
Major Phillips and a small squadron of his men. He was taken 
to Richmond and was confined for a period of over three months 
in a cell of Libby Prison. After his release he rejoined his regi- 
ment, having in the meantime been promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and participated in the battles at Staunton and Bridge- 
water, where Early's forces were captured. This substantially 
ended the war in the Valley, and the hard fighting of the 
regiment. 

After leaving the army Colonel Phillips returned to his old 
home in Tennessee, and commenced the practice of his profession. 
He was elected Judge of the Seventh Judicial circuit of the State 
in 1868, in which capacity he served a period of three years. In 
the summer of 1873 he removed to the city of St. Louis, where 
he at present resides. He was married on the 20th of September, 
1862, to Miss Hannorall A. Pickett, of Andover, Ohio. In person 
he is five feet ten inches in height, broad-shouldered, but of 
slender build, with more of the air of the scholar than the 
soldier. But the testimony of all who knew him while in the 
army unites in attributing to him the very highest qualities of 
an officer — considerate of his men, cool in the most trying posi- 
tions, and brave to a fault. 

^TgNAViD McM. Gregg, Colonel of the Eighth cavalry, and 
<S§~ Brevet Major-General, was born on the 10th of April, 
1833, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was educated at West 
Point, graduating in 1855. He entered the service in the First 
dragoons, in which he served in the campaigns against the 
Indians in Washington and Oregon in 1858-60. On the 14th of 
May, 1861, he was promoted to Captain in the Sixth United 
States cavalry, and in January, 1862, to Colonel of the Eighth 
Pennsylvania cavalry. His thorough training and active experi- 
ence in Indian warfare had prepared him for the work of 
disciplining the regiment which fell under his charge. He went 
with McClellan to the Peninsula, and was constantly at the 

49 



770 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

front, always ready to meet the foe, and frequently engaging him 
as the army neared Richmond. When the retreat to the James 
commenced lie was left upon the Chickahominy to dispute the 
passage, and delay the advance of the rebels. During the Mary- 
land campaign he was kept upon the right flank of the army, 
and made a reconnoissance to Gettysburg. After the battle of 
Antietam, he crossed the Potomac, and at Philomont had a 
sharp engagement on the 1st of November, which lasted the 
whole day. 

At the passes of the Blue Ridge the cavalry had frequent 
encounters, beating back the enemy and confining his way of 
retreat to the Shenandoah Valley. When General Bayard fell 
at Fredericksburg, Gregg was designated to succeed him in com- 
mand of the division. In the battle of Brandy Station the 
cavalry was more than matched by the rebel forces until Gregg 
advanced from Kelly's Ford, and, striking Stuart upon his left 
Hank, saved the day, and turned what would have otherwise 
resulted in disaster into victory. In the Gettysburg campaign he 
again had the advance, and at Aldie and Middleburg executed 
fine strategy, charging by regiments, pushing Stuart from hill to 
hill — occupying with his batteries the positions which had been 
held by Stuart's artillery only a few moments before — and 
driving him behind his infantry reserves into Ashby's Gap, in a 
brilliant running light. At Hanover, on the 30th of June, he 
again met and drove Stuart, preventing his joining Lee in the 
battle of Gettysburg, which opened on the following day. In that 
great battle it was given Gregg to guard the right flank, and 
with a master hand was the duty performed. The enemy made 
vigorous and persistent efforts to turn that flank and come in 
upon the Union rear ; but in every attempt he was foiled and 
routed. " If once during that day," says Pyne in his First New 
Ji rsey, " the frequent charges of the rebel cavalry had broken 
through the line formed by our men — if those five thousand 
troopers had swept around the rear of our position, and taken 
our infantry in reverse — the furious attack of Longstreet would 
have surged like a wave over the crest of Cemetery Hill, and the 
Army of the Potomac existed but as a memory. To the moral 
courage of that calm and unostentatious soldier, General Gregg, 



DAVID McH. GREGG. 771 

and to the enthusiastic bravery of the men of his command, is 
due a share of the honor in that day's victory." 

The fight at Bristoe Station, on the 14th of October, which 
won for General Warren his name, was opened by General 
Gregg at Auburn, two or three miles distant, where he hotly 
contested Lee's advance for several hours, before the infantry of 
Warren had fired a gun. In Warren's front and upon his 
flank and rear, the horse of Gregs; were engaged durins; the 
whole day, and until the enemy could only be distinguished by 
the flash of his guns. In his report of the battle Warren failed 
to mention Gregg, a mistake into which General Meade was led, 
but which he corrected in a supplemental order. . Upon the 
opening of the spring campaign of 18G4, Gregg led his division in 
the advance across the Rapidan, and pushed on towards Rich- 
mond, being engaged at Todd's Tavern, Meadow Bridge, and 
upon his return at Hawes' shop, where the enemy attacked with 
cavalry and mounted infantry ; but here, as in every other place 
Avhere great difficulties surrounded him, he displayed rare cour- 
age and unyielding tenacity, beating back the foe in even- 
assault. In the sanguinary battle at Cold Harbor, on the 1st of 
June, the left flank of the army was protected by the cavalry 
under Gregg, averting the blow which was aimed at its vital part. 
In the raid upon Lynchburg, which terminated at Trevilian Sta- 
tion, he was warmly engaged. Upon his return he was given the 
lead in the march from White House to the James, the cavalry 
being charged with the care of the wagon train of the whole 
army in its passage thither. At St. Mary's Church, on the 
24th of June, the enemy was met in heavy force in the act of 
fortifying. Supposing that Sheridan's whole corps was before 
him, the foe was wary, intent on achieving a victory, and 
capturing the whole immense train. Gregg knew his inability 
to hold his own in a fair fight, where the odds were so great 
against him. He instantly sent couriers to Sheridan for aid. 
But they all fell into the enemy's hands, the despatches disclosing 
the weakness of Gregg's column. Emboldened by this knowl- 
edge, Hampton, who commanded the enemy, came out from his 
intrenchments and assumed the offensive. With a stubbornness 
rarely equalled Gregg contested the ground, falling back slowly, 



772 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

every moment in anticipation of receiving reinforcements; but 
none came, and during that whole fearful day he was left to 
combat with thrice his numbers. Finally, towards evening, he 
took a strong position which he held, having saved all his 
material and brought off his command unbroken. " His manage- 
ment of the fight at St. Mary's Church," says an officer who is 
no less a soldier than a critic, " was the perfection of art in his 
profession." For his gallantry here he was brevetted Major- 
General of volunteers. 

After Sheridan went to the Shenandoah Valley, General Gregg 
was placed in chief command of all the cavalry in the Army of 
the Potomac. At Deep Bottom, the Darbytown «road, Boydton 
Plank Road, and Ream's Station, Gregg wielded the cavalry 
arm with that skill and vigor which had won for him from the 
first the title of a consummate leader. In the latter engagement 
his troops held their ground and were reported to General 
Hancock as ready for an advance, when Miles and Gibbon, who 
had been subjected to the same attack, had been driven to the 
rear with the loss of a battery. On the 3d of February, 
1865, he resigned, and since the war has been engaged in the 
delightful occupation of horticulture in Delaware. Major J. 
Edward Carpenter, himself a fearless soldier, who made the ever 
memorable charge at Chancellorsville with the gallant Keenan, 
says of General Gregg : " To him the regiment owed everything. 
His modesty kept him from the notoriety that many gained 
through the newspapers ; but in the army the testimony of all 
officers who knew him was the same. Brave, prudent, dashing 
when occasion required dash, and firm as a rock, he was looked 
upon, both as a regimental commander and afterwards as Major- 
General, as a man in whose hands any troops were safe." 



CHAPTER XI. 




AMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN, Major-General of 
volunteers, and Brevet Major-General in the regu- 
lar army, was born on the 30th of September, 1805, 
in Manheim, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He 
, was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Grubb) Heint- 
zelman. Of a family of seven children, himself and 
a younger sister alone survive. His paternal grand- 
father Huronimus, a native of Augsburg, Germany, 
came to this country about the time of Braddock's 
campaign in the French and Indian war, and was 
the first white settler in Manheim. He was edu- 
cated in his native place and at Marietta, and the 
Military Academy at West Point, to which he was 
appointed upon the recommendation of James Buchanan, and 
graduated in 1826, seventeenth in a class of forty-two. He 
entered the service in the Third infantry as Brevet Second Lieu- 
tenant, and was on duty at various frontier posts in the west and 
northwest until 1832, when he was detached for special duty in 
surveying for the improvement of the navigation of the Tennessee 
River. At the end of two years he was ordered south, and was 
engaged against the Cherokee and Seminole Indians in Georgia 
and Florida, eventually being transferred to the Quartermaster's 
Department, displaying superior executive ability, and having, 
in the meantime, risen to the rank of Captain. In 1843 he was 
ordered to Buffalo, where, on the 5th of December, 1844, he was 
married to Miss Margaret Stuard, of Albany, New York. He 
went with the army to Mexico in 1847, and was engaged in the 
arduous duty of convoying the trains from Vera Cruz. In the 
actions of Paso las Ovijas, Atlixo, and Huamantla, he was con- 
spicuous, receiving the brevet rank of Major for gallant and 

meritorious conduct in the latter. After a brief period of duty 

773 



774 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

at Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, he was ordered in command 
of troops to California, sailing thither by Cape Horn. On his 
arrival he was placed over the Southern District, with head- 
quarters at San Diego. He was here involved in arduous cam- 
paigning, and in 1850—51 headed an expedition against the Coyote 
and Yuma Indians, subduing them and ending hostilities. At 
the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers he established 
Fort Yuma, a most important post, capable of being reached by 
steamer with supplies, and forming a secure base for future 
operations. lie was commended by General Hitchcock in com- 
mand of the department, for his skill and daring in this cam- 
paign, and brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel. » 

On his return from California in 1854, he was ordered to 
recruiting service, and in 1857 was granted leave of absence, 
devoting himself to mining enterprises, being President of a com- 
pany formed in 1S5G, and in 1858—59 director of the company's 
mines in Arizona. In 1859 he was again put upon active duty 
in. Texas, where he distinguished himself by an expedition 
against Cortinas, a Mexican marauder, whom he severely pun- 
ished. He was also engaged near Fort Brown, and again near 
Ringgold Barracks. Premonitions of rebellion now became rife, 
and discovering that his superior, Twiggs, meditated treason, 
Heintzelman procured leave of absence and returned north. 

He was cordially welcomed by his old army friends, outside 
of whom being then little known, though he had given twenty- 
five years of faithful service to his country. General Scott found 
in him a powerful ally, and at the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln 
he assisted in guarding the city against a threatened outbreak. 
A month later he w r as made general superintendent of recruiting 
at New York. But as complications thickened, his executive 
talent and ability were demanded on a broader arena, and on the 
1st of May, he was recalled and made Acting Inspector-General 
of the Department of Washington. He was shortly afterwards 
made Brigadier-General of volunteers, and Colonel of the Seven- 
teenth infantry. In the advance into Virginia he led the column, 
commanding the centre of Mansfield's force, and by the action at 
Fairfax Court House on the 17th of July, inaugurated McDowell's 
campaign. In the battle of Bull Run, a few days thereafter, he 



SAMUEL P. HEINTZELMAN. 775 

won for himself a national reputation. He was severely wounded 
in the right arm. He refused to leave the field or even to dis- 
mount; but Surgeon William S. King, of the regular army, 
riding to his side, cut out the bullet and dressed the mangled 
limb, when Heintzelman put spurs to his horse, and was soon in 
the midst of his heroic division, leading it to the last with un- 
abated courage, verifying the aptness of the sobriquet by which 
he was known at West Point and in the army, of " Grim Old 
Heintzelman." " When," says his biographer, " on that gloom- 
iest of rainy Mondays, he dismounted at his door at Washington, 
he had been twenty-seven hours on the back of his horse, 
wounded, worn, and wet." His arm was permanently crippled. 
On his return to duty at the beginning of August, he was given 
a division in the Grand Army under McClellan, and occupied 
the left of the defences at Washington, with head-quarters at 
Fort Lyon, near Alexandria, where he remained till the opening 
of the Peninsula campaign. 

Here Heintzelman had command of the Third corps, with 
Kearny, Hooker, and Porter as division officers. He was in 
advance at Yorktown, and was about to storm the works, when 
arrested, and siege operations were resorted to. With his corps 
he moved upon Williamsburg, where he promptly attacked, and 
after a bloody battle gained a complete victory, though leading- 
raw troops against an enemy fortified. His commission of Major- 
General of volunteers dated from this battle. A division of 
the Fourth corps, Keyes', under General Casey, was assailed by 
superior numbers at Fair Oaks. Heintzelman, in command of the 
Third and Fourth corps, went to his assistance, and by hard fight- 
ing saved Casey from destruction. On the following day at Seven 
Pines he renewed the battle, and with the aid of other troops 
brought to his assistance was driving the foe, having arrived 
within four miles of Richmond, and aided by the consternation 
which prevailed was hopeful of carrying the rebel capital, when 
he was again arrested and ordered back. For this action he was 
made a Brevet Brigadier-General in the regular service. A month 
later came the Seven Days' battle, in which Heintzelman fought 
at Peach Orchard, Savage Station, and Charles City Cross Roads 
where he came to the assistance of the Pennsylvania Reserves 



776 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

at a critical moment in the battle, and where he received a severe 
contusion. He also participated in the battle of Malvern Hill. 

After leaving the Peninsula he hastened to the assistance of 
Pope, and was engaged at the Second Bull Run, and Chantilly. 
The Union cause knew no more gloomy period during the struggle 
than that immediately succeeding this campaign. Fears were 
entertained lest Washington itself would have to succumb. In 
looking about for some tried soldier to take command upon the 
exposed side, the choice fell upon " grim Heintzelman," and from 
the 9th of September, 18G2, to February 2d, 18G3, he was 
entrusted with the defences south of the Potomac. At the end 
of that time, so vigilantly had he executed the trust assigned 
him, that he was placed at the head of the Twenty-second corps 
and given the Department of Washington, which he retained 
until the 13th of October, 1SG3, having in addition charge of the 
vast throng of recruits and convalescents continually passing 
through. The battle of Gettysburg had been fought and won, 
and the Capital was regarded secure. But now a greater peril 
threatened. It came from disaffected persons throughout the 
Northwest who had organized a society known as the " Sons of 
Liberty," in the interest of the insurgent cause. To thwart their 
evil designs without an outbreak required nerve and discretion. 
Again was Heintzelman selected for the difficult duty, and given 
command of the Northern Department, consisting of the States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, with head-quarters at 
Columbus. His firm hand was soon felt, and anticipated trouble 
was averted. It was during his duty here that the militia of 
Ohio were called out for a brief period. In an incredibly short 
time 40,000 men were put in the field ; and to accomplish it he 
lent his powerful aid. At the conclusion of his service here, in 
October, 1864, he was for some time on court-martial duty and 
awaiting orders. He was mustered out of the volunteer service 
on the 24th of August, 18G5, but still held his commission in the 
regular army. Early in the year 18GG he was sent to Texas, 
where a lawless population could only be restrained by the 
exercise of power, and given first the middle district, and finally 
the entire State. He subsequently had command of the Port of 
Galveston, and of the Fifth military district, with head-quarters 



ISAAC J. WISTAR. 777 

at New Orleans. In 1867 he sat in a Board to examine candi- 
dates for admission to the army, and one to retire disabled 
officers. In 1869 Congress passed a joint resolution retiring 
him from active service with the full rank of Major-General. 
Says the authority above quoted : " He never shirked a hardship 
himself, and never inflicted one, except when the exigencies of 
the service demanded it. Happy in his refined social and 
domestic relations, his moral influence was always pure, as his 
charity for the faults of others was broad. Impatient of inaction, 
hot and impetuous when the battle was on, yet never reckless 
nor careless of the lives of his men, he had at once the coolness, 
the determined bravery, the unselfishness, and the esprit which 
go to make the true soldier, and his career must be regarded as 
one of the most distinguished and successful in the army of the 
Union. Let his record speak. Eulogy is idle." 

tSAAC Jones Wistar, Colonel of the Seventy-first regiment, 
and Brigadier-General, was born on the 14th of November, 
1827, in the city of Philadelphia. His father, Caspar "Wistar, 
M. D., born in Philadelphia in 1801, was a lineal descendant of 
Caspar Wistar, of Heidelberg, Hesse Cassel, who came to this 
country in 1696, and bought large tracts of land in Philadelphia 
county and throughout the province of Pennsylvania. His 
mother was Lydia Jones, a native of Philadelphia. He was 
educated at the Westtown boarding-school, Chester county, and 
at Haverford College. From early youth he was fond of manly 
sports, especially of hunting, shooting, and fishing, and at the 
age of sixteen went to the Pacific coast, where he remained until 
near the breaking out of the Rebellion. During part of this 
period he was a trapper in the territory of the Hudson's Bay 
Company, in the Arctic regions, and in the Rocky Mountains. 
In 1850-51 he commanded a body of Indian rangers, and fought 
the hostile tribes during the period of the early settlement of the 
far western country. 

Soon after the fall of Sumter, he was called to the staff of 
General Cadwalader in Philadelphia, and for two weeks was 
busily employed in organizing troops for the three months' cam- 
paign. Colonel Edward D. Baker, having received authority to 



778 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

raise a regiment, called about him a number of men of daring and 
enterprise, who had been with him on the Pacific, to assist in 
recruiting. Wistar was among these, and to him he gave the 
first place, that of Lieutenant-Colonel, and for the most part the 
duty of acting Colonel. Though called the California regiment, it 
was, with the exception of Company C, exclusively recruited in 
the city of Philadelphia and its immediate vicinity. 

At Fortress Monroe and at Munson's Hill, Virginia, the regiment 
was engaged in field service ; but at Ball's Bluff, on Monday, the 
21st of October, it had its first baptism of blood. At midnight 
of the 20th, Colonel Wistar was ordered to have a battalion of 
his regiment, consisting of eight companies, at a point on the 
Maryland side of the Potomac, opposite the scene of the battle, by 
daylight of the following morning, Colonel Baker, who was then 
in command of the brigade, having been ordered across to assume 
command of all the troops on the Virginia shore, and to conduct 
the operations. There were parts of the Fifteenth and Twen- 
tieth Massachusetts, Forty-second New York, three pieces of 
artillery, and this battalion of the Seventy-first Pennsylvania, 
sixteen hundred and five men, engaged. At a little past two 
o'clock in the afternoon, Colonel Baker, who had drawn up his 
men in the open ground upon the bluff, found himself attacked 
by a superior force concealed from view by a forest extending 
from river bank above to river bank below. Colonel Wistar was 
posted on the left of the line, w r hcre the attacks of the enemy 
were the most determined, and where the heroic Baker himself 
finally fell. The first fighting on Colonel Wistar's front was 
precipitated by the advance of two companies under Captain 
Markoe, accompanied by Wistar in person, as skirmishers; for 
they had no sooner reached the wood and advanced a little in it 
than they were confronted by a whole regiment, the Eighth 
Virginia, which was lying concealed upon the ground, and the 
fighting at once became desperate along the whole front. With 
determined valor the skirmishers held their ground, and inflicted 
great slaughter ; but they were too few to cope with such vast 
odds, and were finally forced to fall back, after having lost all 
their officers, and two-thirds of their whole force. For four 
long hours the battle raged with unabated fury, the enemy 



ISAAC J. WISTAR. 779 

coming on in great numbers — since ascertained to have been full 
five thousand men. Early in the fight, rebel sharpshooters had 
climbed into the tree tops and taking deliberate aim Avere 
endeavoring to pick off the officers. By skilful manoeuvres 
Colonel Wistar managed with his small force to hold the enemy 
at bay, repelling whole regiments as they advanced. In the pro- 
gress of the battle he received two wounds ; but refused to leave 
the field, and continued to direct the fight, sweeping the enemy 
with terrible effect. Finally, just at dark, and as the enemy was 
making his final, decisive charge, he received a third wound 
which completely disabled him, and he was borne insensible from 
the field. In his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct 
of the War Colonel Wistar said : " Just as I stepped out I got my 
third wound, which disabled me entirely, and I was carried off. 
But the moment after I received the wound, and while I was 
still sensible, I staggered against Colonel Baker. He asked me 
where I was hit, and I told him. I said, 'There is not an instant 
to lose; there is a heavy column deployed behind that hill; you 
must see if you can repel that attack, for it is serious.'" Almost 
immediately after, it came on in full force. Colonel Baker was 
killed, and the Union line, weakened by severe losses, was forced 
down the bluff. Sharp fighting in the twilight continued, but 
the day was irretrievably lost. 

For many weeks Colonel Wistar was in a precarious situation, 
his life having been despaired of. Upon his recovery he was 
promoted to the full rank of Colonel, and when McClellan 
advanced to the Peninsula, Wistar led his regiment in the opera- 
tions before York town and Williamsburg. At Antietam he was 
brought into action at about ten o'clock on the morning of the 
17th of September, on the right of the line, in the neighborhood 
of the Dunkard Church, where the harvest of death was most 
plentiful. While leading a charge upon heavy masses of the 
foe he was severely wounded and left helpless upon the field. 
For hours the battle raged with varying fortune, Colonel Wistar 
being at three different times in the enemy's hands ; but he was 
finally rescued, as the Union forces advanced, and was carried off. 
The wound proved very severe, permanently crippling both arms. 
For his gallantry in this battle he was promoted to the rank of 



780 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Brigadier-General. In the operations before Petersburg he led a 
brigade, and in the bloody battle at Drury's Bluff his brigade 
was the only part of Butler's line, consisting of the Tenth and 
Eighteenth corps, which held its ground against Beauregard's 
sorties, and when finally it retired, it did so under orders, and 
leisurely, with all its guns and colors. In all the operations of his 
corps, down to and including the capture of the capital of the 
Confederacy, General Wistar was at the post of duty. Few 
officers during the war showed more skill and determined 
bravery, and few suffered more by wounds. But they were 
wounds received with his face to the foe. 

On the 9 th of July, 1862, he was married to Miss Sarah 
Tolland, of Philadelphia. Since the close of the war he has been 
in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as General 
Manager of the canal and coal mining interests of that great 
corporation, refusing all propositions to engage in political life. 

vjTj_S obert Bruce Ricketts, Captain of Battery F, First Pennsyl- 
£ V vania Light Artillery, and Colonel, was born on the 29th 
of April, 1839, in Orangeville, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, 
of English and Scotch extraction. He was educated at the Wy- 
oming seminary near Wilkesbarre, and was engaged in the study 
of the law at the opening of the Rebellion. He entered the 
service on the 1st of May, 1861, as Acting Adjutant to Colonel 
Seiler, then in command of Camp Curtin. He assisted in 
recruiting Battery F, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant 
and shortly afterwards First Lieutenant. He went to the upper 
Potomac, where, in command of a section, he did excellent service 
under General Lander in opposing Stonewall Jackson, and 
subsequently participated in the operations in the Shenandoah 
Valley under General Banks. The battery was finally joined to 
McDowell's corps, and in Pope's campaign was efficient at 
Rappahannock bridge with Hartsuff's brigade, holding the 
enemy in cheek until the Union troops had all safely retired, 
and in the battle of Bull Run rendered the most eminent aid at 
critical periods of the fight. At Antietam it opened the battle, 
being posted near the Cornfield in front of the little church 
which marked the most sanguinary struggles of the field. After 



ROBERT B. RICKETTS. 781 

this battle Captain Matthews retired on account of sickness, and 
Ricketts succeeded to the permanent command. -At Fredericks- 
burg the guns were posted close in upon the river on the 
Falmouth side, where they were exposed to the fire of the 
enemy ; but maintained their ground, and covered the retire- 
ment of the infantry. On the evening of Sunday, May 3d, it 
went into position on the front at Chancellorsville at close 
quarters. Ricketts was ordered to hold the ground at all 
hazards. Horses were sent to the rear, and grape and canister 
were piled at the muzzles of the guns. Late in the evening 
a violent attack was made upon them, but rapid discharges swept 
back the assailants. Attacks were repeated at intervals during 
the night, but their fire was too terrible to withstand, and the 
attempt to capture them was abandoned. 

Captain Ricketts arrived on the Gettysburg field on the after- 
naon of the 2d of July, and wheeled his guns at once into posi- 
tion, opposite the Cemetery gate, relieving Cooper's battery. He 
was almost immediately engaged with the enemy's artillery on 
Benner's Hill, which was completely silenced in an incredibly 
short space of time. Cemetery Hill, where it stood, is a bold 
eminence, open to fire on all sides ; but Ricketts held it against 
every attack of the enemy's guns. Just as the shadows of 
evening were shutting in, the Louisiana Tigers — a powerful body 
of infantry, in perfect formation — shot forth from under a hill in 
the direction of the town, where they had been screened, and 
made a desperate rush for this position. The instant they came 
to view Ricketts turned his double-shotted guns upon them. 
Stevens, on the opposite knoll, likewise opened and the infantry 
along the entire line, so that the whole hill was ablaze. The 
rebel ranks were sensibly depleted ; but stimulated with drink 
and the hope of victory they rushed on ; they crossed the stone 
walls at the base of the hill ; they broke the lines of the infantry, 
and had fairly reached the guns of Ricketts. Utter destruction 
for the instant seemed imminent. But never for one moment 
did heart or hope fail his men, and with handspikes, rammers, 
and even stones they fought hand to hand over the pieces. 
Finally the brigade of Carroll from the Second corps came to his 
assistance, and the foe, broken and almost annihilated, was 



782 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

driven back. The battle scene, set as a frontispiece to this 
volume, represents the struggle at the culminating point, the 
combatants face to face among the guns, darkness already 
brooding over them, and the troops of Carroll arriving. 

Again, at Bristoe Station, on the 14th of October, 1863, was 
Ricketts brought into the place of peril, and by his steadiness 
and well-directed, rapid fire gained a signal advantage, contrib- 
uting largely to the victory there won, of which five guns and 
many prisoners were the fruits. In the spring campaign of 
1864, Ricketts moved with the Second corps, and in the Wilder- 
ness did effective service, boldly pushing out to the extreme front, 
and in the shifting phases of the fight being left without support. 
One gun and a caisson fell into the enemy's hands; but they 
were shortly afterwards recovered. In all the subsequent opera- 
tions of the army until it reached Petersburg, and in the siege 
of that stronghold down to the final surrender, his battery was 
unremittingly engaged, proving itself among the most reliable 
and skilful. 

On the 28th of June, 18)4, he was promoted to Major, and to 
Colonel on the 15th of March, 1865. He was also 1 (revetted Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel and Colonel by the President. In the fall of 1864 
Colonel Ricketts was advanced to the position of Acting Chief of 
Artillery of the Ninth army corps, and subsequently to that of 
Inspector of Artillery. After Lee's surrender he was Inspector 
of Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac. Since the war he 
has been largely engaged in the purchase and sale of mineral and 
timber lands. 

T®Tilliam Watts Hart Davis, Colonel of the One Hundred 
)£Y and Fourth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was 
born in Southampton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th 
of July, 1820. He was the only son of John and Amy Davis. A 
maternal ancestor, John Hart, was a distinguished Quaker min- 
ister of Whitney, Oxfordshire, England, who settled in Byberry, 
Philadelphia county, in 1682. A paternal ancestor emigrated 
from Wales about 1725, and settled in Soleburg, Bucks county. 
His paternal grandfather, John Davis, served five years in the 
Revolutionary army as an officer; and in the battle of Brandy- 



WILLIAM W. H. DAVIS. 783 

wine, with the assistance of a soldier, bore General Lafayette off 
the field when wounded. His father, John Davis, was an officer 
in the War of 1812. His own tastes were martial, and as soon 
as he had completed the ordinary course of school instruction he 
entered the Military University at Norwich, Vermont, and grad- 
uated in 1842, receiving the degrees of Master of Arts and 
Master of Military Science. Immediately afterwards he was 
appointed Professor of Mathematics and Drawing in the Military 
Academy at Portsmouth, Virginia. He resigned his position here 
in 1844, and having entered upon the study of law in the office 
of the late John Fox, was admitted to the bar in September, 
184G. In the same month he entered the Law School of Harvard 
University, and while there enlisted as a private in the Massa- 
chusetts regiment for the Mexican War. He became First Lieu- 
tenant and afterwards Adjutant, and served to the end of the 
contest. The position of Major was offered him in the field, but 
he accepted instead the appointment of Aide-de-camp and Acting 
Assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of General Cushing, and 
was promoted to the rank of Captain. 

Upon his return from Mexico, in 1848, he entered upon the 
practice of the law at Doylestown, the seat of his native county. 
In the fall of 1853 he was appointed, by President Pierce, 
United States District Attorney for New Mexico. He com- 
menced the journey across the plains in November, reaching 
Santa Fe early in December. In July, 1854, he was appointed 
Secretary of the Territory, and afterwards filled the offices of 
Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. In the fall of 
1857 he resigned, and returning to Pennsylvania purchased the 
Doylestown Democrat, in May, 1858, which he still owns and 
edits. 

In April, 18G1, he recruited the Doylestown Guards, which 
became a part of the Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania regiment, and 
which he commanded in Patterson's campaign. On returning 
home in August he recruited the One Hundred and Fourth, of 
which he was commissioned Colonel, and served for a period of 
three years, one year in the Army of the Potomac, covering the 
campaign upon the Peninsula, and afterwards in the south, 
commanding at various times brigades in the Fourth, Tenth, and 



784 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Eighteenth corps. During the winter of 1864 he commanded 
all the United States forces on Morris Island, South Carolina, 
operating against Charleston. He was shot in the left elbow by 
a rifle ball and struck by a spent musket ball in the left breast 
at Fair Oaks, and had his right hand torn to pieces at the last 
attack on Charleston in July, 18G4. He was brevetted Brigadier- 
General for " meritorious services " during the siege of Charleston. 
On being mustered out on the 1st of October, 1864, he returned 
to Doylestown, where he now resides. In 1865, General Davis 
was the Democratic candidate for Auditor-General of Pennsyl- 
vania. He was married in 1856 to Miss Anna Carpenter, of 
Brooklyn, New York, and made a bridal tour across the great 
plains, a thousand miles, to Santa Fe. In stature he is above 
the medium height, and capable of great physical endurance. 

*3?harles Mallet Prevost, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
@^ Eighteenth regiment, Brevet Brigadier-General of volun- 
teers, and Major-General of the National Guard of Pennsyl- 
vania, was born in Baltimore on the 19th of September, 1818. 
His mother was the daughter of one of the most eminent physi- 
cians of that city. His paternal descent is from an old Huguenot 
family which was compelled to leave France upon the revocation 
of the edict of Nantes. One branch chose England as an asylum, 
and from that descended the Sir George Prevost who commanded 
the British forces in Canada and South Carolina during the 
Revolutionary war. Another went to Geneva, Switzerland, and 
from this was the American branch descended, in which were 
many distinguished literary and military men. Charles M. from 
youth manifested a deep interest in everything pertaining to 
military life. For several years he was on the staff of his 
father, General A. M. Prevost, of Philadelphia. 

Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he assisted in the 
formation of the First regiment, Grey Reserves, taking the posi- 
tion of Captain of Company C. He was subsequently appointed 
Assistant Adjutant-General of volunteers on the staff of General 
F. E. Patterson, and went through the Peninsula campaign, par- 
ticipating in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, and the 
Seven Days' battle, down to Harrison's Landing, whence, entirely 



CHARLES M. PREVOST. 785 

prostrated by the fever then prevailing, he was ordered home. 
During his convalescence he was selected by the Corn Exchange 
Association to command the One Hundred and Eighteenth regi- 
ment, which had been recruited under its auspices. He led it 
to the field and was present in the battle of Antietam, and two 
days after was ordered to cross the Potomac to feel the enemy. 
He was scarcely over when the rebels from an ambuscade came 
out in large numbers, and a severe engagement ensued. Left 
without supports, this single regiment was subjected to a wither- 
ing fire. The position which it occupied was all exposed, and 
it was nearly surrounded by a greatly superior force. Colonel 
Prevost had ordered a company on the right to change front 
to meet an attack upon his flank, when the remaining com- 
panies, understanding that an order to retreat had been given, 
commenced to fall back. Seeing that the colors were being borne 
away, Colonel Prevost instantly seized them and ran to the front 
to rally his men. He succeeded in stopping their flight, and 
saving the honor of his command ; but made himself a conspicu- 
ous mark for the enemy's bullets. With the colors still in his 
hand, while encouraging his men, and by his personal heroism 
inspiring them with his spirit, he was struck in the shoulder hy 
a Minie ball which inflicted a severe and painful wound. The 
regiment effected a recrossing with much difficulty, and nothing 
but the coolness and courage of its officers saved it from annihila- 
tion. Out of a total number of 700 men, 280 were either killed, 
wounded or missing. The brevet rank of Brigadier-General was 
conferred upon him after this action. For many months he was 
confined to his bed, enduring intense suffering. He, however, 
returned to the field in time to assume command of his regiment 
in the Chancellorsville campaign, after which he was placed in 
charge of the camp established at Harrisburg, for the organiza- 
tion of the Veteran Reserve corps. Finding that the state of his 
health would not permit of active service in the field, he entered 
that corps as Colonel of the Sixteenth regiment, in October, 1863, 
where he served till the close of the war. He was mustered out 
in June, 1865, with a reputation for bravery and military skill 
equalled only by the high character he had previously acquired, 
and has since maintained, as a citizen. 

50 



786 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

XmTiLLlAM Emile Doster, Colonel of the Fourth cavalry, and 
v£Y Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 8th of Jan- 
uary, 1837, at the Moravian town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 
His father, Lewis Doster, a native of Swabia, Germany, served 
a campaign against the first Napoleon, and emigrated to America 
with his father, Doctor Daniel Doster, in 1817, when but twenty 
years of age. His mother, Pauline Louise (Eggert) Doster, waa 
the daughter of Matthew Eggert, at one time Vorsteher of the 
Brethren's House, and granddaughter of Adam Rupert, a soldier 
of the Revolution. He attended the Moravian school until the 
age of fourteen, and after a careful preparatory training entered 
the Sophomore class of Yale College, graduating in 1857. In 
1859 he graduated as LL.B. at the Harvard Law School. In 
18G0 he matriculated as student of civil law, in the University 
of Heidelberg, Germany, and heard lectures on the Code Napo- 
leon at Paris. Upon his return home he read with ex-Governor 
Andrew II. Reeder, at Easton, and was admitted to practice at 
the Northampton county bar. Aside from fencing and riding, 
taught in the European universities, he had no military train- 
ing. His youthful tastes were for drawing and painting; but 
being the seventh son, as his grandfather had been before him, he 
appeared destined to the profession of medicine, for which, how- 
ever, he had no liking. 

When the war broke out he was in the office of S. Van Sant, 
of Philadelphia ; but putting aside briefs and black letter-books, 
he responded to the President's call, and recruited a company of 
cavalry, which, not being wanted for that arm, was turned over 
to Colonel Baker's infantry regiment. He then raised another 
for Harlan's Light cavalry, of which he was made Captain, his 
muster bearing date of August 15th, 18G1. A few weeks later 
this company was transferred to the Fourth Pennsylvania. On 
the 28th of October he was promoted to Major, and a little more 
than a month later was detailed with a squadron to act as body- 
guard to General Keyes. Towards the close of February, 1862, 
lie Avas placed in command of the mounted provost guard of 
Washington City. At the departure of McClellan for the Penin- 
sula, and the appointment of General James S. Wadsworth as 
Military Governor of the District, Colonel Doster was selected for 



WILLIAM E. DOSTER. 7£7 

Provost Marshal. This gave him command, by detachment, of 
four infantry and one cavalry regiment, together with the flotilla 
under Harwood cruising upon the Chesapeake. 

In October, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel, but continued at his post as Provost Marshal. Just 
previous to the opening of the spring campaign of 1863, he ap- 
plied for an order to return to his regiment, which was granted, 
and was coupled with a recommendation from General Wads- 
worth to President Lincoln, for his appointment as Brigadier- 
General. On rejoining his regiment he assumed command, and 
led it during the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns. 
He had his horse shot under him at Ely's Ford, and in a charge 
which he led at Upperville was taken prisoner, but succeeded 
in less than an hour, by striking down his guard, in freeing him- 
self, and returning to his command. At Gettysburg he was 
ordered to report with his regiment to General Plcasanton, at 
General Meade's head-quarters, and was posted on the afternoon 
of the second day, during the artillery fire, to support a battery 
on Cemetery Ridge. In the evening he was ordered to picket 
duty on the left flank, and established a line in front of the 
infantry at eleven o'clock that night. On the 5th he was ordered 
to advance through Gettysburg in pursuit of the enemy. Tear- 
ing aside the barricades which obstructed the way, he pushed on 
as far as Stevens' Furnace, where he engaged the rebel rear guard. 
By the evening of the 6th he had reached Marion, near Green 
Castle, where he struck Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry. After a severe 
action brought on by reconnoitring towards Winchester, he led 
his regiment back to the Rappahannock, where he was prostrated 
by typhoid fever. The disease appearing to be of a lingering 
type, he sent in his resignation, which was accepted. He was 
appointed, soon after, Colonel of the Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, 
but never joined it. He was subsequently brevetted Brigadier- 
General. 

For a short time he practised his profession in the city of 
Washington, and at the trial of the conspirators against the life 
of the President, he was appointed, by Judge- Advocate-Generals 
Holt and Bingham, to defend Payne and Atzerodt, two of the 
boldest of the number. Soon after the close of the war he re- 



788 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

turned to Northampton county and resumed the practice of the 
law at Easton, residing at Bethlehem, and has held the office of 
Register in Bankruptcy for the eleventh Congressional district. 
He was married on the 15th of August, 1867, to Evelyn A. De- 
pew, daughter of Edward A. Depew, of Easton. 

/"~^ ideox Clark, Colonel of the One Hundred and Nineteenth 
7*sr regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 
l'Jth of June, 1822, at Philadelphia. He was the son of Thomas 
and Hannah (Walker) Clark. His father was a native of Mary- 
land. He was educated in the private schools of the city, and 
in youth was employed in the business of engraving. In the 
spring of 1843 he joined a militia organization, known as the 
Philadelphia Grays, in which he served for a period of eighteen 
years, and as a member of that body assisted to quell the riots 
of 1844. He was married on the 1st of September, 1850, to Miss 
Louisa D. Guirey, of Philadelphia. 

At the opening of the Rebellion, he had been for two years 
First Lieutenant of the Grays, and immediately commenced re- 
cruiting his company for the First regiment of artillery, which 
became the Seventeenth infantry for three months, and of which 
he was appointed Adjutant. After having" completed his term 
of service, he was, upon the organization of the One Hundred and 
Nineteenth, appointed and commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Few operations in the course of the late war were more heroically 
conducted or more brilliant in their results than the battle of 
Rappahannock Station. The enemy was well posted and shel- 
tered by strong works supplied with artillery, and in ample force. 
Against this the Union troops, consisting of a part of Russell's 
division, were led, and it was carried at the point of the bayonet, 
nearly the entire garrison, with guns, small arms, and battle flags, 
being captured. In this triumphant action Lieutenant-Colonel 
(.'lark commanded the One Hundred and Nineteenth, which was 
part of the brigade that led the storming force. 

At Locust Grove, Mine Run, and Spottsylvania, he participated 
and was conspicuous for gallantry. In the action at Cold Harbor 
he was in command of a brigade, and by his skilful management 
won the warm commendation of that heroic but unfortunate 



GIDEON CLARK.-SAMUEL M. ZULICK. 789 

soldier, General David A. Russell. He was likewise commended 
by General Wheaton for the successful manner in which he with- 
drew the division picket-line from the face of the enemy, after 
having been out until half past two on the morning of the 7th 
of February, 1865. On the loth of March following he was 
brevetted Colonel by the President, and on the 25th of that month 
was slightly wounded in the right forearm, in the action before 
Petersburg. In storming the enemy's works on the 2d of April, 
he was seriously wounded by a musket ball in the right leg, 
losing a considerable portion of the tibia. An operation was 
performed for its removal in the field hospital, by Dr. Philip 
Leicly, Surgeon of the regiment. He was then transferred to 
City Point, and afterwards to the general hospital in Philadel- 
phia, where he remained until the final muster out of his regi- 
ment. On the 19th of June he was promoted to Colonel, and 
was appointed Brevet Brigadier-General, by the President, to 
rank from the loth of March, for gallant and meritorious conduct 
and services performed in storming the works of the enemy in 
front of Petersburg, on the 2d of April. General Clark has held 
the office of Master Warden for the Port of Philadelphia. In 
the fall of 1873 he was elected to the office of Register of Wills 
for that city. 

amuel M. Zulick, who, from the position of a private soldier, 
attained to the rank of Brevet Brigadier-General, was born 
at Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of 
March, 1824. His father, Anthony Zulick, was a native of 
Frankfori>on-the-Main, Germany. His mother, Jane Cummings, 
was a native of Philadelphia. He was educated at Easton, re- 
ceiving a classical training, and was graduated at the Jefferson 
Medical College, on the 20th of March, 1844. 

On the 15th of May, 1861, scarcely a month from the time the 
rebels fired the first gun upon Fort Sumter, he was mustered into 
the service of the United States, and from that time until John- 
ston surrendered to Sherman in North Carolina he was at the 
post of duty, ascending through the various grades of honor in 
his regiment, and in every position winning the favor and com- 
mendation of his superiors. Upon the organization of troops for 



790 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the three years' service he was active, and was chosen Captain 
of Company E of the Twenty-ninth regiment. In this position 
he participated in the battles of Winchester, Edenburg, Front 
Royal, Second Winchester, Cedar Mountain, and Antietam. 

On the 3d of March, 1863, Captain Zulick was promoted 
to the rank of Major, a well-earned advancement. In the 
battle of Chancellorsville the regiment did excellent service, and 
when the army recrossed the Rappahannock, the post of honor 
and of danger, that of covering the rear, was assigned to it. 
Immediately after this battle Major Zulick was promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel, to date from the first day on that bloody 
field. At Gettysburg his regiment was subjected to a fiery ordeal. 
It stood in the forest, on Culp's Hill, where the enemy delivered 
desperate assaults, with a courage and pertinacity inspired by the 
hope of turning the right of the Union army. General Ewell 
had staked everything on accomplishing this. But the living 
valor which he met turned him from his purpose, and with dead 
covering all that dark forest ground, he retired before the steady 
fire of the Twelfth corps, leaving it master of the field, and of "the 
key to the whole battle ground. 

With the Twelfth corps the Twenty-ninth regiment was trans- 
ferred to the western army, with which Lieutenant-Colonel 
Zulick participated in the battles of Wauhatchie, Lookout Moun- 
tain, and Missionary Ridge, brilliant feats of arms, which gave 
the united army under General Grant command of the avenues 
to his base, now well-nigh cut off. Colonel Zulick's regiment was 
the first to reenlist, and while he was away upon the veteran 
furlough given troops who thus showed their devotion, he was 
assigned, by special order of the War Department, to duty at 
Camp Cadwalader, in mustering veteran and drafted troops. 
On the Cth of July he was relieved from this duty, and imme- 
diately rejoined his regiment, now with Sherman in his great 
campaign, and assuming command took part in the battles of 
Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, and Atlanta, the objec- 
tive for the attainment of which myriads on either side had laid 
down their lives, and which the unscathed veterans were per- 
mitted in triumph to enter. 

The March to the Sea followed close upon this long and 



THOMAS A. ROWLEY. 791 

desperately contested campaign. At Milledgeville and Savannah, 
Colonel Zulick led his command, in a manner worthy of the 
highest praise. The affairs at Bentonville, Goldsboro, and 
Raleigh followed in succession, and after the surrender of the 
Confederate armies, Colonel Zulick marched with the Union 
forces to Washington, where he received his final discharge, but 
not until a grateful country had conferred upon him the com- 
mission of Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General. 

In person General Zulick is five feet eight and a half inches in 
height, and robust, with blue eyes, and dark brown hair. He was 
married on the 29th of July, 1846, to Miss Mary Hart McCalla, 
of Philadelphia, and has one son, Philip S. Zulick, who served 
in the Forty-fifth regiment. Of General Zulick's gallantry as a 
soldier, his superior* officers bear ample testimony. " He began 
the war," says General Sherman, " as a Captain, and rose by his 
merits through all the grades to that of a General officer, and 
served in our Georgia and Carolina campaigns. Of course I de- 
sire to see him noticed and appreciated." General Geary, in 
whose division General Zulick was, says : " He has nobly served 
his country throughout a long and trying contest, with high dis- 
tinction ;" and that stern soldier, General A. W. Williams, adds : 
" He served under my command for over three years, while I was 
either division or corps commander. He was a very superior 
officer, capable, faithful, and zealous in the discharge of his duties. 
He merits the recognition and favor of the Government." 

'vjTJiiomas A. Rowley, Colonel of the One Hundred and Second 
q£). regiment, and Brigadier-General, a native of Pittsburg, was 
the son of John and Mary (Alger) Rowley. He received his 
education in the schools of that city, and during his early years 
was employed in a store as clerk. He joined a volunteer militia 
company in 1839, in which he continued to serve until the break- 
ing out of the Mexican War, in 1847, when he was appointed by 
President Polk a Second Lieutenant in the regular army. He 
participated with honor in the battles of Vera Cruz, Jalapa, 
National Bridge, Cerro Gordo, and Mexico, and won the promo- 
tion to Captain. 

Upon his return he resigned his commission and resumed 



792 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the practice of his profession. When hostilities opened in 1SG1, 
he again abandoned the toga for the trappings of war. He was 
active in recruiting first the Thirteenth, which he commanded 
during the ninety days of its service, and at its close the One 
Hundred and Second. At the battle of Fair Oaks, Colonel Rowley 
led his regiment to the support of Casey, hard pressed by the foe, 
and manfully contended against desperate assaults, holding his 
ground, and finally, when forced, retired in good order, firing as 
he went. In this battle he was severely wounded in the head. 
On the 29th of November, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of 
Brigadier-General, having performed most efficient service in the 
battles of Malvern Hill, Chantilly, and Antietam. He was in com- 
mand of a brigade at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the 
three days at Gettysburg. After leaving the army he resumed the 
practice of his profession. He at various periods held offices of 
trust, having been an Alderman, Clerk of the Courts of Alle- 
gheny county, and was United States Marshal for the Western 
district of Pennsylvania in 18G5. He still resides in his 
native city. 

eorge W. Gile, Colonel of the Eighty-eighth regiment, and 
Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 25th of Jan- 
uary, 1830, in Littleton, New Hampshire. His father, Aaron 
Gile, was a native of that State, well known for rectitude and 
patriotism, and at various times held offices of responsibility and 
trust. His mother, Persis (Rix) Gile, was a native of Canada. 
At the age of fourteen he entered a printing office, where he 
remained till the breaking out of the Mexican War. Moved by 
an impulse natural at the inexperienced age of sixteen, he 
enlisted as a private. Being an only son, the father insisted on 
his discharge, and he returned to his home at Littleton. 

Wearying of inaction, he proceeded to Boston, where he soon 
found congenial employment. He chose the drama as his 
profession, and after careful preliminary training entered upon 
and for a season pursued it with great assiduity. In 1854 he 
removed to Philadelphia, and in the following year was united 
in marriage to Miss Einma Virginia Sinister, a native of that 
city, and a lady of much grace and refinement. Two sons were 



GEORGE W. GILE. 793 

the issue of this marriage. In person he is over six feet in 
height, and in appearance is dignified and commanding. 

At the opening of the late war he enlisted as a private in 
Company I, Twenty-second regiment, but was soon after commis- 
sioned First Lieutenant of Company D. This regiment, which 
was recruited for three months' service, was posted in the city of 
Baltimore, and the duty not being arduous, he applied himself to 
the study of his new profession. While thus engaged he was 
offered the position of Major of the Eighty-eighth, a three years' 
regiment, which he accepted. He was for some time busily 
employed in organizing and equipping the new command, and 
when ordered to the front was posted with a battalion of four 
companies in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was charged with 
the maintenance of order, and the protection of public and 
private property. For his fidelity in this position he was 
presented with a richly mounted and valuable sword, bearing the 
following inscription : " Presented to Major George W. Gile, 88th 
regiment, P. V., by the officers of his command and the loyal 
merchants of Alexandria, Virginia, as a testimonial of their 
esteem." 

His first experience of field duty was in the campaign of Gen- 
eral Pope in Virginia, where his regiment manifested great activ- 
ity, and at the disastrous battle of Bull Run he proved himself a 
steadfast soldier. In the midst of the fight Lieutenant-Colonel 
McLean, Avho was in command of the regiment, was mortally 
wounded, leaving it in charge of Major Gile, and though making 
his first campaign, he led it with so much skill and bravery as to 
attract the attention of the General-in-Chief, who said in his 
report : " The conduct of Tower's brigade," to which the Eighty- 
eighth belonged, " in plain view of all the forces on the left, was 
especially distinguished, and drew forth hearty cheers. The 
example of this brigade was of great service, and infused new 
spirit into all the troops who witnessed their intrepid conduct." 
He was immediately after promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and honored with the brevet rank of Captain in the 
regular army. 

On the morning of the 17th of September he led his regiment 
upon the field of Antietam, on the extreme right of the Union 



794 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

line, where the ground was being stubbornly contested. It had 
no sooner reached its position than it was attacked with fiery 
impetuosity by the rebel forces, which outflanked it ; but with a 
courage and steadiness worthy of veterans, for two long hours it 
held its position. In the heat of the battle Colonel Gile was hit 
by a musket ball and was borne from the field. The wound was 
a painful and dangerous one in the left thigh. It was long in 
healing; but by eminent surgical attendance, directed by Dr. 
Atlee of Philadelphia, the limb was saved, though he was left 
a cripple for life. He was soon after promoted to Colonel of the 
regiment ; and, by brevet, Major and Lieutenant-Colonel in the 
regular army. When it became apparent that he could not soon 
resume command of his regiment, which was without a field 
officer present for duty, he was compelled reluctantly to resign 
his commission. Maimed by honorable wounds, this might 
reasonably conclude his military record ; but a still more honor- 
able career was opening before him. 

Early in the spring of 1863 the General Government deter- 
mined to form an elite corps of the wounded veterans of the 
volunteer army, to be employed in such service as their physical 
condition would permit. The first appointment in this corps was 
tendered to Colonel Gile, which he accepted. After laboring for 
a few months in its organization, he was ordered from Philadel- 
phia with a battalion of nine companies to Washington. Here a 
regimental organization was perfected, and three other regiments 
of the corps were ordered in to form a brigade. In the spring of 
1864 three more regiments were added to the garrison of Washing- 
ton, which greatly increased the responsibilities of Colonel Gile. 

In July of this year, when Early, with a large army, moved 
down the valley for the attack and capture of Washington, 
Colonel Gile marshalled his forces for its defence, and throwing 
them into position upon its front, on the line of the outer forts, 
engaged the enemy with such determination and skill that for 
two whole days and nights the rebel commander was deterred 
from ordering an assault. By the arrival of General Wright with 
two divisions of the Sixth corps, Colonel Gile was relieved at the 
front, and his command returned to its position in the city. For 
his gallantry upon this occasion he was brevetted Brigadier- 



DAVID 31. JONES. 795 

General, and his force increased to fourteen regiments of infantry 
and two of cavalry. 

During his term of service in Washington, General Gile enjoyed 
the friendship and confidence of President Lincoln, whose escort 
at the inauguration of 1864 he had the honor to command. It 
was also his melancholy duty to assist in the final escort of the 
remains of that great and good man to the train which bore 
them away from the Capital. Mr. Stanton, likewise, showed him 
many marks of his esteem. 

Shortly. after the close of the war, General Gile was detached 
from his command at Washington, and ordered South. In 1866 
he was tendered and accepted an appointment in the regular 
service, and was transferred from duty in South Carolina to 
Florida, where he remained until the closing of the affairs of the 
Freedmen's Bureau, of which he had sole charge in that State. 
On the 15th of December, 1870, he was retired from active 
service, with the rank of Colonel. During his entire term cover- 
ing a period of nearly ten years, he was but ninety days absent 
from duty, except when disabled by wounds. 

jH~J\avid Mattern Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hull- 
ed; dred and Tenth regiment, was born on the 24th of April, 
1838, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of 
Samuel and Elizabeth (Mattern) Jones. He received a good 
common school education and learned the trade of his father, 
that of a potter. In the three months' service of 1861, he was 
Corporal of Company D of the Third regiment. On his return 
from this, he recruited and was commissioned Captain of Com- 
pany A of the One Hundred and Tenth regiment, which was 
sent to the upper Potomac, joining the column of General Lander 
and participating in engagements against Jackson, and subse- 
quently, under Shields, in the hard-fought battle of Winchester, 
in which Jackson was driven. In a skirmish with a detachment 
of Ashby's cavalry, in one of the passes of the Blue Ridge, in 
June, 1862, Captain Jones manoeuvred his company with so 
much skill as to attract the attention of his superiors, and he was 
promoted to the rank of Major. He participated in the hard 
fighting at Cedar Mountain, and in the Second battle of Bull 



796 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Run, receiving in the latter a severe wound in the right wrist 
from a Minie ball which passed quite through, leaving the limb 
weakened and partially paralyzed. Shortly after the battle of 
Fredericksburg, in which he was engaged, he was promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel, and at Chancellorsville, when the Colonel 
was killed, the command devolved upon him at a critical moment 
in the battle. At Gettysburg he was of De Trobriand's brigade, 
that held, unsupported in the early part of the battle, the rocky, 
wooded ground designated the Whirlpool, or Slaughter-pen. More 
bold or determined* fighting has rarely been witnessed than was 
here displayed. It was a sad field for Colonel Jones ; for while 
conducting the fight with matchless heroism he was shot through 
the left leg, and so severe was the wound as to necessitate ampu- 
tation. His heroic conduct called forth warm commendation 
in the orders of General De Trobriand. Being disabled for further 
field service, he resigned. He was married in 1864 to Miss 
Amanda J. Palmer, who died in 1867. In 1865 he was elected 
Register and Recorder of his native county, to which office he 
has been twice reelected, and which he now holds. He was a 
true soldier as he is an upright citizen. 

fOHN Smith Littell, Colonel of the Seventy-sixth regiment, 
and Brigadier-General, Avas born in Hanover township, 
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of October, 1822. 
His father, William Littell, was a soldier of the war of 1812. 
His mother was Cynthia Smith. He received a good English 
education, paying special attention to surveying. He early 
joined a militia company, and in 1853 was elected Captain, and 
afterwards Brigade Inspector of the Nineteenth division. 

He recruited a company for the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania 
regiment, of which he was Captain. Soon after its organization 
it was ordered to the Department of the South, where it was en- 
gaged with the enemy at the capture of Fort Pulaski, and in the 
battles of Pocotaligo, James Island, Morris Island, and in the 
first and second assaults on Fort Wagner, in all of which he 
led his company with a steadiness and devotion which char- 
acterized his entire service. At Morris Island, on the 10th 
of July, he was slightly wounded, but kept the field. On the 



JOHN S. LITTELL.—T. ELWOOD ZELL. 797 

following morning he was again hit, receiving a flesh wound in 
the right arm and side. 

The assaults upon Fort Wagner proved very disastrous to the 
regiment, the losses being nearly half its entire strength. In the 
summer of 1864, it was taken to Virginia and attached to the 
Army of the James. On the 31st of May, Captain Littell was 
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and on the follow- 
ing day, in the action at Cold Harbor, received a severe wound, 
the missile entering the right thigh, tearing quite through and 
emerging from the left. After lying in the hospital for a time, 
he was taken to his home ; but his wound was slow in healing, 
and his recovery w r as protracted. On the 17th of August follow- 
ing, he was promoted to Colonel. In January he sailed with the 
expeditions, first under Generals Butler and Weitzel, and finally 
under General Terry, for the reduction of Fort Fisher, command- 
ing the approaches to Wilmington, North Carolina. Colonel 
Littell was of Pennypacker's brigade, and followed that gallant 
officer in the desperate assault upon this stronghold. In the 
midst of the struggle, and while leading on his regiment in the 
face of a destructive fire, he was struck by a Minie ball in the 
left thigh, which passed through, penetrating a pocket-book con- 
taining a roll of bank-notes, and finally lodging in the body. It 
w r as an ever memorable day for the armies of the Union, and 
though experiencing intense suffering, he still had strength and 
spirit to rejoice over the glorious victory achieved. He was re- 
moved to Fortress Monroe, after having the ball extracted, and 
when sufficiently recovered, to his home. As a merited recog- 
nition of his valor on this field, upon the recommendation of 
General Terry, he was brevetted Brigadier-General. 

Since the conclusion of the war, General Littell has served a 
term of three years as Sheriff of Beaver county. He was married 
in 1845 to Miss Mary Colhoon. 

Elwood Zell, Colonel of Independent battalion, was born 
in Philadelphia, of Quaker parentage. His father's family 
was among the few Germans who embraced the Quaker faith, 
emigrating under the immediate auspices of William Penn, and 
settling in Montgomery county. His mother's family name was 



« 



798 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Ogden, and her ancestors accompanied Penn in his first voyage 
in the ship Welcome, landing with him at Chester. His great- 
grandfather served in the Revolutionary struggle and filled the 
post of Quartermaster in the patriot army. His earliest military 
experience was gained in Texas, where he acted as a volunteer 
in aiding to protect the frontier from the ravages of a general 
Indian war which broke out while he was spending the winter 
there. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, he assisted in form- 
ing a military organization in Philadelphia for the purpose of 
drill. He was offered the place of Lieutenant in the Lancers, 
Sixth cavalry, and that of Captain in the Fifty-eighth, both of 
which he felt it his duty to decline. He subsequently entered 
the One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment as Captain of Com- 
pany D, and served with credit until compelled — by disabilities 
caused by the exposures of the service — to resign, carrying with 
him the respect of his brother officers and of his command. Sub- 
sequently, when the State was about to be invaded by Lee, 
Captain Zell was authorized to raise a regiment of infantry; 
but before it was filled he was mustered as Lieutenant-Colonel 
commanding the battalion, and was almost immediately ap- 
pointed chief of staff to General W. D. Whipple of the regular 
army, which position he held for several months, and subse- 
quently Inspector-General of cavalry. Upon the transfer of 
General Whipple to the staff of General Thomas, Colonel Zell 
was chief of staff for a short time to General Sigel, and was 
afterwards assigned to duty in Philadelphia as Post Assistant 
Provost-Marshal-General at the military barracks at Fourth and 
Buttonwood streets, where he remained until the expiration of 
his term of enlistment. 



T~^ !. Morrison Woodward, of Puritan and Huguenot origin, 
-L--' • was the son of James S. and Rebecca Anna (De-la- 
Montaigne) Woodward, and was born in Philadelphia, March 
11th, 1828. He received a liberal education at a private school. 
Influenced by the love of adventure, he sailed around Cape Horn 
to California, and spent several years in roaming through that 
State, Mexico, and South America, returning eastward across the 
continent. He studied law under John R. Vogdes of Philadel- 



E. MORRISON WOODWARD. 799 

phia, and was admitted to the bar. Turning his attention to 
literature soon afterwards, he wrote the History of the Citizen 
Soldiery of Philadelphia from 1704 to 1845. He was connected 
with the Sunday Mercury, and became assistant editor. Upon the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, he organized a company and was 
commissioned Captain, on the 19th of April, 18G1. The Second 
Reserve, to which he was attached, moved to the front without 
being mustered into the United States service. On being paraded 
for the purpose, some dissatisfaction having arisen, two-thirds of 
the men refused to take the oath. His own company and four 
others having been disbanded, to induce his men to remain true 
to their flag, he exchanged the sword for the musket, promising 
to stay with them to the last. Subsequently he was promoted 
to Sergeant^Major, and served as such throughout all the hard- 
fought battles in which the Reserves participated on the Penin- 
sula, in Pope's, and the Maryland campaigns. At Antietam, the 
Second was left with but one commissioned officer, the command 
of the left wing devolving upon Woodward, and the desperate 
resistance which it made to an assault of the enemy gained for 
him the rank of Adjutant. In the memorable charge of the Re- 
serves at Fredericksburg, the Second turned a rifle-pit, and, swing- 
ing round upon the heights, cut off the retreat of its occupants. 
The Seventh Reserve being in front of the pit, and not knowing 
the position of the Second, fired into it continuous volleys, which 
the Second in the heat of the battle did not discover and poured 
in a terrific fire at short range in return. The enemy in the 
meantime remained passive, neither giving token of surrender nor 
attempting defence. Finally Adjutant Woodward, discovering 
the situation, strove to stop the fire, and sheathing his sword, 
with cap in hand, advancing between the two lines, asked if they 
wished to " fight or surrender." " We will surrender if you will 
allow us," was the reply. The entire body with their flag was 
thereupon sent over to the Seventh. In this encounter Wood- 
ward had thirteen bullet holes through his clothes, leaving some 
wounds, but none serious. For his gallantry he was brevetted 
Major. He served with his regiment at Gettysburg and in other 
battles. After the war he settled among the green hills of his 
native State. While in the army he wrote the Picket Letters, 



800 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

which attracted considerable attention, and afterwards Our 
Campaigns, and the History of the Third Reserve and the One 
Hundred and Ninety-eighth regiments. 

(jj2j ichard Butler Price, Colonel of the Second cavalry, and 
;£pV Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in the city of Phila- 
delphia, on the 15th of December, 1809. His ancestors came to 
this country in the time of William Penn ; his great-grandfather, 
John Price, having married May Chandler, daughter of John 
Chandler, a companion of Penn in his voyage to America. His 
grandfather, Jonathan Price, who was an officer in the Revolu- 
tionary war, and died in the service, married Anne De Le Plaine, 
daughter of a French gentleman who escaped from his native 
country during the Huguenot troubles, his father, Count De Le 
Plaine, having been thrown into prison and estates confiscated. 
His father, Chandler Price, was a prominent shipping merchant 
of Philadelphia. His mother, Ellen (Matlake) Price, was daugh- 
ter of White Matlake, who was also an officer in the Revolution. 

His boyhood was passed in his native city. At the age of 
fifteen he went to France, where he remained several years per- 
fecting his education and receiving military instruction. After 
his return he served as a volunteer in the First Troop. On the 
day after the attack on Fort Sumter he tendered his services to 
the Government, and during the three months' campaign served 
on the staff of General Patterson, a part of the time as his Adju- 
tant-General. At the close of this term he returned to Philadel- 
phia, and commenced recruiting a cavalry regiment, which be- 
came the Second Pennsylvania, Fifty-ninth of the line, of which 
he was commissioned Colonel. His command was ordered to the 
Army of the Potomac, and formed part of the brigade under 
General Buford, which remained in the column of McDowell, and 
subsequently of Pope. The service during the campaigns of these 
officers in the summer of 1862 was very severe, and though not 
resulting in any general battles, the frequent skirmishing and 
manoeuvring in an enemy's country were even more trying than 
meeting the enemy in a fair field in greater masses. 

Upon the promotion of General Buford to the command of the 
cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, Colonel Price was given 



B. BUTLER PBICE.— JAMES L. SELFBWGE. 801 

the leadership of the brigade, and in November, 1862, was 
assigned to the command of all the cavalry in the Department 
of Washington south of the Potomac. It consisted of eleven 
regiments, and the field of operations extended from the Potomac 
to the Blue Ridge. In October orders came for him to detach a 
thousand men and send them for a special object to Winchester. 
As it was a delicate and hazardous duty, Colonel Price deter- 
mined to head the expedition in person. The main design was 
frustrated ; but while out, he met a regiment of the enemy's 
cavalry under Colonel Green. One of the few, open, hand-to-hand 
cavalry engagements of that period ensued, which resulted in a 
complete victory to the Union arms. Colonel Green with many 
of his officers and men were wounded and taken prisoners, 
and his command completely routed. For this brilliant action 
Colonel Price received honorable mention, and was brevettecl 
Brigadier-General. 

He continued to hold command of his brigade until the day 
before the battle of Gettysburg. In the meantime General 
Pleasanton had become Chief of cavalry, and he recommended 
several officers to the Government for promotion to Brigadier- 
Generals with a view of giving them the command of his 
brigades. This was accorded, and the advancement of the new 
men occasioned an entire reorganization of the divisions, which 
threw the old officers out who were in the way of promotion. 
On this account Colonel Price returned to his regiment, and was 
ordered for duty with the head-quarters of the army. He re- 
mained thus in command until the beginning of 1864, when, 
feeling that an indignity had been put upon him, he applied for 
detached service, and was ordered to Washington, where he 
served on a military commission till the close of the war. In 
person General Price is six feet in height, and of a muscular 
frame. He married Elizabeth Hartt, daughter of C. C. Hartt, 
of the United States Navy. 

f.AMES Levan Selfridge, Colonel of the Forty-sixth regiment, 
and Brevet Brigadier- General, was born in Berks county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 22d of September, 1824. His father was a 
Scotch-Irishman, and his mother of German and French extrac- 

51 



802 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tion. He was educated at Lafayette College, on leaving which 
he studied law with Henry King, of Allentown. He afterwards 
took charge of the Lehigh Transportation Company of Philadel- 
phia, of which his father had been one of the projectors. Having 
a taste for business, he entered a commission house, and, in 1850, 
opened on his own account. In 1857 he removed to Bethlehem, 
where he was engaged in the coal and real estate business up to 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. The call for troops found no 
more prompt or active respondent, and so popular was his stand- 
ard that on the 18th of April, 1861, he reported with his com- 
pany at Harrisburg, and it was on that day mustered into service 
as Company A of the First Pennsylvania regiment, in which he 
served with Patterson, and at whose request it remained ten days 
beyond the period of its enlistment. 

On returning home he was tendered a commission as Colonel 
of a regiment which he should raise ; but impatient of delay, he 
united with Colonel Joseph F. Knipe in recruiting, and was com- 
missioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-sixth regiment. It 
left for the field on the 17th of September, 1SG1, and was reported 
to General Banks at Darnestown, Maryland, participating under 
him in the action at Kernstown, in the two battles at Win- 
chester, and at Cedar Mountain. In the latter engagement the 
Forty-sixth was led over open and exposed ground in assaults 
upon the enemy's guns. The slaughter in its ranks was fear- 
ful, Colonel Selfridge having his horse shot under him and 
receiving a slight wound. He was also engaged with his regiment 
on the Rappahannock, and in the second battle of Bull Run under 
Pope ; at South Mountain and Antietam under McClellan ; at 
Chancellorsville under Hooker; and at Gettysburg under Meade. 
During the progress of the battle of Antietam Selfridge took com- 
mand of the regiment, Colonel Knipe leading the brigade. When 
Hooker with the Eleventh and Twelfth corps went to the assist- 
ance of Rosecrans at Chattanooga, Selfridge was of the column, 
and in the campaign on Atlanta took a prominent part in the 
battles of Resaca, Dallas, Pine Knob, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw 
Mountain, and Peach Tree Creek. In the latter action Hood 
attacked the Union right with terrific violence. Nothing like its 
impetuosity had been witnessed in the whole protracted and 








^/ csL O^/w^ 7 



JAMES L. SELFRIDGE. 803 

bloody campaign. On that part of the line where the weight cf 
the blow fell stood Colonel Selfridge with his indomitable Forty- 
sixth. Its valor with that of the rest of the noble division was 
equal to the emergency, and in the bloody repulse which the 
enemy received none were more conspicuous than Selfridge. At 
Marietta, Cassville, and the descent upon Atlanta, he was likewise 
unremittingly engaged, and so marked had been his courage, and 
so constant and unwavering his gallantry throughout the entire 
campaign — covering a hundred days in which the noise of battle 
was scarcely hushed for a single hour — that at its conclusion 
General A. S. Williams, the veteran commander of the First 
division, commended him to the attention of the Government in 
the following forcible language : " This officer has been in service 
since the beginning of the Rebellion. For over three years he 
has been constantly in the field, and ever at the post of duty. 
Few officers have been so steadily with their commands, so 
prompt, intelligent, and capable. The condition of his regiment 
bears testimony to the superiority of its commander." 

On leaving Atlanta Colonel Selfridge took command of the 
brigade, and during the March to the Sea was chiefly occupied in 
destroying railroads, though having part in the engagement at 
Monteith Swamp, and the siege of Savannah, soon after which he 
was promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General. In the movement of 
the army northward through the Carolinas he continued to lead 
his brigade, and participated with it in the actions at Averysboro 
and Bentonville. At the conclusion of hostilities he was mustered 
out, having shared the fortunes of his command with constancy 
and fidelity from the first to the last day of the service. In tes- 
timony of this General Sherman said of him, " General Selfridge 
was one of my steady, hard-working and fighting brigade com- 
manders, and served all the time." 

Since the war General Selfridge has taken an active part in 
public interests, and has been prominently named for the office 
of Governor. While yet at the front, on Sherman's famous march, 
he was nominated to represent the eleventh district in Congress, 
and though it was politically hopelessly against him, his oppo- 
nent's majority was reduced nearly 2000 votes. In 1857 he was 
nominated for Senator, and made an equally strong canvass. lie 



304 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

had been appointed by President Lincoln Assessor of Internal 
Revenue for the eleventh district, but was removed by President 
Johnson. In 18G8 he was elected Chief Clerk of the House of 
Representatives of Pennsylvania, a position to which he was an- 
nually reelected until 1873, when he was no longer a candidate. 
In 1872 he removed to Philadelphia, and became proprietor in 
the business of the Lehigh Hydraulic Cement Company. He was 
appointed by Governor Geary Major-General of the Seventh 
division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, which commission 
he still holds. 

foiiN Devereux, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-ninth regi- 
ment, was born on the 26th of March, 1830, in the city of 
Philadelphia, of which place his parents were natives. He was 
educated at St. John's College, in the city of New York, where he 
graduated in 1849. He entered the military service as Adjutant 
of the Twenty-fourth regiment, which served with Stone and Pat- 
terson before Washington and in the Shenandoah Valley. At the 
end of its term of three months, he assisted Colonel Owen in 
recruiting the Sixty-ninth, a veteran regiment, of which he was 
commissioned Major, and had command of the camp of instruction 
at Chestnut Hill. He was at Ball's Bluff in the fall of 1861, and in 
1862 made the campaign of the Peninsula, having an active part 
in all the operations from Yorktown to Malvern Hill. At the 
Second Fair Oaks, and at Charles City Cross Roads, his regiment 
received much credit for its gallant bearing from General Burns, 
and also from General Hooker, who could never brook mediocrity. 
He was also conspicuous under Pope at Bull Run, and under 
McClellan at South Mountain. At Antietam a great misfortune 
befell him. He was with his command in the hottest of the fight, 
leading on as became his heroic nature, when he was shot 
through the body, the missile passing close to the spine, inflicting 
a severe and well-nigh fatal injury. For seven months he was 
confined to his bed, and while in this situation was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel. Believing that he would never be able to 
render further active service, he resigned in March, 1863. But in 
November following, having partially recovered, he was appointed 
by the President Major in the Veteran Reserve corps, and served 



JOHN DEVEREUX.— JOSHUA T. OWEN. 805 

constantly en such duty as he was able to perform until the 1st 
of September, 1866, acting in the capacity of Inspector, member 
and president of general court-martial, examiner for entrance 
to the' army, Assistant Provost-Marshal-General, commandant of 
rendezvous for the muster out of troops, and in charge of a dis- 
trict in South Carolina. He was tendered a commission as 
Major in the regular army, but was compelled to decline it for 
physical disability. "His services," says General Burns, "should 
always entitle him to the commendation of a grateful country, 
and to any reward open to a brave, intelligent, and capable 
officer." By General Sedgwick he was characterized as " a gal- 
lant and excellent officer, who always performed his duty whilst 
under my command with zeal and fidelity." 

wVjposHUA Thomas Owen, Colonel of the Sixty-ninth regiment, 
^f) and Brigadier-General, was born on the 29th of March, 
1825, in Wales. His father, David Owen, a native Welshman, 
was a woollen manufacturer of Caermarthenshire, whence with 
his family he emigrated to this country in 1830. His mother 
was Jane (Thomas) Owen. The boy was early put to learn the 
trade of a printer, but pursued a liberal course of study, and 
graduated at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, in the class of 1845. 
He was fond of adventure, and by mental endowment and 
culture given to argumentation. Naturally, therefore, in choosing 
a profession, he adopted that of the law. During the period in 
which he was pursuing his legal studies, he was principal of a 
male academy at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, which had become 
his residence. He knew nothing of military service previous to 
the Rebellion, but when its mutterings were heard he was quick 
in enlisting in the First City Troop. Upon the organization in 
May, 1861, of the Twenty-fourth regiment, for the three months' 
service, he was commissioned Colonel. At the expiration of its 
term Colonel Owen recruited one for three years. It was com- 
posed of good fighting material, and Colonel Owen took a soldiers 
pride in drilling and disciplining it to a high state of proficiency, 
and led it in the battles of Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Charles 
City Cross Roads, and Malvern Hill. At Charles City Cross 
Roads, Colonel Owen particularly distinguished himself, his 



806 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

gallant conduct attracting the attention and complimentary 
notice of General Hooker. "About three o'clock," says Hooker, 
"the enemy commenced a vigorous attack on McCall, and in such 
force that General Sumner voluntarily tendered me the services 
of a regiment which was posted in the open field on my extreme 
right, and under shelter from the enemy's artillery. This 
was the Sixty-ninth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, under 
Colonel Owen." Hooker saw from the outset that the weight of 
the attack was likely to prove too powerful for McCall to with- 
stand, and in anticipation of his giving way he had said to 
Colonel Owen, when designating the ground he was to occupy, 
" Hold this position, and keep the enemy in check at all 
hazards." This he said with glowing cheek and a flash of the 
eye unusual to him, even in battle. As had been anticipated 
McCall's left did give way, and then the enemy came on in 
masses, flushed with victory. Owen ordered his men to kneel, 
and when the foe came rushing forward he gave the signal to 
tire. A sheet of flame blazed out which sent the line staggering 
back. But they were in heavy force, and soon recovering, again 
advanced, overlapping this single regiment on either flank. Seeing 
that he must be overwhelmed if he remained longer in his posi- 
tion, he boldly ordered his regiment to fix bayonets and charge. 
Springing to their feet, they dashed forward 'with a shout and 
quickly routed the foe. " The Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania," says 
Hooker, " heroically led by Oicen, advanced in the open field on 
tin ir flank (First Massachusetts) with almost reckless da/ring." 

The rank of Brigadier-General, on the recommendation of 
Generals Hooker, Howard, and Hancock, was bestowed upon 
him, and he was assigned to the command of the brigade to 
which his old regiment belonged. In the advance upon Fred- 
ericksburg, in December, 18G2, Owen's brigade was the first to 
cross the pontoons and march upon the city. It was on the 11th 
that he crossed, and all that night he was engaged in street 
fighting, and in clearing the town of sharpshooters, who had 
taken refuge in the buildings, and who from their sheltered posi- 
tion were maintaining a destructive, desultory fire. It was dan- 
gerous and harassing labor; but it was thoroughly accomplished, 
and on the 12th he was sent to take a position on the outskirts 



WILLIAM II. LESSIG. 807 

of the town, from which a whole division had been previously 
driven, which he gained and manfully held during the entire day. 
For his services here he was especially commended by Generals 
Howard and Couch. In the battle of the Wilderness he led his 
brigade in a seemingly hopeless charge from the right of the 
Second corps, which was successfully pushed, checking the enemy, 
and protecting that wing from being turned. The gallantry of 
this act won the hearty commendation of General Birney. At 
Cold Harbor General Owen received warm encomiums for the 
heroic manner in which he led his brigade and gained a position 
far in advance of the main line. In all the battles of the Army 
of the Potomac he participated, never from any cause being 
absent when important movements were about to be undertaken. 
For one so much -exposed in the fearless discharge of his duty, 
few escaped with so little of bodily harm. He had two horses 
shot under him, and the one which he rode in most of the active 
campaigns was several times wounded. Previous to the war 
General Owen represented Philadelphia in the Legislature, and 
was Recorder of Deeds for the city. He was married, in 1852, 
to Miss Annie J. Sheridan, daughter of Owen Sheridan, of 
Chestnut Hill. In person he is above the medium height, and 
inclined in later years to corpulency. 

^p7illiam H. Lessig entered the service of the United States 
)£)▼ as Captain in the Ninety-sixth regiment in September, 
1861. While upon the Peninsula he was prevented by sickness 
from taking part in more than the opening operations. In Sep- 
tember, 1862, he was promoted to Major, and participated in the 
actions of South Mountain and Antietam, soon after which he 
was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel, and commanded his regi- 
ment in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and 
Gettysburg. He was commissioned Colonel in March, 1863, and 
led at Rappahannock Station, through the campaign of 1864, 
from the Rapidan to the James, and Sheridan's brilliant career 
in the Shenandoah Valley. At the conclusion of his term, in 
October, 1864, he was mustered out of service, having won an 
enviable reputation for gallantry and valor. 



308 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

tT^dmund Lovell Dana, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
<=S§^ Forty-third regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was 
born on the 29th of January, 1817, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl- 
vania. He was the son of Asa S. and Nancy (Pruner) Dana. 
He was educated at Yale College, graduating with honor in the 
class of 1838. For a year after completing his academic studies 
he was employed as a civil engineer ; but applied himself to the 
law and was admitted to practice in 1841. Having attached 
himself to the Wyoming Artillerists, he held the rank of Lieu- 
tenant and Captain in that company in the years 1844-45. Two 
years later, at the breaking out of the Mexican War, he volun- 
teered and served as Captain of Company I, First Pennsylvania 
infantry, throughout the entire period of that contest. At the 
landing of the troops under General Scott at Anton Lizards, on 
the 9th of March, 1847, he was in Patterson's division, and par- 
ticipated in the siege, bombardment, and capture of Vera Cruz, 
and the Castle of San Juan D'Ulloa. He bore a part also in the 
battle of Cerro Gordo, and led a storming party composed of his 
own and Company A of the First Pennsylvania, at Black Pass. 
For his conduct in the siege of Puebla in September and October 
he was complimented in general orders. With his company he 
marched to the city of Mexico, and when the war* was ended 
returned with it to Pennsylvania. During the summer and fall 
of 1862 he was active in recruiting the One Hundred and Forty- 
third regiment, of which he was commissioned Colonel. He par- 
ticipated in the movement to Pollock's mills, and in the battle of 
Chancellorsville. 

Colonel Dana's most sustained and signal action was at Gettys- 
burg. Reynolds had fallen, Stone and Wister been wounded, 
when Colonel Dana succeeded to the command of the brigade. 
It stood in the centre of the line on open ground. Round shots 
and shells ploughed the field. From the rebel infantry were 
poured showers of deadly missiles, as in repeated assaults and 
with ever fresh troops they charged forth ; but though outnum- 
bered three to one, and outflanked, that devoted corps stood firm, 
dealing death in return upon the daring foe, and when finally 
it Mas forced to retire went defiantly with flaunting colors, often 
halting to deliver its fire. The rebel General Hill reported at 



EDMUND L. DANA. 809 

evening to Lee that the Yankees had fought with a determina- 
tion unusual to them. Changes of front were repeatedly, and 
with the utmost precision, made under Colonel Dana's orders, 
and new lines of defence formed as the exigencies demanded, and 
after the close of this severe and prolonged struggle the remains 
of the brigade were withdrawn in good order through the town 
and formed on Cemetery Hill. Few commands lost more heavily 
or did more gallant service. During the succeeding days of the 
battle, he acted in support upon the left centre of the Union line. 

In the battle of the Wilderness, on the first day of the fight, 
Colonel Dana was wounded, his horse having been shot under 
him, and he was taken captive. For three months he languished 
in rebel prisons, and a part of the time was held under the fire 
of the Union guns at Charleston. After regaining his freedom 
he rejoined his command, then before Petersburg, and in the 
battles at Poplar Grove Church, Hatcher's Run, Weldon Rail- 
road, Petersburg, and a Second Hatcher's Run, he bore an im- 
portant part, commanding for a portion of the time his old 
brigade, though having been transferred, in the consolidation of 
organizations, to the Fifth corps. In the siege of Petersburg 
Colonel Dana was especially commended by General Warren in 
command of the Fifth corps, for his energy and courage displayed 
in advancing, against strong opposition, the corps skirmish line. 
The line in front of the corps was irregular, a -covert of wood 
sheltering the enemy, who had established several advanced posts. 
To straighten it and drive the enemy out was strongly desired 
by the Union commander, and this Colonel Dana was set to do. 
Making his dispositions he ordered a bold movement, and after 
a severe struggle routed the foe and gained the ground. This 
gave the Union line the advantage of the wood where the enemy 
had lurked. He was subsequently brevetted a Brigadier-General. 

At the close of the war General Dana resumed the practice of 
his profession, and in 1867 was elected an additional law judge 
for the eleventh judicial district, in which capacity he is now 
acting. In person he is of medium height, and of fair com- 
plexion. He was married on the 28th of March, 1842, to Miss 
Sarah H. Peters. 



CHAPTER XII. 




^YMUEL WYLIE CRAWFORD, Colonel of the 
Second infantry, Brigadier-General of volunteers, 
and Brevet Major-General, was born in Franklin 
county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent. He was 
educated at the University in Philadelphia, where 
he graduated in the Collegiate department in 
1846, and in the Medical in 1850. He was 
appointed Assistant Surgeon on the 10th of March, 
1851, and till 1856 served in Texas and New 
Mexico, in the practice of his profession and in 
scientific research. During this time he made 
extensive collections in natural history, in a 
region hitherto little known — El Paso del Norte ; 
and wrote a treatise on the fauna and flora of the country upon 
the head-waters of the Rio San Saba, which was published by 
Congress. Receiving orders to return, he passed through 
Mexico, and upon his arrival at the city of Mexico, the United 
States Minister, by consent of the War Department, retained 
him at the legation to assist in the negotiation of a treaty then 
pending. In 1857 he bore a barometer to the summit of the 
volcano Popocatepetl, reaching the crater in company of a single 
guide. The measurement which he made of its altitude was 
reported to the Prussian Government by a party of scientists 
sent out to verify Humboldt's discoveries, but who failed to 
make the ascent. Not content with his first experience he again 
wended his way to its dizzy heights, remained all night in the 
crater, was let down by cords into its depths, and brought out 
valuable mineralogical specimens, which were deposited in the 
cabinet at West Point. He also ascended Istuchihuatle (the 
White Woman), verifying the fact that no traces could be dis- 
covered of volcanic activity. For his explorations here he was 

810 



5. WYLIE CRAWFORD. 811 

made a member of the Geographical Society of Mexico. At the 
conclusion of leave of absence he was the bearer of despatches 
to Washington, and after his arrival was ordered to duty as 
Assistant Surgeon with the troops in Kansas. In 1860 he was 
assigned as Surgeon with the forces at Fort Moultrie, in Charles- 
ton harbor, reporting to Lieutenant-Colonel John Gardner of the 
First artillery. 

On the ever memorable evening of December 2Gth, 18G0, the 
faithful and chivalrous Major Anderson determined to abandon 
Moultrie and remove all to Sumter, an act to which he was 
incited by the highest considerations of patriotic duty. In an 
enterprise of hazard like this Surgeon Crawford could not be con- 
tent to confine himself to the simple duties of his post, and upon 
the seizure of Sumter applied to be assigned as an officer of the 
line, illustrating the sentiment of the hero in Ivanhoe : " Thou 
knowest; not how impossible it is to one trained to actions of 
chivalry to remain passive as a priest or a woman when they are 
acting deeds of honor around him. The love of battle is the food 
upon which we live — the dust of the melee is the breath of our 
nostrils. We wish to live no longer than while we are victorious 
and renowned." Pie was assigned as desired, and throughout the 
bombardment commanded a battery of two thirty-two and one 
forty-two pounders. He assisted Captain Foster in spiking the 
guns at Moultrie, on the 26th, and on the following clay returned 
to that fort and aided in destroying the gun carriages, and in 
the removal of the ammunition and stores. His nerve in the 
fight was the subject of commendation by Major Anderson in his 
communications to the War Department and he was recom- 
mended for the rank of Brevet Major. 

With honor unsullied, having defended the fort until their 
supplies were exhausted and their quarters burned, the troops 
under Major Anderson retired and proceeded to New York, 
where Crawford was assigned to duty at Governor's Island. 
While here he was appointed Major of the Thirteenth infantry, 
and ordered to duty with General Rosecrans, then operating in 
West Virginia against the rebel General Floyd. Upon his 
arrival he was appointed Assistant Inspector-General of the 
department and was employed in this capacity, and as special 



812 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Aide-de-camp to the General in that short but brilliant campaign 
which routed the enemy. On his return with General Roseeraue 
to Wheeling, he was recommended for appointment to Brigadier- 
General, in response to a request from General McClelliin to 
name two officers from that department for that rank. He was 
appointed accordingly, and ordered to report for duty to General 
Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. He was with that General, 
acting upon his staff, at the battle of Winchester, and in the retire- 
ment to the Potomac was assigned to the command of a brigade, 
which he continued to lead in the movement up the valley. On 
the 3d of August he made a reconnoissance to Orange Court 
House, and in a brisk action discovered that Jackson and Ewell 
were concentrating at Gordonsville and Louisa Court House. On 
the 8th of August he was sent to the support of Bayard who was 
falling back with his cavalry, and established himself at Cedar 
Run, checking the enemy's advance. In the battle of Cedar 
Mountain, on the following day, Crawford had the extreme right 
of the line. At a critical juncture he moved under a severe fire, 
flanking the enemy upon the left and turning him out of his posi- 
tion, but was in turn driven, Jackson having been heavily 
reinforced. For three days skirmishing was kept up upon the 
Rappahannock, and during the Second Bull Run battle he com- 
manded a division. At Turner's Gap and at Antietam he led a 
brigade of seven regiments, and, after the fall of General Mans- 
field, a division. At daylight on the 17th of September, on the 
Antietam field, he advanced to battle and drove the enemy across 
the Hagerstown road. In an attempt to clear the wood around 
the Dunkard Church he was severely wounded, but refused to 
leave the field, and when General Franklin subsequently came to 
his relief, accompanied him in his advance, pointing out the posi- 
tions held by the foe. His wound becoming painful, he retired to 
a hospital. Before recovering completely he applied for light 
duty and was appointed a member of a military commission 
sitting in Washington. 

On the 19th of May, 1863, General Crawford was assigned to 
the command of the Pennsylvania Reserves, and, on the 23d of 
June, was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, marching 
with the Fifth corps to Gettysburg. On the afternoon of the 2d 



S. WYLIE CRAWFORD. 813 

of July he was sent to the left, and took position on the slopes of 
Little Round Top. Four of his regiments under Colonel Fisher he 
ordered to the support of Vincent's brigade, then engaged in a 
mortal struggle with Hood. The balance of his command he 
formed" for a charge to meet the oncoming enemy, who had broken 
and driven every Union force hitherto sent against them. Know- 
ing that the moment was a critical one he rode down the line, 
calling upon his troops to move forward, and seizing the flag of 
the first, advanced to the charge. An act like this has never 
failed to inspire men. A similar instance is recorded of Reynolds 
at Bull Run ; and at Charles City Cross Roads the dauntless 
Kearny, seeing the right of his brigade giving way, with his 
reins in his teeth, his only arm wielding his sword, dashed down 
between the hostile lines where the missiles of death were merci- 
lessly raining. Awed by the majesty of the act, both sides 
ceased firing. Crawford's men were not less susceptible, and 
when the word was given to advance they moved with unfalter- 
ing step, breasted the storm that was beating full in their faces, 
reached the stone wall behind which the enemy had been shelter- 
ing themselves, and drove them in confusion. On the following 
day, under the immediate supervision of General Meade, Craw- 
ford's command moved upon the forces of Hood, made some 
captures, and held the ground which had been lost on the pre- 
vious evening. 

After leaving Gettysburg, General Crawford took part in the 
operations at Falling Waters, Manassas Gap, Rappahannock 
Station, and Mine Run, and during the succeeding winter was 
posted on the line of the Orange and Alexandria railroad. In 
the reorganization of the army for the spring campaign he was 
given command of the Third division of the Fifth corps. In the 
Wilderness he had the advance of his corps, and on the second day 
had position on its right near the centre of the army. At even- 
ing he was sent to the support of the Sixth corps on the extreme 
right of the whole line, where the enemy had attempted a sur- 
prise. The operations at Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania Court House, 
and the North Anna were protracted from the 7th to the 30th of 
May, and were almost one ceaseless battle. On the latter date 
was the engagement at Bethesda Church, in which the Pennsyl- 



31 i MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

vania Reserves bore a conspicuous part. It was their last battle. 
Their terra of service ended on the following day ; the time of 
a part of them had already expired, and they were fighting for 
the love they bore the flag. The battle was severe, but the 
Reserves were triumphant. It was characterized by the Rich- 
mond papers as " sad and distressing." 

The Union army crossed the James on the 16th of June, 1864, 
and found its old antagonist seated in front of Petersburg. On 
the 18th and 21st of August there was severe fighting at the 
Weldon Railroad, near the Yellow or Globe Tavern, in which 
Crawford was warmly engaged. He had advanced over rugged 
ground and received from General Warren, who commanded the 
Fifth corps, the following commendation of his conduct : " You 
have done well in getting forward through that difficult country. 
Make yourself as strong as you can, and hold on. I will try to 
reinforce you." But the line was too attenuated and too much 
concealed from observation, and the enemy, seeing his advantage, 
massed his forces and broke through, flanking the position and 
making considerable captures. To add to the confusion the Union 
artillery, seeing the rebel infantry in rear of the Union line, 
opened upon them, destroying friend and foe alike. It required 
a master hand to extricate the forces from this sad situation. 
But the lines were reformed, and advanced to the position from 
which the}^ had been driven. A sharp action at Hatcher's Run 
on the 27th of October, and the raid to Sussex Court House and 
Hicksford on the 5th of Dacember, closed the operations of the 
year. 

The spring campaign of 1865 opened on the 5th of February, 
when Crawford moved with his division, in connection with a 
heavy body, to Dabney's Mills. The enemy had anticipated the 
move, and was in waiting to receive him. A sharp and protracted 
encounter followed, in which the rebel General Pegram was 
killed and General Sorrel wounded. For the good conduct of his 
division here he received the commendation of Generals Warren 
and Meade. After his return to camp he was offered the com- 
mand of all the cavalry of the Potomac army, which he declined. 
On the 30th of March General Crawford led his division out for 
the last time — a campaign then opening which ended in the sur- 



S. WYLIE CRAWFORD. 815 

render of Lee with his entire army. At the White Oak Road, 
near Gravelly Run Church, he moved upon the rebel rear over 
difficult ground and promptly attacked while Griffin and Ayer 
pressed in front. The movement was opportune and skilfully 
executed. The fighting was severe but entirely successful. "A 
four-gun battery," he says in his report, " under Colonel Peg- 
ram, and the battle-flag of the Thirty-second Virginia infantry, 
were captured and the enemy routed in confusion. We were now' 
within the enemy's intrenchments, and he was retreating before 
us. Here I met and joined Griffin's division, and, changing 
direction again under General Warren's orders, we moved in a 
southeasterly direction until dark, when all the enemy had fled. 
In this battle I lost over three hundred in killed and wounded." 
With relentless earnestness the pursuit was pushed, and on the 
9th the surrender was made. 

General Crawford returned to Washington, and during the 
succeeding summer his division was mustered out, but he con- 
tinued in the volunteer service until January, 1866. From that 
date until the 30th of July, 1867, he was on leave of absence 
awaiting orders, at the end of which time he joined his regiment 
and had command of the military post at Louisville, Kentucky. 
Upon the reduction of the infantry from forty-five to twenty-five 
regiments he was selected to command the Second, though the 
last Colonel promoted. In April, 1869, he was transferred to 
Alabama, and placed in command of the post at Huntsville and of 
the troops in the State, besides performing important general court- 
martial duty. On the 21st of December, 1871, he was granted leave 
of absence on surgeon's certificate, and on the 19th of February 
was reported by the Army Board " incapacitated for active service 
by reason of a gunshot wound received at the battle of Antietam, 
September 17th, 1862, while holding the rank of Brigadier-General 
of volunteers, and exercising the command of a Major-General," 
and the President directed " that his name be placed on the list 
of retired officers of that class in which the disability results from 
long and faithful service, or from wounds or injury received in 
the line of duty." His attainments in science have earned for 
him merited recognition. He is a member of the Historical Socie- 
ties of New York and Pennsylvania, of the Geographical Society 



816 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of New York, and of the Society of Natural History of Philadel- 
phia. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the 
University of Pennsylvania in 1870. 

^harles Albright, Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty- 
second regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born 
on the 13th of December, 1830, in Berks county, Pennsylvania. 
He was the son of Solomon and Mary (Miller) Albright. He 
was educated at Dickinson College, and studied law at Ebensburg 
with Robert L. Johnson. He subsequently removed to Mauch 
Chunk, where he acquired a commanding influence both in his 
profession and in politics. He was married in 1852 to Miss Na- 
omi E. Wingard, daughter of Valentine Wingard. In stature he 
is above the medium height. He is methodical and temperate, 
eschewing altogether tobacco and spirituous liquors. In 1854 he 
went with Governor Reeder to Kansas, where he was involved in 
the troubles of that infant State, allying himself actively with the 
Free State party, and contending, as was the right of citizens, 
for the consecration of that virgin soil to the cause of freedom 
forever. 

Returning to his native State he became absorbed in the great 
questions overshadowing every other, which finally culminated in 
civil war. His interest in the safety of the incoming administra- 
tion led him to Washington on the occasion of the inauguration 
of President Lincoln in 1861, and though seeing this happily 
accomplished he could discern the low mutterings of the coming 
storm, and remaining at the Capital attached himself to the Clay 
battalion for its defence. He was subsequently appointed Major 
of the One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment, and after the 
battle of Antietam, when the Colonel was killed, he was promoted 
to Lieutenant-Colonel. At Fredericksburg nearly one-half of this 
gallant body was either killed or wounded. In January follow- 
ing he was made Colonel, and was assigned to the leadership of 
a brigade in the Second corps, distinguishing himself in the battle 
of Chancellorsville. 

In June, 1863, he was assigned to the command of Camp 
Muhlenburg, at Reading, and in the emergency occasioned by the 
invasion of the State by the rebel army was appointed Colonel 





^^ 



CHARLES ALBRIGHT. 817 

of the Thirty-fourth militia, with which he was sent to Philadel- 
phia in apprehension of trouble from the enforcement of the draft. 
The turbulent elements were greatly excited, and riot and blood- 
shed seemed imminent. Colonel Albright went fully determined 
to maintain order. To avoid the appearance of a challenge he 
halted his column in Chestnut street, and ordered an inspection 
and a discharge of all loaded arms. Moving to camp where dis- 
turbance was feared, by a free conference with persons having 
great influence with the masses he gave assurance of his pacific 
desires, but of his resolute intentions if put to the test. His 
reasonable temper had the effect to allay excitement. Peace was 
preserved throughout the city, while at New York, where a less 
judicious course was pursued, riot and civil strife reigned su- 
preme. His temperate management here drew upon him the 
favorable regard of the Government, and when troubles arose 
in the coal regions he was sent among the miners to quell a 
threatened uprising. By rare tact he discovered the ringleaders, 
had them arrested, and soon brought the entire section to a peace- 
able condition. In August, 1864, he was commissioned Colonel 
of the Two Hundred and Second regiment. Soon after taking the 
field he was detached and sent to quell troubles existing in Co- 
lumbia county, where lawless men, inspired by crafty leaders, were 
defying authority. Speedily were the operations of the band 
discovered, their evil machinations brought to light, and further 
trouble averted. Returning, he resumed command of his regi- 
ment, and was sent out upon the Manassas Gap Railroad in- 
fested by numerous bands of guerillas bent upon interrupting 
trains employed in transporting stores to Sheridan in the Valley. 
He here succeeded to the command of a brigade. A warm engage- 
ment occurred near Fairfax Station, in which Moseby was routed 
and the disposition to attack broken. When no longer needed 
for this purpose the road was abandoned and his command went 
into quarters at Fairfax Station. Against this isolation he pro- 
tested, being eager to join the Grand Army before Petersburg ; 
but the Government refused to listen to his appeals. 

On the 25th of March, 1865, he was appointed and confirmed 
Brigadier-General by brevet. He continued in service until 
August, when he returned to his home at Mauch Chunk and re- 

52 



818 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

sumed the practice of his profession, where he has also been 
largely engaged in iron, slate, and mining interests, and as Presi- 
dent of the Second National Bank. He is known and esteemed 
as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has 
been an active worker for many years, and was one of the two 
lay delegates from the Philadelphia Conference to the General 
Conference which convened in Brooklyn in 1872. He was a 
delegate to the Chicago Convention which put in nomination Mr. 
Lincoln for the Presidency, and also to that which sat in Phila- 
delphia and renominated President Grant, where he acted as 
chairman of the Committee on Permanent Organization. At the 
general State election held in the fall of 1872 he was chosen 
one of the representatives at large to the United States Congress, 
in which capacity he is now serving. 

tRA Ayer, Jr., Colonel of the Tenth Reserve regiment, was 
born in Erie county, New York, on the 14th of July, 1836. 
He was the son of Ira and Julia M. (Wadsworth) Ayer. At the 
opening of the Rebellion he was a student of Allegheny College. 
Without waiting for authority he called together his fellow- 
students, and having had some training in the Sixty-seventh 
militia, of which his father was Colonel, commenced drilling them. 
Though earnest in his appeals his company failed of acceptance, 
until the Reserve corps was authorized, when it was mustered as 
Company I of the Tenth. He was first in action at Dranes- 
ville. He seems to have had a poetic appreciation of valor ; for 
when General Ord, who commanded in the battle, came galloping 
forward, leading Easton's battery into action, he thus records his 
impressions : " Just then Ord came dashing up. ' Make way for 
my artillery,' he shouted, and without slackening his speed dashed 
by, while his 'war-dogs' followed close behind. The General was 
an old artillerist, and knew well how to value this arm of the 
service. The scene was, I think, the most animated that I 
witnessed during the war. He was mounted on a beautiful bay, 
and as he rode up, his eyes flashing fire and every lineament of 
his countenance betokening courage, his presence inspired all 
with confidence." 

In the battle of Beaver Dam Creek he was sent forward with 



IRA AYER, Jr. 819 

his company to occupy the skirmish line, and remained in this 
advanced position during the entire engagement, the regiment 
acquitting itself in the most gallant manner. " About ten 
o'clock," he says, "the roar of artillery had ceased. In our 
advanced position we could hear distinctly the movements of the 
enemy, and the cries and shrieks of the wounded and dying, as 
they lay where they had fallen or were being moved from the 
field." In the battle of the following day, at Gaines' Mill, he 
received a gunshot wound in the right side and a severe con- 
tusion of the right arm. " Colonel Warner," he says, " mustered 
the regiment on the 30th, and I shall never forget the glow of 
soldierly pride with which he commended the company's bravery, 
and viewed its thinned but still compact ranks." And now came 
the change of base, with infinite discomfort to the wounded and 
worn-out soldiers. But a place of rest had not been gained 
before the enemy attacked, now at Charles City Cross Roads. 
The Reserves felt the first shock and were terribly scourged, but 
suffered no diminution of gallantry. In the. Seven Days of this 
contest Captain Ayer's company lost more heavily in killed and 
wounded than any in the division. As it was the representative 
of one of the most prominent colleges in the State, the fact may 
be regarded as significant. 

At Bull Run, Captain Ayer received a severe wound. Passing 
over this field nearly a year afterwards the recollections of the 
battle were brought vividly to his mind and he thus wrote to a 
friend: "A little farther on we came to the scene of our last 
year's operations. There is the very field where we lay, Thurs- 
day night, August 28th, all day under a hot sun, covered a little 
from the enemy. This was near Grove ton. Yonder is the wood 
where our regiment made a charge to take a rebel battery, but 
without success, and there is the field where they shelled 
us after dark, throwing their missiles very accurately, but, 
as it happened, without effect, That was Friday evening, 
the 29th; and there is the field where our regiment stood 
picket the same night. Passing on a little farther we come 
to the house near which we lay Saturday, before we were 
ordered into the engagement. But here to the right is the very 
spot where the regiment fought. There fell Captain Hindi- 



820 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

man, of Company A, and it is said that he is buried in that 
little rail enclosure. Here, too, fell Tryon and Pearl ; and Phelps, 
our Lieutenant, a bold and dashing officer, was here shot through 
the breast. No better men graced the ranks of the Union army. 
On this same ridge the rebel bullet struck my arm, and another 
went through my hat. The former made a sad hole in my can- 
teen, causing all my cold coffee to run out. The boys in going 
over the field to-day found what they asserted to be the self- 
same canteen ; but they were mistaken, for I carried it off with 
me." His wound was a severe one, fracturing the left fore- 
arm. At Gettysburg, while reconnoitring, he was fired at by 
two sharpshooters from an unexpected quarter, but was not hit. 
Turning suddenly back, a third shot was fired, which just grazed 
his side, making a deep abrasion, and would have done certain 
execution had it not been fired at the instant of his turning 
away, carrying him out of aim after the missile had actually left 
the piece. 

He had been promoted to the rank of Major on the 18th 
of October, 18G2, and on the 18th of December, 18G3, was 
advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel and placed in command of the 
regiment. When it entered the Wilderness campaign it went 
with the free step and the resolute mien of the best trained and 
organized soldiers. It had not penetrated far before the old foe 
was met. In a letter dated May 6th, the second clay of the 
battle, he says : " Our division had been rapidly ordered forward, 
preparatory as was supposed to a charge upon the enemy's 
works. I was leading my regiment into line when hit by a 
bullet from one of the enemy's sharpshooters, which passed 
through the large bone of my leg, causing a very painful though 
I hope not dangerous wound. I was compelled to leave the 
field at once, which I did after exhorting my men to do their 
duty." 

For more than a year after the Reserve corps had completed 
its period of service and been mustered out he was disabled. 
He was brevetted Colonel for this action, and was warmly com- 
plimented by Generals Crawford and Fisher. Only by w r ounds, 
however, was he kept from the field, possessing a good constitu- 
tion and actuated by real patriotism. In person he is six feet in 



BEXEY J. SHEAFEB. 821 

height, well formed, and of fair complexion. At college he mani- 
fested a strong liking for mathematics and natural science, and 
later in his course for lingual studies. Strictly temperate — of 
tobacco and spirituous liquors abstemious — he was little affected 
by temptation, as the habits of youth are strengthened and con- 
firmed by time. 

Colonel Ayer was married on the 21st of December, 1863, to 
Miss Jennie James, whose mother had, during the war, minis- 
tered at the bedside of many sick and dying soldiers, evincing a 
patriotism as sincere and fervid as the man who bore the musket 
and met face to face the foe. She watched at the side of one of 
the brave men of Ayer's company, Edwin B. Pier, a scholar 
of promise, and after his death wrote a most touching letter, de- 
scriptive of the Christian fortitude of the departed young soldier. 
When Ayer next visited Washington', he called upon the family 
to tender his acknowledgments for the kindness shown his 
beloved companion-in-arms, and then for the first time met the 
daughter. The acquaintance ripened into esteem, and finally 
resulted in their marriage. At the close of the war, Colonel Ayer 
settled in Virginia, and now resides at Norfolk, where he holds a 
responsible position in the civil service of the General Govern- 
ment. 

enrt Jackson Sheafer, Brevet Colonel of the One Hundred 
and Seventh regiment, was born in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 21st of May, 182G. His grandfather, 
George Sheafer, emigrated to this country from Alsace, France. 
His maternal ancestors were Scotch. His opportunities for edu- 
cation were limited. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to 
a druggist. At twenty he went to South Carolina, but return- 
ing north two years later, engaged in mercantile business in 
Milton, Northumberland county, and was united in marriage to 
Annrica 0. Wood, daughter of Nicholas B. Wood, of Harrisburg. 
In 1856 he removed to Minnesota, where he was largely em- 
ployed in the lumber trade. In 1858 he was elected a member 
of the Minnesota Legislature from Dakota county. 

Returning to Pennsylvania at the opening of the war he 
recruited a company for the One Hundred and Seventh, of which 



822 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

he was Captain. He remained with McDowell during the Penin- 
sula campaign, and was at Thoroughfare Gap, and in the Second 
Bull Run battle. At South Mountain, and again at Antietam, 
he particularly distinguished himself, in the latter engagement 
commanding one wing of the regiment, and holding it on the 
hottest part of the field until every cartridge had been spent. He 
was again sharply engaged at Fredericksburg. At Chancellors- 
ville, after the Union army had retired to its more contracted 
position, he was sent upon the skirmish line with four companies, 
where he was obliged to stand for forty hours without relief, and 
where the officers were obliged to use harsh words and even 
resort to blows to keep the men awake. He had some time pre- 
vious been commissioned Major. In the battle of Gettysburg he 
was severely wounded on the first day. 

In the subsequent campaign of 1863, and in the Wilderness 
campaign of 1864, Major Sheafer was constantly at the post of 
duty, a considerable portion of the time having command of the 
regiment, and in all places proving himself a cool, brave, and 
reliable officer. He served through the siege of Petersburg, and 
was mustered out at the expiration of his term, in March, 1865, 
having been brevetted, in the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel and 
Colonel. On retiring from the army he engaged in an active 
business life in Harrisburg. In 1872 he was elected Sheriff of 
Dauphin county, which position he now fills. 

fAMES Gettys Elder, Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
sixth regiment, was born on the 13th of February, 1822, in 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of James and 
Rachel (McAfee) Elder. He received a common school education, 
and learned the trade of a saddler, but engaged in mercantile 
pursuits. For a period of twenty years he served in the militia, 
holding the ranks of Captain, Major, and Brigade Inspector. He 
served as Captain in the Second regiment for three months' ser- 
vice. He was afterwards active in forming the One Hundred and 
Twenty-sixth regiment for nine months, of which he was com- 
missioned Colonel. He first led his command into battle on the 
disastrous field of Fredericksburg — doubly disastrous to Colonel 
Elder. He was in Tyler's brigade of Humphrey's division which 



JAMES G. ELDER.— JAMES F. WEAVER.— P. II. ALLABACH. 823 

was led against Marye's Heights, at a point where the rebel line 
was impregnable, and against which the Union forces dashed in 
fiery waves. In one of these Colonel Elder led his command, 
and when the storm of battle was at its height was struck by 
two musket balls in the thigh, inflicting dangerous and ghastly 
wounds. He was carried from the field and his wounds dressed ; 
but for many months was unable to move, and when, after great 
suffering, he came forth from the hospital where his life had been 
in peril he came with one limb permanently shortened. Previous 
to the war Colonel Elder had served as a justice of the peace, 
and after its close he was elected Treasurer of Franklin county. 
He has richly earned the title of a defender of his country. 

j^KAMES F. Weaver, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- 
^f) eighth regiment, was born on the 6th of November, 1830, 
near Bellefonte. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Poor- 
man) Weaver. He received a common school education, and at 
the age of seventeen was apprenticed to the business of printing, 
and became editor of the Centre Democrat. He was married in 
December, 1851, to Miss Mary M. Hall, daughter of T. M. Hall, 
of Milesburg. He displayed untiring zeal in recruiting troops for 
the One Hundred and Forty-eighth regiment, and was commis- 
sioned Captain of Company B. He participated in the battles of 
Chancellorsville, Po River, Spottsylvania, and in the actions be- 
fore Petersburg. He was struck by a fragment of shell at the 
Po, but not disabled. For his conduct at Ream's Station he was 
complimented upon the field by General Miles, commander of the 
division. He received the successive promotions of Major, 
Lieutenant-Colonel, and Colonel. He commanded the regiment 
in the final campaign, and returned with it to be mustered out of 
service. In person he is six feet in height, slender but erect, and 
of manners affable and courteous. 

ieter Hollingshead Allabach, Colonel of the One Hundred 
and Thirty-first regiment, was born on the 9th of Sep- 
tember, 1824, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He was the son 
of Peter and Elizabeth (Van Camp) Allabach. At the age of 
fifteen he was apprenticed to a millwright, where he remained 



824 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

three years. On the 25th of November, 1844, he enlisted as a 
private in the regular army, serving in the Third infantry. In 
July, 1845, he went to Texas under General Taylor, and in the 
war with Mexico took part in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca 
do la Palma, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, 
Cherubusco, Chapultepec, Garita de Belen, and street fights in 
the city of Mexico. He displayed great gallantry at Cherubusco, 
placing the flag of his regiment on the ramparts, for which he 
was recommended for promotion. In 1849, after a service of five 
years, he left the army. In 1851 he was married to Miss N. 
Gertrude Blanchard. 

When the One Hundred and Thirty-first regiment was formed, 
he was appointed Colonel. The five years of service in the 
regular army now proved of signal benefit, and when his regi- 
ment reached the field he was placed in command of a brigade, 
which he continued to exercise until the expiration of the nine 
months for which his regiment was enlisted. At Fredericksburg, 
he took the lead of his brigade in the charge on Marye's Heights, 
where the earth was slippery with patriot blood. But he Avas 
unable to effect more than those who had gone before, and 
was recalled to give place to other victims. The heroism of his 
troops was tested, as it has rarely been in the history of 
warfare, and they were not found wanting. At Chancellorsville, 
his brigade met the enemy in his first advance on the 1st of May, 
and again on the 3d, when the army was struggling to gather up 
its strength after the fatal blow of Stonewall Jackson. The 
fighting was desperate, and it was only by the most determined 
courage that the army was saved from destruction and brought 
behind a new fortified line. When the term of the regiment 
had expired, he was mustered out of service and returned to 
private life. 

T~7yvviD B. McCreaey, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty* 



J— "; fifth regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in 
Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of February, 182G. He 
was of Scotch-Irish extraction, his ancestors having originally 
settled in Lancaster and Dauphin counties, whence his parents 
removed to the place of his birth early in the present century. 



DAVID B. McCREARY.— JAMES A. GALLIGHER. 825 

He was educated at Washington College. Like many other 
soldiers who attained distinction in the late war, he passed his 
novitiate in the Wayne Guards, under command of John W. 
McLane, and when that sterling officer recruited the Erie 
regiment for three months McCreary served with him as a 
Lieutenant. In the raising of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth 
he labored assiduously, and was elected Captain of Company D, 
and afterwards Lieutenantr-Colonel. He reached the front just 
as the two armies were joining battle on the field of Antietam, 
and was under fire. He participated in the battles of Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. 
At Fredericksburg the slaughter was terrible. At Petersburg, on 
the 16th of June, 1864, his brigade made a daring charge over 
open ground upon an enemy well intrenched. The movement 
was heroically executed, but it proved vain, and while endeavor- 
ing to establish a line the force was flanked and the entire body, 
including Colonel McCreary, who was in command of the regi- 
ment, fell into the enemy's hands. For a period of ten months 
he had experience of Libby, Macon, Charleston, and Columbia. 
Upon his release the war was well nigh at an end, and he was 
mustered out with his regiment. He was commissioned Colonel, 
and was brevetted Colonel and Brigadier-General by the President. 
Upon his return to private life he resumed the practice of law, 
which he had abandoned on going to the field. General McCreary 
was a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania at the sessions 
of 1866, 1867, and 1870, where he took high rank as a debater 
and working member, and was Adjutant-General of the State 
under Governor Geary in 1867-68, and 1869. 

f'AMES A. Gallighek, Colonel of the Thirteenth cavalry, was 
born in Philadelphia, on the 4th of April, 1814. His 
father, Philip Galligher, was a native of Belfast, Ireland. He 
was educated at Gettysburg, but in his youthful exuberance of 
spirits cared more for equestrian exercise than the abstruse prin- 
ciples of science. He finally became an instructor of horseman- 
ship and sword practice. He was active in recruiting at the 
opening of the war and became Colonel of the Thirteenth cavalry. 
He was ordered to duty at Point of Rocks, and while scouting in 



826 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

that vicinity his troops brought in a Captain Jones, of the British 
army, who had upon his person photographs of all the fortifica- 
tions in and about Richmond, and of over a hundred rebel ladies 
and army officers. In the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley 
under General Milroy, Colonel Galligher was ceaselessly em- 
ployed against the irregular bands of Moseby and White, who, 
by their complete acquaintance with the country and having the 
population in their interest, were able to do great injury to the 
Union forces. In a charge upon the enemy at Fisher's Hill he 
was thrown from his horse and received internal injuries which 
eventually compelled him to withdraw from the service. He 
was subsequently appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Reve- 
nue for the Fifth District of Pennsylvania. Colonel Galligher 
was by natural taste and inclination a soldier. His regiment 
was kept in excellent condition, for which he was especially com- 
plimented by his superior officers. 

(JjSenjamin Franklin Winger, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second 
^=p artillery, was born in Lancaster county, on the 27th of 
November, 1835. He was the son of Joseph and Esther (Buck- 
waiter) Winger. He was ambitious for a military education, and, 
failing in an application to the member of Congress from his 
district, he sought the appointment at large to West Point from 
Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, but without success. 
He served as Captain in the militia and aid to the General of 
division. He was married on the 20th of May, 1857, to Miss 
Susan J. Duffield. In August, 1862, he was commissioned a 
First Lieutenant in the Second artillery, and in that capacity 
served in the defences of Washington until detailed on duty as 
Assistant Inspector-General in the defences north of the Potomac. 
In the summer of 18G4, this regiment, which numbered over 
1000 men, was organized as two infantry regiments and sent to 
the front. Lieutenant Winger was commissioned Captain of 
Company B, of the new regiment, but declined this honor, pre- 
ferring to remain with his old company. For fifty-five days his 
command was kept in the trenches. In one instance he was 
ordered by General Ames to advance between the hostile lines, 
where several officers while examining the picket posts had been 



BENJAMIN F. WINGER.— RICHARD B. ROBERTS. £27 

captured, and lay an abatis for their protection. This he 
promptly undertook and accomplished without loss, and without 
even drawing the fire of the foe. At another time he was 
ordered to occupy an old picket line on the Petersburg front, and 
was compelled to advance directly over the breastworks in the 
face of a storm of bullets. Calling for volunteers, he effected his 
purpose with small loss, the new line being permanently held 
and strengthened. In September, the remnants of the two regi- 
ments were reunited, and in January following Captain Winger 
was promoted to Major. In May, to Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
combined regiments. After the close of the war he resumed 
mercantile pursuits, for which he had early manifested aptitude. 
At the end of two years he was elected a member of the Penn- 
sylvania Legislature, for the counties of Franklin and Perry, and 
at the conclusion of his term commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge Rowe, which he now practises at the courts of 
Franklin county. 

jjO ichard Biddle Roberts, Colonel of the First Reserve regi- 
£j\ ment, was born at Pittsburg, August 25th, 1825. He was 
the son of Edward J. and Eliza (Campbell) Roberts. He received 
a liberal education, and showed an aptness for the profession of 
law, upon the practice of which he early entered. When hos- 
tilities opened he lost no time in Volunteering, and aided in 
raising the Twelfth regiment, in which he was commissioned 
Captain, but was soon after promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel on the staff of Governor Curtin. 

Upon the formation of the celebrated Reserve corps, he was 
commissioned Colonel of its First regiment. In the opening 
engagement of the Seven Days' battle on the Peninsula, five 
companies of this regiment were the first to be attacked ; but, 
from the sheltered position which they finally assumed behind 
Beaver Dam Creek and from which the united regiment fought, 
little loss was experienced, though the enemy was terribly 
scourged. At Gaines' Mill, on the following day, Colonel Roberts 
fought under the eye of General Porter, in chief command upon 
the field, and won his approval by the gallantry and steadiness 
with which every order was executed. 



828 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The army of the Potomac was never in more imminent danger 
of rout and destruction than at Charles City Cross Roads on the 
30th of July, 18G2. The Reserves, thirteen regiments of in- 
fantry, were drawn up in two lines across the New Market 
road, covering the Charles City and Quaker roads. The flanks 
not connecting immediately with other troops were exposed, and 
when the attack was pressed suffered severely ; but the valor of 
the Reserves was successful in breaking the force in their front 
until nightfall, when the battle ceased and the foe retired from 
the contest, abandoning his cherished purpose of severing the 
Union army and beating it in detail. General McCall, who com- 
manded the Reserves, says in his official report : " Cooper's and 
Kern's batteries, in front of the centre, were boldly charged upon, 
each time a regiment dashing up to within forty or fifty yards. 
They were then hurled back by a storm of canister and the de- 
liberate fire of the First regiment, Colonel Roberts, whom I had 
placed immediately in the rear of Kern's, and the Ninth, Colonel 
Jackson, in the rear of Cooper's. The contest was severe and 
put the steadiness of these regiments to the test ; both suffered 
heavy loss, but particularly the First regiment, whose gallant 
Lieutenant-Colonel (Mclntire) was severely wounded." 

Not less gallant was the conduct of Colonel Roberts at South 
Mountain. The Reserves were the first to come up to Turner's 
Gap, where the rebel troops were strongly posted in the fastnesses 
of this great natural barrier. Far down on the breast of the 
mountain was a stone wall behind which was the rebel skirmish 
line. Against this Colonel Roberts led his men with unflinching 
bravery. The fire was severe; but undaunted he pushed for- 
ward, and, scaling the rugged breastwork and following up the 
advantage, wavered not until rock and steep acclivity were passed 
and the enemy driven from his well-chosen position. 

At the close of this campaign Governor Curtin called Colonel 
Roberts again to his assistance. His executive and legal ability, 
with his knowledge of the special duties of the position, fitted him 
to decide the delicate questions involved in granting promotions 
with rare tact. To this call he acceded, and, having been dis- 
charged at the Governor s request, at once resumed its duties. 
By the report of his department for the year 1864 it appears 



CHARLES H. BUEHLER. 829 

that four thousand commissions were issued upon orders from his 
office. When it is remembered that for almost every one of these 
were several applicants, and that all the testimony in each case 
had to be considered, weighed and acted on, some idea can be 
formed of the amount of patient labor involved. Thirty thousand 
commissions had been issued previous to the year 18G4. Before 
the opening of the Rebellion Colonel Roberts had held the 
office of Clerk to the United States District Court for Allegheny 
County from 1853 to 1856, and United States Attorney for the 
Western District of Pennsylvania from 1857 to 1861. He mar- 
ried in 1854 Miss Mary H. Anderson. In 1869 he removed from 
Pittsburg, where, after the close of the war, he had resumed 
the practice of his profession, to Chicago, where he now resides. 

harles Henry Bueiiler, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Sixty-fifth regiment, was born at Gettysburg, on the 9th 
of February, 1825. He was the son of Samuel H. and Catharine 
(Doenner) Buehler. He was educated in the Pennsylvania Col- 
lege at Gettysburg, and afterwards learned the business of print- 
ing in the office of the Gettysburg Sentinel. He subsequently be- 
came one of the editors and proprietors of the Gettysburg Star. 
For a number of years he was Captain of the Independent Blues, 
a volunteer company, and at the breaking out of the war was a 
Brigadier-General of the State militia. He promptly tendered 
the services of his company and was ordered into camp at York. 
He served with Patterson during the three months' campaign in 
the Shenandoah Valley. At its conclusion he was chosen Major 
of the Eighty-seventh. He was at first posted on the Northern 
Central Railway, and subsequently was sent into West Virginia, 
where he acted in the columns of Kelly and Milroy. After a 
service of one year and three months he resigned to accept pro- 
motion to Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth, to which 
he had been unanimously elected, and which was composed 
largely of men from his native town. With his command he 
participated actively under General Peck in the defence of Suffolk. 
He was selected by General Foster to head a force consisting of 
his own, the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Pennsylvania, the 
Sixth Massachusetts, and a section of Neil's .battery, ordered to 



830 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 

make a sortie on the Sommerton road on the 24 th of April, 
1863, while General Corcoran with a more powerful body should 
attack the enemy on the Edenton road. Colonel Buehler ad- 
vanced about two miles, and having made his dispositions opened 
fire, feeling the enemy's intrenched position and making a strong 
demonstration. During the entire afternoon, and until recalled 
in the evening, he held the enemy at bay, and when he retired 
brought in all his killed and wounded. The siege was pushed 
by Longstreet with great energy and persistence for nearly a 
month, but he was foiled in all his attempts to carry the place 
and was finally compelled to retire. At the end of nine months, 
for which his regiment was called, he was mustered out. He is 
six feet and two inches in height and well proportioned. He is 
eminently social and personally popular. He was married in 
May, 1860, to Miss Annie Foehnestock, of York. He has held 
the office of Chief Burgess of Gettysburg, and is much respected 
and esteemed as a citizen. 

fHARLES C. Cresson, Colonel of the Seventy-third regiment, 
was born on the 24th of February, 1845, in Philadelphia. 
He was the son of John B. and Amanda (Webb) Cresson, natives 
of that city through a remote ancestry. He was barely sixteen 
when the war broke out, and though his collegiate education was 
but partially completed, volunteered as Second Lieutenant in 
the Sixty-sixth regiment. After an existence of eight months, 
during which it was in the army of General Banks, not having 
the minimum strength it was disbanded, and the company to 
which Lieutenant Cresson was attached was assigned to the 
Seventy-third. 

In the battle of Bull Bun ne was wounded in the right arm. 
Colonel Koltes, who led the regiment, was in the act of com- 
plimenting the Lieutenant for gallant conduct in taking an 
intrenched battery, and was but a few feet off when he was 
struck by a shell and instantly killed. After the battle, Lieu- 
tenant Cresson was promoted to Captain of his company, being 
the youngest commissioned officer in the service. At Chancel- 
lors ville his regiment was in the Eleventh corps, Buschbeck's 
brigade, the only one which offered anything like a well-regulated 



CHARLES C. CRESSON. 831 

defence. Captahx Cresson was here severely wounded in the 
left side. He was sufficiently recovered to again lead at Gettys- 
burg, his regiment covering the First and Eleventh corps in 
their retreat through the town, on the evening of the first day, 
having been posted in the houses and behind stone walls near 
the junction of the Emmittsburg with the Baltimore pike, and 
holding the approaches to Steinwehr's guns. In the formation 
for the second day, the regiment was put into position on Ceme- 
tery Hill on that part of the field where the line crossed the 
Taneytown road. 

Soon after this battle Captain Cresson went with his corps to 
reinforce the Western Army at Chattanooga, and on the 1st of 
January, 1864, was promoted to the rank of Major. In the 
remarkable campaign of Sherman in his advance upon Atlanta, 
and in the no less noted March to the Sea, Major Cresson com- 
manded his regiment, nearly all its field and line officers and 
many of its men having been captured in the assault upon 
Tunnel Hill on the extreme left of the line in the battle of 
Missionary Ridge. At Pine Knob he was wounded in the right 
shoulder, but kept the field. At Kenesaw Mountain he especially 
distinguished himself by the determined manner in which he 
held his position, when hard pressed by the foe. Resaca and 
Atlanta were no less disastrous to his command, and in each 
he rendered the most soldierly service. He was mentioned in 
general orders for perseverance and bravery in front of Savannah, 
while commanding a post of observation at Hutchinson's Island. 
Near the close of the year he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and on the 1st of May, 1865, to Colonel, the lack of numbers in 
his regiment and the fact that the officers holding these positions 
were still in captivity preventing the promotions sooner, though 
he had long performed the duties. At the conclusion of the war 
he was appointed a Second Lieutenant, afterwards promoted to 
First Lieutenant and Brevet Major, in the regular service. Few 
officers in all the great army of the Union entered it so young, 
and won their way by stead}- promotion to the highest rank 
known to the regiment, as did Colonel Cresson. At sixteen he 
commenced his career a Sergeant. At twenty, a bronzed veteran, 
he left it a Colonel, having exercised its functions in three of the 



832 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

most famous campaigns of the war. In the exciting operations 
against the Modocs among the lava beds of California in the 
spring of 1873, he participated with his company, coming often 
to close quarters with the treacherous savages, having several 
of his men killed and wounded, and finally sharing in the satis- 
faction of seeing Captain Jack and all his tribe, the murderers 
of Canby and Thomas, captives at his feet. 



i:\iiY B. McKean, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixth Reserve 
regiment, was born on the loth of September, 1831, in Troy, 
Bradford county, Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Rebellion 
he enlisted with two companies recruited at Towanda for the 
three months' service ; but finding, on reaching Harrisburg, that 
more troops had been accepted than were needed, they were 
placed in camp and organized as a part of the Sixth Reserve, 
of which he was made Adjutant. At Dranesville this regiment 
had the centre of the line of battle, and here Adjutant McKean 
distinguished himself for his daring. Before its departure for 
the Peninsula he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, which 
position he held in the Seven Days' battle, and in Pope's and 
the Maryland campaigns. At South Mountain his regiment had 
the right of the line, and charged up the rugged declivity with 
complete success, flanking the enemy and putting him to rout. 
Not less determined was its conduct at Antietam, where, on the 
afternoon 6f the 16th of September, 1862, the Reserves opened 
the battle, and maintained their ground through the night, renew- 
ing the contest in the morning, and holding the foe at bay until 
ordered back. On account of severe and protracted illness he 
resigned on the 25th of November, 1862. Upon the invasion of 
the State in 1863, he raised a company for its defence, and was 
commissioned Colonel of the Thirty-fifth militia, which he com- 
manded during the period of its service. Since his return to 
private life he has practised the profession of law at Towanda. 

^fc\AViD McConaughy Armor, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One 
(4^; Hundred and First regiment, was born at Gettysburg, on 
the 2d of March, 1832. He was the son of George and Sarah 
(Gillespie) Armor. lie was educated at the Pennsylvania College 



II. B. McKEAN.—D. M. ARMOR.— J. G. FRICK. 833 

at Gettysburg. In youth he was employed as a.clerk in a store. 
In July, 1801, he was commissioned Captain of a company in the 
One Hundred and First regiment, which he led throughout the 
entire Peninsula campaign. He was in the mid.st of the hard 
fighting at Fair Oaks, and at its close was promoted, for "great 
gallantry and efficiency," to Major and three months later to 
Lieutenant-Colonel. After leaving the Peninsula his command 
was sent to North Carolina, where he participated in the battle 
of Kinston. His health from the outset had not been firm, and 
he was finally compelled to resign, which he did on the 2d of 
May, 18G3. Colonel Armor had three brothers in the army : 
William C, who served in the Twenty-eighth, and upon the staff 
of General Geary ; the other two in the One Hundred and First, 
James C. expiring of typhoid fever at Roanoke Island, North 
Carolina. 

f^ACOB G. Frick, Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth regiment, was born on the 23d of January, 1825, at 
Northumberland. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Got- 
shall) Frick. In the Mexican War he served as Second Lieu- 
tenant in the Third Ohio volunteers, and at its close was promoted 
by President Polk to Second Lieutenant in the Eleventh infantry. 
When the war of rebellion opened he was made Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Ninety-sixth, and with that body participated in 
the battles of West Point, Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads, 
Malvern Hill, and Bull Run. Shortly afterwards he resigned to 
accept the position of Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth regiment, one of the nine months' organizations. At the 
battle of Fredericksburg Colonel Frick led his command boldly 
forward, up to the very ramparts where the enemy, secure in his 
intrenchments, poured a merciless fire upon him. General Tyler, 
who commanded the brigade, says in his report : " These officers 
discharged their duties creditably and satisfactorily, their voices 
being frequently heard above the din of battle, urging on their 
men against the terrible shower of shot and shell, and the terrific 
musketry as we approached the stone wall. Of their conduct I 
cannot speak too highly." 

At Chancellorsville, on the morning of the 3d of May, Colonel 
53 • 



834 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Frick was brought into action on the ground where the heaviest 
fighting occurred. After holding his position against superior 
numbers until many of his men had Mien, he fell back, in obe- 
dience to orders, behind the artillery which had been brought up 
and was ready to open. Colonel Frick was of the rear guard in 
this retrograde movement, and so close did the enemy press upon 
him that there was hand-to-hand fighting in the wood through 
which they retired, some of his men falling into the enemy's 
hands. " No man," says Tyler, " ever saw cooler work on field 
drill than was done by this regiment. Their firing was grand, 
by rank, by company and by wing, in perfect order." The term 
of the regiment expired soon after this battle, and with it Colonel 
Frick was mustered out of service. He has since been exten- 
sively engaged in the manufacture of wire coal screens, at Potts- 
ville. He was twice married ; in 1850 to Miss Catharine 
Schuyler, and in 1865 to Miss Priscilla H. McGinness. In person 
he is of Saul-like stature, beiug six feet two inches in height and 
well proportioned. 

^T~T\avid Miles, Colonel of the Seventy-ninth regiment, was born 
i_J— < on the 26th of November, 1831, at Chambersburg. He 
was the son of William and Mary E. (Doessher) Miles. At the 
age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a tinsmith, and at seventeen 
joined a militia company, in which he served until the opening 
of the Rebellion. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary E. 
Huffnagle. He served as Orderly Sergeant of Company F, First 
regiment, for the short term, and upon the organization of the 
Seventy-ninth for three years was commissioned Captain of 
Company B. In the battle of Perryville, Starkweather's brigade 
is credited with having saved the day in a most critical part of 
the battle. The loss in the Seventy-ninth was thirty-seven killed 
and one hundred and forty-nine wounded. After this battle, 
Captain Miles was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. 
At Ghickamauga, near the close of the first day, after having led 
his regiment with dauntless brave ry, he was taken prisoner, and 
for eleven months was confined in loathsome rebel dens, first at 
Libby, and afterwards at Charleston under the fire of the Union 
guns. After his release he rejoined his regiment, at that time 




DAVID MILES.— HENRY G. ELDER— EDWARD R. BO WEN. 835 

advancing with Sherman through Georgia. At the battle of 
Benton ville, one of the last of the war, Colonel Miles led a brigade 
which sustained great loss, and himself was severely wounded. 
He was especially commended for his gallantry by General Carlin, 
leader of the division. He was mustered out of service with his 
regiment on the 12th of July, 1865. 

enry Gore Elder, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of the One 
Hundred and Forty-second regiment, was born on the loth 
of June, 1842, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He was the 
son of Clifford and Rosanna (Benford) Elder. He was educated 
in the Philadelphia Central High School, and at the Polytechnic 
College. On the 27th of August, 1862, he was commissioned 
First Lieutenant of Company C, One Hundred and Forty-second 
regiment. In the battles of Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold 
Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Hatcher's Run he 
bore an honorable part. In the stirring battle of Five Forks he 
received a painful wound but kept the field. He had two horses 
shot under him during the final campaign, and was promoted to 
Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel for gallantry. 

nT^DWARD Roscoe Bowen, Colonel of the One Hundred and Four- 
k*Sti teenth regiment, was born on the 16th of October, 1839, in 
Philadelphia. He was the son of William E. and Elizabeth 
(Kirtley) Bowen. At the age of seventeen he entered upon mer- 
cantile employment. 

In April, 1861, he volunteered as a private in the Common- 
wealth Artillery, and served in the three months' campaign at 
Fort Delaware. At the expiration of his term he was appointed 
Second Lieutenant in the Seventy-fifth regiment, Colonel Bohlen, 
where he served for one year, and was then transferred and 
received the appointment of Captain of Company B in the One 
Hundred and Fourteenth. He was wounded at Chancellorsville 
in the shoulder. Shortly after the opening of the fight on 
Sickles' front on the second day in the battle of Gettysburg, 
Major Bowen, who had received promotion, succeeded to the 
command of the regiment, and when the corps, after contending 



836 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

with unexampled heroism, was forced to retire, led it back to the 
new line of battle, where it remained facing the foe until the 
close of the conflict. At Auburn, Locust Grove, Kelly's Ford, 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Petersburg 
front, he was with his regiment, and much of the time in com- 
mand. With it he was mustered out at the close of its term of 
service. 

f:oiiN Emory Parsons, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Eighty-seventh regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General of 
Militia, was born on the 23d of December, 1837, on Duncan's 
Island, Dauphin county. He was the son of William and Cath- 
arine (Leibrick) Parsons. By the death of a kind father, before 
he had completed his fifth year, he was robbed of that guiding 
hand ; but a devoted mother, possessed of great energy, by her 
moulding influence gave fortunate bent to his character. Soon 
after this bereavement the family removed to the little village of 
Halifax, on the Susquehanna, where he received a common 
school education. He early turned his attention to civil engineer- 
ing, and was at successive periods associated with the corps 
engaged upon the lines of the Northern Central, and Philadelphia 
and Erie railroads. An incident occurred at this period which 
well illustrates his character. He had been employed for some 
time on the latter line, when he received notice at evening that 
on the following morning he was to take the place of the chief 
of the staff. Besides not having had any previous practice, he 
had grown forgetful of the principles. What was he to do? 
Should he acknowledge his weakness and decline the place ? His 
pride was touched. Securing the necessary books, he sat up all 
n i glit by the cabin fire in the deep forest where the work was 
progressing, and by morning had the subject so familiarized as to 
take the helm with a steady hand. 

On the 30th of August, 18G2, he entered the service of the 
United States as Adjutant of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth 
regiment, the first of the Bucktail brigade. Soon after reaching 
the field he was detailed to staff duty as Acting Assistant Adju- 
tant-General, in which capacity he served in the battles of Chan- 
eellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Tolopotomy, 



JOHN E. PARSONS. 837 

and Bethesda Church. General Stone, on whose staff he was 
engaged, after mentioning him in commendatory terms, as a 
gentleman and a soldier, particularizes his qualifications as a 
disciplinarian, and his sagacity and self-possession in an engage- 
ment. As a marked illustration of the latter, he cites his 
conduct during the first day in the Wilderness, where, by his 
keen discernment amidst the wildest confusion consequent upon 
a surprise of the skirmishers, he saved the guns from inevitable 
capture. 

On the 30th of June, 1864, President Lincoln appointed him 
Assistant Adjutant-General, with the rank of Captain, and he 
was assigned by the Secretary of War to a brigade of the Fifth 
corps. General H. G. Sickel, in whose command he acted, says : 
" I found in him a gentleman of fine attainments, including 
extensive military knowledge, and of excellent executive ability, 
enjoying the confidence and respect of all with whom he had 
official intercourse. Among the acts most worthy of notice is 
that at Poplar Spring Church, or Peebles' Farm. While our 
brigade was forming for a charge upon the enemy's fortifications, 
one of the regimental commanders misunderstood the order, and 
filed his regiment into a piece of wood in the rear, and there 
remained, leaving our left unprotected. When the right of the 
line reached the enemy's works, I found our flanks exposed and 
threatened by the enemy's infantry, and a disaster might have 
been the result, but for the discerning sagacity of Captain Parsons, 
who galloped off through a storm of bullets, reformed the tardy 
regiment referred to, and directing the charge in person, routed 
the enemy, and the result was a complete victory for the Union 
arms. His conduct at the battle of Hatcher's Run, and upon 
other occasions, was equally commendable, though not so 
marked." General Chamberlain, late Governor of Maine, says : 
"I recommended him for appointment as Adjutant-General of my 
brigade on the ground of his soldierly bearing and acquaintance 
with his duties. He recommended himself much to me by his 
fidelity and strictness of discipline." 

On the 27th of January, 1865, he was commissioned Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh, and subse- 
quently Colonel, in which capacity he served till the close of the 



838 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

war, when he retired to his home in Halifax, and was for two 
terms elected a member of the House of Representatives of Penn- 
sylvania. He was appointed by Governor Geary upon his staff, 
with the rank of Brevet Brigadier-General. He is at present 
Cashier of the Real Estate Savings Bank of Harrisburg. In 
person he is above the medium height, well proportioned, and of 
a fair complexion, indicative of health. In manners he is pecu- 
liarly courteous and affable. He was married on the 9th of 
October, 1873, to Miss Georgianna, youngest daughter of Benja- 
min Parke, LL.D., of Parke Vale, Suscpehanna county. 

F^ obert C. Cox, Colonel of the Two Hundred and Eighth regi- 
J^f\ ment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 18th 
of November, 1823, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He was 
the son of William and Hannah (Courson) Cox, both of German 
descent. His earliest impressions of life were amid rustic scenes, 
and he received his education in the common schools. For a 
period of seven years he served in a company of volunteer cav- 
alry, and was for six years Brigade Inspector of militia. He was 
married in April, 1846, to Miss Lydia A. Wheeland. He entered 
active service in April, 1861. In November, 1862, he was com- 
missioned Major of the One Hundred and Seventy-first militia, 
and was in the affairs at Blunt's Creek and Jacksonville, North 
Carolina, in February, 1863, and New Hope School House in 
March. Returning home he devoted himself to recruiting a vol- 
unteer regiment, of which he was made Colonel. This he led to 
the field, which was for a time stationed on the investing line 
before Petersburg, occupied by the Army of the James, but was 
subsequently incorporated with the Ninth corps, Hartranft's 
division. When the enemy, at dawn on the 25th of March, 1865, 
captured Fort Steadman, Colonel Cox had his regiment promptly 
under arms and joined in the assault for its recovery. With four 
companies, which he led in person, Colonel Cox dashed on, dis- 
regarding the enemy's fire, and was himself among the foremost 
to reach the hostile lines and rescue them from the invader's 
grasp. 

But even more courageous and daring was his conduct in 
storming and capturing the rebel works on the 2d of April, when 



ROBERT C. COX. 839 

Petersburg after a siege of nine months finally yielded to Union 
valor. At two o'clock on the morning of that day his camp was 
alive, and at a little after three he led his regiment out and 
formed it for the assault, just in front of Fort Sedgwick, popu- 
larly known as Fort Hell, the left resting on the Jerusalem 
plank road. Opposite was the rebel Fort Mahone, with the 
equally suggestive title of Fort Damnation. The works were of 
exceeding strength. A double line of chevaux-de-frise, a well- 
strengthened picket line, a ditch and a strong main work had to 
be encountered in front, while to right and left were forts and 
angles, whence a devastating cross fire of artillery could sweep 
the ground which an attacking force would pass. In breathless 
silence the moment was awaited by this devoted regiment when 
the trial of fortitude should come. Scarcely was so desperate a 
work attempted in the whole progress of the siege, or during the 
war, and it was only equalled in temerity by the charge of 
Pickett's division at Gettysburg. Finally the rocket, which was 
to be the signal, shot up into the heavens, and General Hartranft 
gave the order to go. Colonel Cox did not assign to subordinates 
the duty of conducting the movement; but dismounted, with 
drawn sword, took his place in the front rank and cried, u Come, 
boys, let us do or die ! " The enemy's artillery had for some 
time been in full play, and the booming of the cannon, the 
screaming and bursting of the shells and the almost hopeless 
work before them were enough to fill the heart with dismay; but 
when the order came and the call of the leader was heard, not a 
soldier faltered. As they went forward men fell at every step, 
and all the ground over which they advanced was strewn with 
the dead and the dying. The axemen severed the links which 
bound the chevaux-de-frise, and it was rapidly opened; but time 
was consumed, every second of which was costing precious lives. 
From the neck of Colonel Cox bullets cut the hair, and his coat 
was riddled ; but he remained unscathed, almost miraculously 
preserved, and pressing on led the survivors over the enemy's 
works, clearing the way at the point of the bayonet and planting 
his Hag upon the wall of the hostile line. Such an exhibition of 
bravery and so complete a triumph it has rarely been the lot of 
a soldier to know. His gallantry was not long without reward, 



810 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.. 

for the President had no sooner heard the joyful tale than he 
conferred upon him the rank of Brigadier-General by brevet. In 
his own official report he says: "Officers and men fell on every 
side My color sergeant, George J. Horning, was shot down, 
pierced with seven balls, and three of the color guard fell by his 
side." General Matthews, who was at the head of the brigade, 
says: "To Colonel R. C. Cox, who commanded the leading regi- 
ment, I owe the entire success that attended the charge. Fore- 
most among those who scaled the enemy's works, cheering his 
men by his courage, preparing them to meet the many charges 
of the enemy to retake the lines, he is deserving of the highest 
praise." Thirty-seven of his men were killed, one hundred and 
forty wounded, and eight missing. The foe repeatedly essayed to 
regain their works, but were as often hurled back. When the 
enemy found the city no longer tenable, he fled in confusion. 
Pursuit was promptly ordered, and a week later the entire rebel 
army laid down its arms at Appomattox Court House. Since the 
Avar General Cox has filled several offices of honor and responsi- 
bility, having been a justice of the peace, school director, and 
Treasurer of Tioga county. On the 2d of April, 18G5, he was 
commissioned by Governor Geary Major-General of the Thirteenth 
division of the National Guards. 

Jenry Shippen Huidekoper, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
CSa?- Fiftieth regiment and Major-General of the National 
Guard, was born on the 17th of July, 1839, at Meadville. He 
was the eldest son of Edgar Huidekoper, and a grandson of H. J. 
Huidekoper, a native of Holland, one of the early settlers in the 
northwestern part of the State. His mother, Frances (Shippen) 
Huidekoper, Avas a daughter of Henry Shippen, formerly Presi- 
dent Judge of the sixth judicial district. He early manifested a 
taste for mechanism, and those sports and occupations common 
to country life. He Avas educated at Harvard University, grad- 
uating in the class of 18G2. The Avar had aroused a martial spirit 
even beneath the peaceful shades of the university, and before 
Leaving it, he had given considerable time to the study of tactics 
and to battalion drill. 

On returning to his home he found operations in progress for 



HENRY S. HUIDEKOPER. 841 

the formation of the Bucktail brigade, and immediately embarked 
in the enterprise. On the 30th of August, 1862, he was commis- 
sioned a Captain in the One Hundred and Fiftieth regiment, and 
was soon afterwards made Lieutenant-Colonel. Most of the 
winter was spent in the city of Washington, where he served on 
a general couri>martial. Early in the spring this brigade was 
incorporated in the First corps. The campaign of Chancellors- 
ville involved much hard marching in its preliminary stages, and 
anxious reconnoissance, but little severe fighting on the part 
of this corps. The march to Gettysburg followed close upon 
the retirement from this field, and here Colonel Huidekoper fought 
his first and his last battle. But though confined to half of a 
single day it was such a baptism of fire as a soldier rarely receives 
in a long life of service. The regiment moved to its position, 
midway between Willoughby Run and Seminary Ridge, at noon 
on the first day of the battle. Earnest fighting soon commenced, 
the open ground where the regiment stood being raked by the 
enemy's artillery. When shot and shell failed to move it, rebel 
infantry advanced to the attack, and from right and front bore 
down upon it with overwhelming force. The troops which stood 
next it, Wadsworth's, yielded and retired to the wooded heights 
in rear. But the men who wore the bucktail, though more ex- 
posed than any other part of the line, remained immovable as the 
rock against which the billows unavailing beat ! " I relied greatly 
on Stone's brigade," says Doubleday, " to hold the post assigned 
them, as I soon saw I would be obliged to change front with a 
portion of my line, to face the northwest, and his brigade held 
the pivot of the movement. My confidence in this noble body 
of men was not misplaced. They repulsed the repeated attacks 
of vastly superior numbers at close quarters, and maintained their 
position until the final retreat of the whole line. This brigade in 
common with almost every regiment in the Third division was 
composed of Pennsylvanians, who were actuated by a heroic 
desire to avenge the invasion of their native State." 

The storm had not been long raging before Colonel Stone was 
shot, and Colonel Wister, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth, suc- 
ceeded him. This threw the whole responsibility of directing the 
regiment upon Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper at a most critical 



842 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

stage of the battle. The enemy was just then coming down upon 
it with overwhelming force. " The rebels now advanced," says 
General Doubleday, " from the northwest to flank the two regi- 
ments in the road, but the One Hundred and Fiftieth, under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper, changed front forward, and met 
the enemy precisely as Dvvight had met them, with two volleys 
of musketry and a gallant bayonet charge, led by Colonel Wister 
in person. This dispersed them. Another desperate onslaught 
cairn 1 from the north, passed the railroad cut, and almost reached 
the road, only, however, to encounter another defeat from the 
irresistible bayonets of our men. The next attack came from 
the west, but was again repulsed by the indomitable One Hun- 
dred and Fiftieth regiment. . . . Just previous to this the brave 
and resolute Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper had faced four com- 
panies to contend with the opposing forces from the west, while 
six companies kept off an entire brigade from the north. . . . 
Every regiment of Stone's brigade changed front forward, and two 
changed front to rear, while closely engaged. The most eminent 
military writers regard the first movement as difficult, and the 
last as almost impossible to execute undei fire." In the midst of 
these intricate manoeuvres, and while battling with a lion-hearted 
determination, Colonel Huidekoper received a wound in the leg 
and another severe one in the right arm. Not long after the 
remnants of this gallant brigade were forced to yield, and when 
the enemy, pushing eagerly forward, gained possession of the 
field, Colonel Huidekoper was insensible upon the operator's table. 
He woke to find himself a prisoner, and that good right arm 
no longer his. 

When the battle was over and the echoes of the great conflict 
had died away, Colonel Huidekoper, with thousands of the Union 
wounded left upon the field, came again under the old flag. He 
was taken to Philadelphia, where he was cared for by kind friends, 
and his wounds soon healed. He returned to the field, and in 
February, 1864, was promoted to Colonel; but on the 5th of 
March following, feeling himself incapacitated for field duty, 
resigned. That heroic soldier, General Doubleday, under whose 
eye he fought, in a communication to the War Department, 
said: "There is not a more gallant officer or more perfect 



JACOB 31. CAMPBELL. 813 

gentleman in the Army of the Potomac than Colonel Huide- 
koper, and when the history of the war is written no harder 
fighting will be recorded than that of the One Hundred and 
Fiftieth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers during the first day 
at Gettysburg." 

Colonel Huidekoper was married on the 26th of October, 1864, 
to Miss Emma Gertrude, daughter of Thomas W. Evans, of Ger- 
mantown, Philadelphia. In person he is five feet eight inches 
in height, compactly built, and of an erect and determined mien. 
Since the war he has devoted himself extensively to the manu- 
facture of woollen cloths, in which he has achieved great success. 
When the National Guard of Pennsylvania was organized he was 
selected by Governor Geary to command the Twentieth division, as 
Major-General, which position he still holds, his being notably one 
of the best drilled and most efficient divisions in the entire corps. 

fACOB Miller Campbell, son ol John and Mary (Weyand) 
Campbell, was born near the summit of the Allegheny 
mountains, in Somerset county, on the 20th of November, 1821. 
He learned the trade of a printer, but being fond of adventure 
was successively clerk, mate, and part owner of a steamboat 
running on the Mississippi. He was the first at Camp Curtin 
with his company for three months, during which he was Quar- 
termaster of the Third regiment. He was made Colonel of 
the Fifty-fourth, with which he served over three years in West 
Virginia along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and 
in the Shenandoah Valley. The duty was hazardous and put 
the metal of the troops to a constant strain, as the hour could 
not be divined when a superior force would come down upon 
them. Skirmishing and hard fighting were frequent, and he 
was engaged in several severe battles, among which were New 
Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Winchester, and Cedar Creek 
where he was wounded. He was much of the time in command 
of a brigade, and occasionally of a division, and was recommended 
for a Brigadier's commission. It was long delayed, but finally 
granted for his gallantry at Piedmont in June, 1864. He was 
for two terms Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania. He was mar- 
ried in 1847 to Miss Mary Rankin Campbell. 



844 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

^ T or at in (!ates Sickel, Colonel of the Third Reserve regi- 
05^- incut. Brevet Brigadier and Major-General, was born in 
Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of April, 1817. His 
paternal ancestors were descended from an old Holland family, 

his maternal from English Quakers who came to this country 
with William lVnn. For several generations both branches had 
been well-to-do farmers in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 
His mother, Elizabeth (yandergrift) Sickel, an intelligent and 
rclincd Lady, died when he was but seven years old, and he after- 
wards found a home in the family of an elder sister, Mrs. Henry 
Knhn, where he wrought upon a farm in summer and attended 
school in winter. At the age of eighteen, having a mechanical 
turn, he apprenticed himself to the business of smithing, reserv- 
ing the right to three months attendance annually in the Friends' 
school at Byberry. On arriving at his majority, being possessed of 
a good business education and a small legacy from his grandfather 
Vandergrift's estate, he established himself in smithing and coach- 
making at Quakertown. In 1842 he married Eliza, daughter of 
William Van Sant, of Northampton, and three years later re- 
moved to Philadelphia, where he engaged in manufacturing and 
mercantile business, which he prosecuted with success. 

For more than twenty years previous to the Rebellion he had 
been an officer of the volunteer militia, commanding the Old 
Washington Grays of the Second, and the Mechanics' Rifles of 
the First Division. Among his earliest lessons was that of de- 
votion to country. His eyes had first seen the light in the neigh- 
borhood of some of the most stirring exploits of Washington and 
the patriots of the Revolution. Familiar with the story of their 
trials and Bufferings and imbued with the spirit which moved 
them, he rendered prompt obedience to the call for aid in the 
spring of 18G1, and was unanimously elected Colonel of the 
Third Reserve, organized in the camp at Easton. His discipline 
was methodical and exact, and withal so mildly yet firmly en- 
forced that it encountered little question or resistance. He exer- 
cised special care for the health, comfort, and well-being of his 
men, and while encouraging manly sports and diversions, dis- 
countenanced gaining and kindred vices. The social intercourse. 
at his head-quarters was agreeable and elevated. 



HORATIO G. SICKEL. 845 

He went to the Peninsula just previous to the opening of the 
Seven Days' battle, and participated in the hottest part of the 
actions at Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, and Charles City Cross 
Roads, having a horse shot under him in each of the last two 
engagements, and was honorably mentioned in the reports of 
Generals Meade and McCall. In the last battle General Meade 
was disabled ; whereupon Colonel Sickel succeeded to the com- 
mand of the brigade, which he continued to exercise until it 
reached Acquia Creek, on its way to join Pope. In the trying 
campaign which followed, he led his regiment, and though suffer- 
ing from sunstroke in the battle of Bull Run, continued with his 
men to the last. 

Recovering from a severe indisposition he rejoined the army at 
Sharpsburg, and moving down the Valley of Virginia acted with 
great gallantry in the memorable charge of the Reserves in the 
battle of Fredericksburg. Soon afterwards, upon the promotion 
of General Meade to the command of the Fifth Corps, Colonel 
Sickel succeeded to that of the Reserves, and in February, 18G3, 
was placed over the defences of the city of Alexandria. In 
April, 18G4, he was ordered to the command of a brigade, under 
General Crook, in West Virginia, and participated with distinction 
in the campaign from the valley of the Kanawha to Wyattsville 
and Doublin on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. On the 9th 
of May a heavy force of the enemy, under General Jenkins, was 
discovered posted near the summit of Cloyd Mountain in an ap- 
parently impregnable position. An assault was at once ordered. 
When arrived near the hostile works, Colonel Sickel, seeing that 
his men were exposed to a destructive fire, ordered two regiments 
to lie down and crawl stealthily forward. While the attention 
of the foe was attracted by these, he sent the balance of the 
brigade to the right. Proceeding under cover of the high ground 
their progress was not discovered until, with a wild shout, they 
burst like a whirlwind upon the rebel left flank, driving it in 
confusion and achieving a complete victory. 

On the following day, General Crook, on account of sickness, 
turned over the entire command of the army to Colonel Sickel. 
The destruction of the depots and warehouses, with immense 
stores and military equipage, was promptly commenced. The 



846 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

railroad for a distance of six miles was utterly destroyed, the 
rails being twisted and the culverts blown up. Advancing east- 
ward, at New River Bridge Sickel encountered the enemy under 
General McCausland, whom he defeated after an obstinate resist- 
ance, driving them over the bridge, an immense covered structure 
a mile and a half in length, which was totally destroyed. The 
army moved to Meadow Bluff, when the three years' term of 
service of the two Reserve regiments, which were of Sickel's 
brigade, expired. He was accordingly ordered to move with 
them to Philadelphia, where, on the 17th of June, they were 
mustered out. Bat Colonel Sickel was not the man to desert his 
country's armies in this her hour of need. He at once tendered 
his services to Governor Curtin, and was offered the command of 
a veteran regiment, but accepted instead that of one of the new 
ones just then being recruited by the Union League Association 
of Philadelphia, the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth. 

On reaching the front it was placed in the First brigade, First 
division of the Fifth corps, and Sickel was given command of the 
brigade. He at once won distinction, leading with marked skill 
in the battle of Peebles' Farm and in the movements of the 1st, 
2d and 3d days of October, being honored at their conclusion with 
the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. He was engaged in the 
demonstration upon the South Side Railroad, and on the 6th 
of December in the destruction of the Weldon Railroad. At 
Hatcher's Run, on the 6th of February, 1865, seeing the Second 
brigade hard pressed, he led his force to its support, and with 
sword in hand headed the charge which ended the struggle and 
brought victory to the Union arms. In the heat of the engage- 
ment he received a painful flesh wound. Fortunately it soon 
healed, and he returned to duty in time to take part in the action 
at Lewis' Farm or Quaker Road, one of the principal military 
achievements of his life. General Chamberlain, of Maine, since 
Governor, in referring to General Sickel's conduct, thus describes 
it : " His regiment greatly distinguished itself here, the gallantry 
of its charge being fully equalled by the fortitude with which it 
withstood a heavy and determined countercharge, and for more 

than an hour disputed the ground While all this was going 

on, General Sickel and his command were behaving in the most 



HORATIO G. SICKEL. 847 

admirable manner. Though repeatedly forced to yield ground, 
he constantly rallied and fought so determinedly as to hold the 
enemy in check until we had restored the left, and being rein- 
forced made one final and decisive assault. In the midst of this 
noble conduct General Sickel fell severely wounded ; but his 
spirit still pervaded his men. This was a severe action, in which 
we pressed an assault for nearly two hours before being reinforced 
against Wise's and Wallace's brigades, supported by other troops 
of Johnson's and Anderson's commands. In the final assault 
we carried the ground, the enemy's dead and wounded falling into 
our hands, and we intrenching beyond the Boydton Plank Road, 
which was our objective point. We buried one hundred and 
thirty-five of the enemy's dead." In his official report of this 
action General Chamberlain said : " I cannot fail to speak of the 
unflinching fortitude and commanding courage of Brigadier- 
General Sickel, whose example and conduct made my presence 
needless on that part of the line, until he was borne from the 
field severely wounded." This was a fitting termination to his 
service ; for long before his wound had healed the war had ended 
gloriously for the Union arms, and the legions of the Grand Army 
had come marching home. The Government was prompt in 
bestowing upon him the brevet rank of Major-General. 

Not long after the close of his service, he was appointed by 
Governor Curtin Health Officer of the Port of Philadelphia. He 
was subsequently appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the 
fourth district of Pennsylvania, and is at present United States 
Pension Agent for that city. He early took a deep interest in 
the public schools, was for several years a director and for two 
terms president of the fourteenth section. He has for a long 
period been a member of the Board of Health, President of the 
Philadelphia, Newtown and New York Railroad Company, and 
is intimately connected with the mining and banking interests 
of the State. In person he is above the medium height and of 
powerful frame, with dark brown hair and gray eyes. In society 
he is taciturn, but with the mien of one possessing decided 
opinions and reserved power. His high sense of honor and moral 
worth endear him to all. 



CHAPTER XIII. 




A^^ILLIAM WOODS AVERELL, Colonel of the Third 
cavalry, Brigadier and Brevet Major-General, was 
born on the 5th of November, 1832, at Cameron, 
Steuben county, New York. He was the son of 
Hiram and Huldah (Hemmingway) Averell. His 
paternal grandfather, Ebenezer, was a soldier of 
the Revolution, and his great-grandfather, Solo- 
mon, one of the early settlers of Connecticut. He 
became a cadet at West Point in 1851, graduated 
in 1855, was made Brevet Second Lieutenant in 
a regiment of mounted riflemen, and sent to 
garrison Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In 185G 
he was transferred to the cavalry school at Car- 
lisle, and in the following year was ordered upon the frontier in 
New Mexico. On the 7th of December, 1857, he had a brisk skir- 
mish with a band of Kiowa Indians, near Fort Craig, routing and 
destroying them. In 1858 he went upon the Navajoe expedition, 
in which encounters were frequent, engaging at Chusca Valley 
with K^atano's band, and at the Puerco of the West, where he was 
severely wounded, the savages attacking the camp at night. 

When rebellion reared its threatening head, he was sent as 
bearer of despatches to Colonel Emory, at Fort Arbuckle, in the 
Indian Territory, performing a journey of 1800 miles in fourteen 
and a half days. During June and July of 18G1 he was on mus- 
tering duty at Elmira, New York, and subsequently was Adjutant- 
General to General A. Porter, in the first Manassas campaign. 
On the 23d of August he was commissioned Colonel of the Third 
cavalry, and given command of a brigade posted in front of Wash- 
ington. He led the advance of McClellan's army on Manassas in 
18G2, and was in active service throughout the Peninsula cam- 
paign, bearing a part in the operations at Yorktown, Williams- 

848 



WILLIAM W. AVERELL. 849 

burg, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill, and routed the rebel cavalry 
in a skirmish at Sycamore Church, on the 2d of August. He was 
prostrated by sickness, and was absent during the Second Bull 
Run and Maryland campaigns. Upon his return he was pro- 
moted to Brigadier-General. He went immediately to the upper 
Potomac, where he was employed in frequent skirmishing, and 
when the army advanced was hotly engaged along the passes of 
the Blue Ridge. During the winter of 1863 he had command 
of the Second division of cavalry. 

Averell was a good disciplinarian, and troops under his com- 
mand were rapidly transformed to real soldiers. In the spirit 
of banter, Fitz Hugh Lee, the rebel cavalry leader, who had been 
his companion at West Point, invited him to come over the river 
and visit him, and bring him a bag of coffee, a rare luxury in the 
rebel camp. Averell is one of those men to whom bold exploit 
is meat and drink. He at once determined to accept the invita- 
tion, and summoning to horse on the 17th of March, 1863, rode 
to Kelly's Ford, crossed the Potomac, attacked and won a decided 
victory over Lee and Stuart, tempering their appetites for the 
coffee which he had brought, and returned in good order, with 
only slight loss. This was the first considerable cavalry victory 
of the war. It sent to the heart of the North a thrill of joy. 
It disclosed what a skilful and bold leader could effect. " For 
gallant and meritorious services " in this battle, General Averell 
was brevetted Major in the regular army. When the Chancel- 
lorsville campaign opened he was charged with demonstrations 
upon the upper Potomac, and in the direction of Gordonsville. 
Heavy rains interfered with efficient action, and little was 
accomplished. 

In the reorganization of the army which shortly after took 
place, Averell was sent to take command of the cavalry in West 
Virginia — a difficult country in which to operate, and intensely 
wearing to the troops. At Beverly on the 4th of July, 1863, at 
Hedgeville on the 19th, at Moorfield on the 7th of August, and 
at the Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs on the 26th, he led his 
mounted command in brisk actions. At Droop Mountain the 
enemy had intrenched upon the summit, and was well supplied 
with artillery, and here on the 6th of November Averell attacked ; 

54 



850 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and though the force was formidable he flanked it, and com- 
pletely routed the foe, capturing guns and trains. For his 
gallant conduct he was brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel in the 
regular army. He was scarcely settled in camp, when, on the 
8th of December, he again led his command southward on one 
of the most daring raids in all his stirring campaigns. Its object 
was the destruction of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and 
the immense stores there collected. By rapid marching he 
arrived at his destination on the 16th, and commenced the work 
of devastation. Several bridges and miles of track, depots, mill 
with warehouse and grain, meat, salt, clothing and merchandise, 
to the value of millions of dollars, were given to destruction. 
The enemy hurried forward troops in large force and put them 
upon his track. It was mid-winter, the roads icy, his beasts 
smooth-shod, and the streams swollen ; but that indomitable will 
and cool daring which at Kelly's Ford, Moorfield, and Droop 
Mountain had gained him the victory were not wanting ; and 
though foes were pressing on every side, he eluded all, and 
brought off his command triumphant. In his report he says : 
" I was obliged to swim my command, and drag my artillery 
with ropes across Craig's Creek, seven times in twenty-four hours." 
The creek was deep, the current strong, and filled with drifting 
ice. And in concluding his report he says : " My command has 
marched, climbed, slidden, and swum, three hundred and forty- 
five miles since the 8th inst." For this campaign he was brevetted 
Colonel in the regular army. 

In the spring of 1864 he commanded a division in West Vir- 
ginia, and was engaged at Cove Gap on the 10th of May, where 
he was wounded, and in the destruction of the Tennessee Rail- 
road on the 12th. He thence marched across the Allegheny 
Mountains to Staunton, where he joined Hunter in his descent 
upon Lynchburg, and with that General made the famous circuit 
by the Kanawha and Ohio rivers to Parkersburg, and thence by 
rail to Martinsburg! On the 20th of July he defeated Ramseu's 
division at Carters Farm, and had a sharp encounter at Win- 
chester four days after. When McCausland made his escape 
from the burning of Chambersburg, Averell moved in pursuit, 
and at Moorfield overtook and routed his division. The skir- 



JOHN I. GREGG. 851 

mishing at Bunker Hill and Martinsburg towards the close of 
August heralded the dawn of a glorious day for the Union arms 
in the Shenandoah Valley, and the victories at Winchester, 
Fisher's Hill, and Mount Jackson followed in quick succession, 
which swept the enemy and made the Valley thenceforth un- 
tenable. So complete was the destruction that it was facetiously 
said that if a crow would fly from Winchester to Lynchburg 
he would be obliged to take his provisions with him. General 
Averell was bre vetted Brigadier and Major-General in the regular 
army in recognition of his services at Moorfield and throughout 
the war. He resigned his commission on the 18th of May, 1865, 
and in 1866 was appointed Consul-General of Canada. 

foiiN Irvin Gregg, Colonel of the Sixteenth cavalry, Brevet 
Brigadier and Major-General, was born on the 26th of 
July, 1826, at Bellefonte, Centre county, where his family had 
resided for nearly a century. His father, Andrew Gregg, was 
for two terms State Senator. He received a sound educa- 
tion in the academies of Centre and Union counties. In stature 
he is six feet four inches in height and well formed. In Decem- 
ber, 1846, he volunteered as a private for the Mexican War, and 
on reaching Jalapa received notice of his appointment as First 
Lieutenant in the Eleventh infantry, one of ten new regular 
regiments. He was subsequently promoted to Captain, and 
served with honor to the close of the war, when these regiments 
were mustered out of service. Captain Gregg returned to Centre 
county, where he engaged in the manufacture of iron. He served 
in the militia as First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel. He was married in November, 1857, to Miss 
Clarissa A. Everhart, a lady of rare amiability and beauty, whose 
early death was deeply and sincerely mourned. 

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was made Captain 
and Colonel of the Fifth Reserve, but was shortly after appointed 
Captain in the Sixth United States cavalry. His duty in the field 
commenced with the Peninsula campaign under McClellan, as a 
squadron commander. He was present at the battle of Williams- 
burg on the 5th of May, Kent Court House on the 9th, and on 
the 11th had possession of White House on the Pamunkey. He 



852 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was with the Union advance at Ellison's Mills on the 21st, and 
at Hanover Court House on the 27th. In the preliminaries to 
the Seven Days' battle he skirmished with the rebel infantry, and 
narrowly escaped capture. Then followed days and nights of 
weary marching, while the army of McClellan was fighting its 
way to the James. Captain Gregg subsequently did important 
srr vice in the retirement from the Peninsula, and in the cam- 
paigns of Second Bull Run and Antietam. In November, 
1SG2, he was selected to command the Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
cavalry. Early in January, 1863, he joined the Army of the 
Potomac, and was assigned to Averell's brigade. During the 
remainder of the winter he performed important outpost duty, 
and acquired a reputation for efficiency which was never lost. 
The first and only battle in which Colonel Gregg participated as 
a regimental commander was at Kelly's Ford, on the 17th of 
March. The numbers on either side were about equal, and the 
advantage gained by the Union force was decisive, marking a 
new era for that arm. At Brandy Station, on the 9th of June, 
nearly the entire cavalry of the two armies was engaged. Here 
Colonel Gregg led a brigade. 

At Aldie and Upperville the fighting was severe, the combat- 
ants coming hand to hand. In the battle of Gettysburg his 
command was posted so as to protect the right flank of the Union 
army, and was engaged during the afternoon of the second day, 
and during the third. After Lee made his escape to Virginia, 
Gregg's brigade with the entire division was sent across the 
Potomac to follow up the rebel rear, and ascertain his where- 
abouts. But the rebel chieftain covered his movements by leaving 
near the mouth of the valley his best fighting troops. At noon 
on the 18th, while near Shepherdstown, the Union skirmishers 
were driven in, and close upon their heels the enemy advanced 
in force. For eight hours, and until night put an end to the 
contest, the fighting was of the most determined character and 
the carnage terrible. The enemy was well supplied with 
artillery, which was effectively served. At first he concentrated 
his fire on the right, then on the left, and finally, just as the sun 
was sinking, a fire of unwonted power and destructiveness was 
opened upon the right centre. The enemy charged repeatedly, 



JOHN I. GREGG. 833 

coming on in three columns, and gaining at times a point within 
thirty paces of the Union line ; but nothing could withstand the 
withering fire that swept that gory field, and until darkness 
separated the combatants Gregg's small brigade held fast its posi- 
tion, and when the remnants of his faithful band were ordered 
to retire, bore away the mangled forms of one hundred and fifty- 
eight of their comrades. 

In the movement to Culpeper, Gregg was with the advance, 
and in conjunction with Kilpatrick's men captured a body of 
the enemy who were there cut off. When General Lee com- 
menced his flank movement towards Centreville, one regiment of 
Gregg's brigade was left on the south bank of Hedgeman or 
Upper Rappahannock river, charged with picketing in the direc- 
tion of Jeffersonton. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 12th 
of October, the enemy were reported advancing in force. With 
two small regiments of less than six hundred men, from early 
in the day until nightfall, Colonel Gregg succeeded in check- 
ing the right wing of Lee's army and delaying his passage of the 
stream. The stubborn resistance which this devoted band here 
made was of signal service, as Meade was enabled to complete the 
crossing of the stream, and gain a day's march on his antagonist. 

In November Gregg was ordered to Washington, where he 
remained the greater part of the winter under medical treatment. 
In the Wilderness campaign, which opened in May, he was in 
Sheridan's column, and for three days was engaged near Todd's 
Tavern. On the morning of the 10th Colonel Gregg had the 
advance in the movement upon Richmond, and soon after start- 
ing encountered the enemy in force. A brisk skirmish ensued. 
On the following day Gregg was of the rear-guard, and before the 
column had all moved the enemy attacked with great impetu- 
osity, doubling up a part of his brigade, and was near throwing 
the whole Union force into confusion. At this juncture Gregg 
brought his artillery into position, and when the rebels were at 
close quarters, gave them grape and canister in rapid rounds, 
which sent them back in utter rout. It is impossible, as it is 
unnecessary, to follow Colonel Gregg through all the intricate 
mazes in which he led his brigade and division. He particu- 
larly distinguished himself in the actions of the 12th of May 



854 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

inside the fortifications of Richmond, and at Trevilian Station, 
on the 11th of June, for which he received the brevet rank of 
Brigadier-General. In the action at Deep Bottom, on the 16th of 
August, he was wounded in the right wrist. He was also 
wounded in the ankle at Hatcher's Run, on the Gth of February, 
while attempting to charge at the head of a portion of his 
brigade against the enemy's infantry. An amusing incident 
occurred in connection with the dressing of this wound. At the 
time of the engagement, and for some days previous, a young 
German, the Baron Morehouse, a Lieutenant in the Prussian 
service and Aide-de-camp to the King, who was here for the 
purpose of observing military operations, had been serving as a 
volunteer aid on the staff of General Gregg. He had kept close 
to the side of the General throughout the battle, and in the midst 
of the sharpest firing. While the surgeon was removing the boot 
from the wounded foot, seeing the bullet lying loose in the 
wound, he sprang forward in an excited manner, and seizing the 
blood-stained missile, exclaimed in his broken English, " Mien 
Gott ! I will carry him to Europe and show him to mien king." 

General Gregg was again wounded at Amelia Springs on the 
5th of April, 1865, in a skirmish on the occasion of Lee's retreat 
from Petersburg. At the close of hostilities he was brevetted 
Major-General of volunteers for distinguished services during the 
war. He also received the brevets of Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Colonel, and Brigadier-General in the regular army, for gallantry 
in action in the battles of Kelly's Ford, Middleburg, Shepherds- 
town, Wilderness, Sulphur Springs, St. Mary's Church, Deep 
Bottom, Stony Creek Station, and Hatcher's Run. Throughout 
his entire term of service, General Gregg displayed the best 
qualities of the intrepid soldier, and by his stubborn fighting on 
many fields fairly won the character of an heroic and reliable 
officer, one who was not afraid to face superior numbers, even 
under the most unfavorable circumstances, and who made his 
dispositions with so much coolness and self-possession as to 
reassure his own men and intimidate the foe. 



ROY STONE. 855 

wfb ot Stone, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth resri- 
^j\ ment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born at Plattsburg, 
New York. He was the son of Ithiel Vernon and Sarah (Gurner) 
Stone. He was educated at Union College, and when the war 
broke out was a resident of Warren county, on the borders of the 
great forest where a hardy population dwelt. Forming a com- 
pany from among them, he sought acceptance in the three months' 
campaign. Failing in this he kept together his men, and after 
fruitless waiting, started down the Allegheny river on flat-boats, 
with the design of joining McClellan in West Virginia, where a 
stirring campaign was in progress. He was five days in making 
the run to Pittsburg, and on his arrival was summoned to Har- 
risburg to join the Reserve corps just then authorized. His men 
were armed with their own rifles, and each wore a bucktail, as 
an emblem of hardihood and marksmanship. They were merged 
in the Bucktail regiment, which became famous. 

Before entering upon the campaigns of 1862 the regiment was 
divided, four companies being assigned to Colonel Kane for special 
service, and the other six left to the command of Major Stone 
and going with the Grand Army to the Peninsula. Recognizing 
their fitness for skirmish duty, General Reynolds gave them the 
advance in the movement upon Richmond, and at Mechanics- 
ville and Beaver Dam Creek they were the first to meet the fee. 

From his camp-fire on the Chickahominy he wrote to his 
parents on the 28th of June : "'At noon of the 26th, while on 
picket two and a half miles from our main body, I engaged a 
large force of the enemy and held them in check until I was 
entirely surrounded, giving our troops time to prepare for the 
attack. I then cut my way out, and by a wide detour through 
the woods and swamps finally arrived at camp with the loss of 
seventy-five men. My black horse, saddle, pistols, and boots, 
had to be left behind. We had been given up as lost, and were 
received with the greatest demonstrations of delight by General 
Reynolds and all the brigade." 

The fighting at the intrenchments was determined, but the 
enemy could make no impression, and at night it was decided to 
withdraw the Union force to Gaines' Mill. To Stone was given 
the place of covering the rear, which he accomplished with 



856 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

entire success. " General Reynolds," he says, " stayed with us 
a great part of the time, displaying wonderful courage and skill. 
Cooper's battery also remained, and was most gallantly served. 
Two small companies of Berdan's sharpshooters were also placed 
under my command. As soon as it was light, the enemy, who 
had placed new batteries, and made all his dispositions under 
cover of night, renewed the attack in great force upon my front, 
which was the key to the whole position. Again and again they 
formed for a charge upon our fords, and as often they melted 
away, before our steady fire, while their batteries at rifle range 
poured a most terrible shower of shell, grape and canister upon 
us, shattering the woods over our heads and tearing up the 
ground about us. Still our protection was so .perfect that the loss 
was comparatively light. We had held them back for two hours 
and a half, our forces were nearly all safe behind the second line, 
and we were outflanked on the right and left, when General 
Reynolds sent us orders to fall back as best we could. It was a 
desperate business. We had three miles to go without any help, 
and the men were already exhausted. Our loss here was fearful. 
We had to traverse nearly a mile before we got out of range 
of the batteries, which had been firing upon us all the morning. 
Many men fell while passing over that mile, and beyond that, 
every man who gave out on the' double-quick had to be left 
behind. I brought in the poor remainder of the Bucktail regi- 
ment, one hundred and twenty-five men and five officers, too 
much exhausted to stand, but full of pluck and covered with glory." 

In the action of that day Stone was again ordered in at four 
in the afternoon, and until sunset held his ground, when with 
the entire Union force engaged he retired behind the Chicka- 
hominy. In closing the letter above quoted, he says : " No 
language can describe the glorious conduct of my officers and 
men. It was more than heroic. Their loss is great. As for my- 
self, I escaped with a slight bruise, though I had a ball through 
my bucktail and had my second horse shot yesterday." 

Major Stone took position at Charles City Cross Roads in rear 
of a battery of Parrot guns, and while the first charge was being 
delivered acted as a reserve. That charge was successful ; but a 
counter charge in great force carried the Reserves back, and now 



ROY STOXE. 857 

Stone received the rebels and in turn drove them. But his men 
were too few, and they were compelled to retire. Taking up a 
new position about four hundred yards to the rear he made it 
the rallying point for the Reserves, and soon had six standards. 
With this force, which intuitively seemed to place itself under 
his command, he moved forward at dusk to the front, where the 
fighting was still fiercely raging. In his official report he says : 
" I moved by the flank up the Richmond road, and advancing 
steadily to the extreme front under sharp fire, halted to recon- 
noitre, on finding myself among the wrecks of our own batteries 
where the action commenced. General McCall had come out of 
the woods wounded and alone, and taken his place at the head 
of the column. After the halt the General took me forward a 
few paces with him, and in the darkness suddenly we found 
ourselves close upon the levelled muskets of a column of the 
enemy which filled the road in front of us. We were ordered 
to halt and dismount, but I turned and escaped only slightly 
hurt, drawing two volleys. General McCall was not so fortunate 
and is in the hands of the enemy. I formed my first company 
across the road and went to the rear, by order of General Kearny, 
who had come up in search of a battery to sweep the road in 
front. I soon became, however, so faint and dizzy from the 
effects of my hurt, that I was taken to the hospital and took no 
further part in the action, which soon terminated." 

The superior marksmanship of the Bucktails and their great 
value as skirmishers, under such a leader as Stone, pointed to 
the desirability of a brigade of such troops, and at the recom- 
mendation of Generals Reynolds, Seymour, and others, he was 
sent to Pennsylvania to recruit one. Though the plan was not 
carried out, owing to his being ordered to the front when only 
two regiments were full, upon the occasion of the disaster at 
Bull Run, and advance of the foe into Maryland, yet he was 
eventually put in command of the brigade increased to four regi- 
ments, having in the meantime been commissioned Colonel of the 
One Hundred and Forty-ninth. With this he took part in the 
movements preliminary to and in the battle of Chancellorsville. 
It was incorporated in the First corps, and with Reynolds was 
on the ground at Gettysburg among the first troops. To Stone's 



858 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

brigade was assigned the open ground on the advanced centre of 
the line. As they came upon the field they shouted, " We have 
come to stay," and with a heroism akin to martyrdom they 
proved their determination. In the heat of the battle Colonel 
Stone was severely wounded and rendered incapable of further 
duty, a Minie ball striking him in the right hip. He could not 
be moved from the field, and when, towards evening, the shat- 
tered corps was obliged to fall back, he was left in the enemy's 
hands. During the two weary days, while the terrific fighting 
was in progress, he was in captivity suffering from a double 
torture. When at length the foe, beaten and broken in spirit, 
began to retire, it conveyed to him the joyful tidings that his 
comrades were triumphant. 

He had recovered from his wound sufficiently, as he deemed, 
though contrary to the advice of his surgeon, to take the field 
before the opening of the Wilderness campaign in 1864, and on 
the morning of the first day was engaged with Ewell's corps 
with heavy loss and varying success, and in the afternoon made a 
strong attack upon the left flank of Hill's corps with triumphant 
issue, doubling his left wing back upon his centre, and opening 
a communication with the Pennsylvania Reserves, who had been 
completely cut off. On the following morning the ( division 
advanced and occupied the Plank Road. While this movement 
was in progress the wound which he had received at Gettysburg 
was reopened by the fall of his horse, and so serious was the hurt 
that he was unable again to take the field. In September he 
received the brevet rank of Brigadier-General " for gallant ser- 
vices throughout the war, and especially at Gettysburg." 

General Stone was married in August, 1862, to Miss Mary 
E. Marker, of Pittsburg. In person he is five feet nine 
inches in height, with a face peculiarly noble and attractive. 
Though not bred a soldier he developed some of the highest 
qualities of the profession — a quick appreciation of the situation 
when in face of the enemy, and accurate judgment of the best 
to be done to meet him successfully, unquestioned courage, and 
a devotion that no danger could cool or suffering dampen. Since 
the close of the war he has been engaged in active pursuits in 
the great lumber regions along the waters of the Allegheny, 



HECTOR TYNDALE. 859 

whence came the men who, as Bucktails, made for themselves 
and their leader a world-wide reputation. 

3LJ ECT0R Tyndale, Brigadier and Brevet Major-General, was 
5E> born on the 24th of March, 1821, in Philadelphia. His 
father, Robinson Tyndale, a lineal descendant of the translator 
of the Bible, the martyr William Tyndale, was a native of Ireland. 
His mother, Sarah Thome, was born in Philadelphia, of a New 
Jersey family belonging to the Society of Friends. He was 
offered the appointment to West Point, which at the solicitation 
of his mother he declined. He was married in 1842 to Miss 
Julia Nowlen, a sister of Major Garrett Nowlen, who fell at 
Reams' Station. In 1845 he accompanied an expedition upon 
the plains commanded by Major E. V. Sumner, of the First 
dragoons. He was a member of the Washington Grays, and 
afterwards Captain of the Cadwalader Grays. In politics he 
identified himself with the Free Soil party. When the war 
opened he was absent on a business engagement in Europe, but 
relinquished it, and returning, tendered his services to the Gov- 
ernment. He was commissioned Major of the Twenty-eighth and 
raised a battalion of five companies, additional to the ten regu- 
larly required, a privilege granted at his solicitation ; and partici- 
pated in guarding the Potomac below Point of Rocks, coming 
often into collision with the partisan chieftain Moseby. In the 
spring he advanced into Virginia, and having occupied Harper's 
Ferry and Leesburg, drove the enemy from the passes of the 
Blue Ridge, and upon the advance of Jackson, by a daring recon- 
noissance discovered and reported to General Banks the purposes 
of the rebel leader. Soon afterwards he was promoted to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, and was employed in constant and arduous duty 
before Washington. 

In the battle of Cedar Mountain Colonel Tyndale was in com- 
mand of the regiment, as he had been for a considerable time 
previous, and was ordered to retake and hold Thoroughfare 
Mountain, from which the Union signal officers had been driven. 
This he accomplished, and during the battle guarded the right 
wing. In the retreat of Pope's army he was of the rear guard, 
participating with Bohlen's brigade in the action at Freeman's 



860 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA., 

Ford, and supporting the artillery at Warrenton Sulphur Springs. 
The trains were cumbersome, but they were brought safely in to 
Kettle Run, where it was found that the enemy had broken 
the bridge. By direct order of General Pope his regiment was 
detailed to destroy the immense trains there stopped. While the 
army was retiring from Centreville Colonel Tyndale, with a small 
force in addition to his own command, was turned back to hold 
the bridges over Bull Run, satisfactorily executing the trust. 

On the 8th of September he succeeded to the command of the 
brigade, the First of the Second division, Twelfth corps, which he 
led in the battle of Antietam. He was early ordered into action, 
and for full seven hours combated the foe. Thrice the enemy 
charged but was as often hurled back, an entire battery and 
seven battle flags being captured, an achievement rarely par- 
alleled. In one of these charges, seeing a regiment waver, 
all the color-guard fallen, he himself seized the colors and, cap in 
hand, led it to victory. At two p. m. his brigade was forced back. 
While rallying and forming his command he was struck in the 
head by a musket ball, and his supposed dead body was dragged 
from the field. The resolute courage, conspicuous gallantry, self- 
possession and judgment shown in this battle, and previously, 
were recognized by his promotion to the rank of Brigadier- 
General. 

Not until June, 1863, was he able to resume his place in the 
field, when he was ordered to duty with General Dix at Fortress 
Monroe. After commanding a brigade for a time here he was 
sent to the aid of Meade, joining the army just previous to the 
escape of Lee across the Potomac in his retreat from the battle 
of Gettysburg. With the Eleventh and Twelfth corps he went 
west to the support of Thomas at Chattanooga, and on the night 
of the 28th of October, when Geary was attacked by Longstreet 
at Wauhatchie, Tyndale, who was commanding a brigade of the 
Eleventh corps and who was just in advance, moved rapidly to 
the assistance of the hard-pressed division. When near Geary's 
position he encountered the rebels in considerable force, and with 
Colonel Smith's brigade routed them and gained a hill which 
threatened their way of retreat. Discovering this movement 
upon his rear, the foe quickly made dispositions to retire his 



GEORGE W. MERRICK. 861 

whole force, giving up the contest. General Tyndale was also 
engaged in the glorious battle fought a month later, when Grant, 
with Sherman, Thomas, and Hooker as his lieutenants, swept the 
enemy from the fastnesses of Missionary Ridge, and at its con- 
clusion was hurried away with Sherman to the relief of Burn- 
side shut up in Knoxville and nearly perishing with hunger, 
enduring in the march at this wintry season immense suffering 
and hardship. 

Before the opening of the spring campaign of 1864 General 
Tyndale, now in command of Schurz's division, was ordered by 
General Thomas to organize a body of loyal refugees, who had 
come in from Alabama, into a cavalry regiment. In the mean- 
time the Eleventh and Twelfth corps were merged in one and 
designated the Twentieth, to the command of the Third brigade, 
First division of which, he was assigned. But disease contracted 
in the service had taken fast hold of him, and for days together 
he was unable to rise from his bed. His sickness proving pro- 
tracted, and unwilling to stand in the way of promotion of other 
deserving officers, in August, 1864, he resigned. In March, 1865, 
he was bre vetted Major-General, for " gallant and meritorious 
services during the war." In stature General Tyndale is above 
the medium height, of fair complexion, and of commanding pres- 
ence. His intellect has been improved by study, travel and the 
association with distinguished artists, literary, scientific, and 
public men, and his tastes are pure and cultivated. He is a 
member of the American Philosophical Society, and the Philadel- 
phia Academy of Sciences. As an officer he was a rigid disci- 
plinarian, but most kind and watchful for the comfort and safety 
of his command, being ever solicitous " for wisdom to see and 
strength to do his duty." 

eorge "W. Merrick, son of Israel and Julia Merrick, was 
born at Wellsboro, on the 27th of March, 1838. He was 
made Sergeant of Company H, Sixth regiment of the Pennsyl- 
vania Reserve corps, upon its formation, and served with it in 
the battle of Dranesville, upon the Peninsula, and in the Second 
battle of Bull Run, where the entire command was subjected to 
hard marching and the most desperate fighting. Sergeant Mer- 



862 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

rick was at the time of the latter battle on the sick-list, but kept 
his place, and marched and fought with the rest. For seventy- 
four hours he was without rations, and the suffering endured 
would have overborne a man less resolute. Finally broken by 
exposure and privation, in December, 1862, he was discharged 
on a surgeon's certificate. He returned to the service as Captain 
in a six months' battalion, and subsequently became Major of the 
One Hundred and Eighty-seventh. In the desperate action on 
the 18th of June, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Major Merrick was in 
command of his regiment, and while leading it with the most 
determined bravery, was struck by a Minie ball just below 
the right knee, which fractured the bone and lodged in the 
knee-joint. He was carried from the field, and amputation was 
found to be unavoidable. This closed his military career. He 
is described by his associates as one of the bravest of the brave, 
and in his personal bearing the pattern of a gentleman and a 
soldier. He was married in 1866 to Miss lone Butter worth, a 
niece of the late David Wilmot. Since the war he has studied 
law, and is in successful practice in his native place. 

r jniiOMAS Ellwood Rose, Colonel of the Seventy-seventh regi- 
"i^. ment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Bucks 
county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of March, 1827. He re- 
ceived a good education in the academies and schools of the 
county under the instruction of his father, evincing an aptness 
for mathematics, and an especial fondness for military history 
and geography, having at an early age read the accounts of 
many celebrated battles, and made a record of the character of 
ground on which they were fought, contiguity to streams, forests or 
towns, and the number, discipline, and dress of the troops. In the 
three months' service he was a private in the Twelfth regiment, 
and at its close recruited a company for the Seventy-seventh, of 
which he was Captain. It was sent west to the Army of the 
Cumberland, and was the only Pennsylvania regiment which 
participated in the battle of Shiloh. In the early part of the 
battle of Stone River, fought on the last day of 1862, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Housum, the leader of the regiment, was killed, and the 
command devolved upon Captain Rose. The enemy had sue- 



THOMAS E. ROSE. 863 

ceeded, by a desperate assault on the Union right, in crushing it 
and forcing it back. Captain Rose, in the midst of the disorder 
incident to the disaster, and the fall of the regimental leader, 
held his men well in hand, and did the most efficient service. 
His gallantry secured him immediate promotion to Colonel. 

In the action at Liberty Gap, the brigade commander having 
fallen, Colonel Rose led it to the close of the engagement. The 
action was stubborn and protracted, but the valor of the Union 
troops finally triumphed. Colonel Rose won fresh laurels by 
the good judgment and bravery here displayed. At Chicka- 
mauga his regiment, with the Seventy-ninth Illinois, was posted 
upon an important position, but isolated from the main line. 
They were attacked by overwhelming numbers, and though 
making a gallant resistance, and for a long time repelling every 
fresh onset, were finally overpowered, and Colonel Rose with 
many of his officers and men fell into the enemy's hands. He 
was taken to Libby Prison, where he soon formed a plan for 
tunnelling out, and organized a working party. After seventeen 
days of the most severe labor a way of egress was opened and 
numbers escaped. Colonel Rose made his way with great 
difficulty, and numerous hairbreadth escapes, to the Union lines, 
near Yorktown, but while within sight and about to enter them 
was captured and taken back to Libby. For a time he was 
placed in close confinement, but was finally exchanged and 
returned to his regiment, now with Sherman on his famous At- 
lanta campaign. It was at Ackworth, on the 6th of June, 1864, 
that he resumed command. On the 26 th, in the fierce fighting 
at Kenesaw Mountain, he was wounded. The assault proved 
disastrous to the Union forces, and the movement by the flank 
was again resorted to, which eventually, after much hard fighting 
and severe losses, carried Sherman into Atlanta. 

In the separation of the army, which subsequently took 
place, Colonel Rose proceeded with the Fourth corps, under 
Thomas, to Nashville. In the action at Franklin, and shortly 
afterwards in front of Nashville, he bore a conspicuous part, 
having his horse killed under him in the latter engagement. In 
the reorganization of the forces after this battle Colonel Rose 
was assigned to the command of a brigade. When the rebel 



864 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

armies in the East were finally overcome, he was ordered with 
other troops to Texas. In June, 1865, he was made a Brigadier- 
General by brevet. He continued in the service to the close of 
the year, when he returned and was mustered out with his 
regiment. 

kames Tearney, Colonel of the Eighty-seventh regiment, was 
born at Lancaster on the 9th of October, 1836. He served as 
a private in the First regiment. At the end of its term he enlisted 
in the Eighty-seventh, in which he was made a Sergeant. He 
serve; I in the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley under Gen- 
erals Kelly and Milroy. When returning from veteran furlough 
in the spring of 1864, and while approaching the front, the troops 
being under the command of Sergeant Tearney, they were brought 
into action unexpectedly, before reaching their regiment, by the 
sudden attack of Ewell's corps. When Early made his advance 
upon Washington in July, 1864, the Eighty-seventh was in that 
portion of the Sixth corps sent to Maryland to meet him. At 
Monocacy a bloody battle ensued, in which the Union troops, 
vastly outnumbered, were forced to retire. The regiment here 
suffered unprecedented loss. It was also in, the division which 
made the attack upon Early's front on the memorable morning; 
of the 19th of September at Opequon. Here Captain Tearney was 
wounded in the thigh. The Eighty-seventh was now composed 
only of veterans and recruits, which were consolidated into a bat- 
talion of five companies. A month later, at Cedar Creek, Captain 
Edgar M. Ruhl, who led the battalion, was instantly killed, and 
many of his men were lost. In December, 1864, Captain Tearney 
took command. Before the spring campaign opened five new com- 
panies were added, bringing it up to the full strength of a regi- 
ment. In the final assault upon Petersburg he led his command, 
mostly raw recruits, over two lines of old troops, and with his 
own hands planted the first regimental flag of the brigade on the 
enemy's works. For the valor here displayed, he was given 
the rank of Brevet Major. At Sailor's Creek he again made 
proof of his ability as a soldier, and was soon after commissioned 
Colonel. He was mustered out of the service with his regiment 
on the 29th of June, 1865. 



JAMES TEARNEY.—AMOB W. WAKEFIELD. 865 

mor William Wakefield was born in Mifflin county, on 
the 30th of August, 1829. He was educated at the Lewis- 
town and Tuscarora Academies. He served in the ranks of the 
Seventh regiment for three months, and upon the organization 
of the Forty-ninth was commissioned a First Lieutenant, and 
soon afterwards Captain. The regiment did excellent service 
in the battle of Williamsburg. During the entire Peninsula 
campaign Captain Wakefield was exposed with his command to 
the perils and hardships of the field. In the battles of Antietarn, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, the Forty-ninth 
participated, but was for the most part held in positions where 
it was exposed to a hot fire without the opportunity of return- 
ing it. In the action at Rappahannock Station, on the 7th of 
November, 1863, a feat was executed which will always reflect 
the greatest honor upon the troops engaged. The enemy occupied 
an intrenched position of great strength, defended by artillery. 
It was stormed and carried, at the point of the bayonet, by Rus- 
sell's brigade, of which the Forty-ninth formed a part. The 
enemy had a bridge at his back ; but so sudden was the attack, 
and so terrible the fire pcured upon its approaches, that scarcely 
one escaped. 

To the time of the action before Spottsylvania Court House, 
on the 10th of May, 18G4. the casualties in the command had 
been comparatively light. But on the evening of that day, in 
a charge which lasted but a few minutes, greater losses were 
sustained than in all the three years of its previous experience. 
Sixty five were killed, including the Colonel and Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and one hundred and ninety-five wounded and missing. 
Captain Wakefield came forth from the fearful ordeal unscathed. 
At Cold Harbor the fighting was desperate, and here. he was less 
fortunate, receiving a severe wound. In June he was promoted 
to the rank of Major, and subsequently to that of Colonel. After 
a service of over four years, he was mustered out at the expira- 
tion of his term. General Irwin, the original commander of the 
regiment, thus speaks of him : "At Cold Harbor and Spottsyl- 
vania he highly distinguished himself in command of the regi- 
ment, and won the praise of General David A. Russell, one of the 
best soldiers in the army. I considered Colonel Wakefield an 

55 



S66 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

admirable soldier, patient, courageous, strict in discipline, but 
utterly without cruelty, remarkably kind and generous, though 
firm and faithful in duty. He possessed at all times my entire 
confidence, and was as free from envy and malice as the human 
heart can be. His career in the army reflects honor on his 
native State. He is indeed a worthy son of Pennsylvania." 

TT^ennis Heenan, Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
j — / regiment, was born at Barris O'Kane, Tipperary county, 
Inland, on the 18th of April, 1818. His father owned and cul- 
tivated a large and well-stocked farm, where the son passed his 
boyhood and received his education. In 1843 he emigrated to 
this country, and settled in Philadelphia. 

He enlisted for the Mexican War, but his company was not 
accepted. He served in the militia as Lieutenant, Captain, and 
Lieutenant-Colonel, in which capacity he actec^ in the three 
months' campaign. Returning to Philadelphia, he commenced 
recruiting a veteran regiment, and in September, 1862, was 
commissioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixteenth, At 
the battle of Fredericksburg he received a painful wound in the 
hand. The bones were broken, and the limb was lacerated in a 
fearful manner. After having his wound dressed he went again 
upon the field, and brought off the flag of the regiment, when 
the ground was found to be untenable. He was highly com- 
mended by both Generals Meagher and Sigel. On account of the 
great losses of the regiment it was consolidated in a battalion of 
five companies, and not being entitled to an officer of his rank 
he was mustered out of service and honorably discharged. 

3US dward . Jay Allen, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty- 
^— J , fifth regiment, was born on the 27th of April, 1830, in 
the city of New York. He was the son of Edward and Amelia 
(Bindley) Allen, both of English descent. He was a lover of 
books and received a good English education in the schools of 
Pittsburg, whither his parents had removed, and a classical train- 
ing at Duquesne College. He was married in 1857 to Miss 
Elizabeth W. Robison. His first military duty was as a vol- 
unteer aid to General Fremont, at the battle of Lewisburg, Vir- 



DENNIS HEENAN— EDWARD J. ALLEN. 867 

ginia, May 25th, 1862. He continued with that officer through- 
out the campaign, and at Stone Run volunteered with a detail 
of twenty men to repair the road and bridges destroyed by Stone- 
wall Jackson, executing the hazardous duty in advance of the 
Union skirmishers, and under the fire of the enemy's rear guard. 
On approaching the Shenandoah River he again volunteered to 
aid in getting the pontoons across the north fork, which he did 
under fire. He took part in the battles of Winchester, Mount 
Jackson, and Cross Keys where he won the commendation of 
his General. A new regiment that had been recruited at Pitts- 
burg towards the close of the summer of 1862 was organized in 
September, and he was selected its Colonel. 

Soon after taking the field the battle of Fredericksburg was 
fought, and he was put upon the fore front. He was of the 
division of the intrepid General Humphreys, one of the last to go 
forward in the desperate struggle to break the enemy's line. 
" When the fire of the artillery ceased," says General Hooker, " I 
gave directions for the enemy's works to be assaulted. General 
Humphreys' men took off their knapsacks, overcoats, and haver- 
sacks. They were ordered to make their assault with empty 
muskets, for there was no time then to load and fire. When the 
word was given, the men moved forward with great impetuosity. 
They ran and hurrahed, and I was encouraged by the great good 
feeling that pervaded them. The head of Humphre} T s' column 
moved to within perhaps fifteen or twenty yards of the stone 
wall which was the advanced position held by the rebels, and 
then they were thrown back, as quickly as they had approached. 
They left behind, as was reported to me, seventeen hundred and 
sixty, out of four thousand." In the midst of the operations on 
the enemy's front, the command of the brigade devolved upon 
Colonel Allen, who won by his gallantry the earnest praise of 
General Humphreys. Soon after the close of this campaign he 
was prostrated by a rheumatic attack, and though he remained 
nominally at the head of the regiment until after the battle of 
Gettysburg, he performed no further field duty, and on the 25th 
of July was obliged to resign. 



8G8 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

,T^T enry Ruiil Guss, Colonel of the Ninety-seventh regiment, 
(^_J- an( l Brevet Brigadier and Major-General, was born on the 
28th of July, 1825, at Chester Springs, Chester county. He was 
the son of Samuel and Sabrina (Ruhl) Guss. He was educated 
in Philadelphia, and at the academy of Joshua Hoopes in West 
( "liester. He was an original member of the noted National Guards 
of West Chester, organized in 1846, and for several years was its 
commander. Captain Guss was one of the first to respond to the 
call for troops in 1861, and so great was the confidence in him 
that, in four days from the date of the requisition, he was on his 
way to Harrisburg with a force of three hundred men. They 
were assigned to the Ninth regiment, and served under Patterson 
in the Shenandoah Valley. He assisted in recruiting the Ninety- 
seventh, of which he was Colonel, and which he brought to a 
high state of efficiency. In November, 1861, he was ordered to 
the Department of the South, and arrived at Hilton Head on the 
loth of December. He was assigned to the expeditionary corps 
commanded by General H. G. Wright, and led his regiment with 
skill in the campaign which resulted in the occupation of Fer- 
nandina, Jacksonville, and other points on the Florida coast, early 
in 1862, and in the disastrous campaign on James Island in the 
following summer. In the affairs at Grimball's Plantation, on 
the 10 th of June, 1862, and at Secessionville a week later, he 
especially distinguished himself, and was highly complimented 
by General Wright. 

On the 1st of August, 1862, he was assigned to the command 
of the post at Hilton Head, the most important in the Depart- 
ment. When General Hunter organized his forces for the reduc- 
tion of Charleston he gave to Colonel Guss the First brigade of 
Terry's division. The campaign was unsuccessful, and upon the 
withdrawal of the troops he was ordered to the command of the 
posts successively of Edisto, Botany Bay, and St. Helena Island. 
Upon the advent of General Quincy A. Gilmore to the head of 
the Department, Colonel Guss was again intrusted with the com- 
mand of the First brigade, which he exercised with ability 
throughout the protracted and wearisome operations on Morris 
Island directed against Fort Wagner. When the immense siege 
operations had been completed, and the third assault upon 






H/ENF ; / 

/ 



HENRY R. G.USS— JOSEPH S. HOARD. 869 

Wagner had been ordered, he was selected to lead the storming 
party, to consist of his own regiment and the Third New Hamp- 
shire. The plan of operations had been discussed and each 
soldier had pictured the part he was to bear, many sending mes- 
sages of love to friends as for the last time. Before day the 
enemy fortunately abandoned this stronghold. The joyous news 
relieved many burdened hearts. 

On the 1st of October, 1863, Colonel Guss was ordered with 
his regiment to Fernandina, Florida, and directed to assume 
command of the post. Until the 1st of April, 1864, he remained 
here, when, for the first time since his entrance to the service, 
he accepted a leave of absence, and with the members of his regi- 
ment who had reenlisted as veterans departed for home. On the 
14th of May following he resumed command of his brigade, now 
in the Army of the James. This position he continued to fill 
during the time that active operations were in progress on the 
south side of the James, around Cold Harbor, and in front of 
Petersburg, until the 22d of June, 1864, when, for reasons of a 
personal nature, which, though regretted by his associate officers, 
were acknowledged to be imperative, he tendered his resignation. 
One who knew him intimately says of him : " By the officers and 
men of his regiment and brigade he was highly esteemed. The 
characteristics that made him popular at home served him 
better in the field. He was emphatically a man of deeds, not 
words." On the 23d of July, 1867, he was brevetted Brigadier and 
Major-General for faithful and meritorious services in the field. 

f:0SEPH Setii Hoard, son of Enos and Fanny (Perry) Hoard, was 
born in Oneida county, New York, on the 17th of April, 
1818. He was commissioned Captain of a company assigned for 
duty to the Eleventh regiment, Colonel Coulter, but was subse- 
quently transferred to the One Hundred and First. He was pro- 
moted to Major at the beginning of the year 1862, and with his 
regiment entered on the Peninsula campaign. Major Hoard suf- 
fered from the miasmatic airs of the Chickahominy ; but still 
clung to his post, and in the battle of Fair Oaks distinguished 
himself, receiving the thanks of General Casey upon the field. 
His regiment was posted on the extreme front, and to him belongs 



870 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the credit of advancing the picket line to a point on the Williams- 
burg Road nearest to Richmond. On the 1st of July, 1862, 
he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel ; but finding 
at the conclusion of this campaign that his health was seri- 
ously impaired, he resigned. 

kames Thompson Kirk, son of George A. and Jane (Thompson) 
Kirk, was born on the 21st of September, 1825, at Canons- 
burg. The family were Covenanters of Scotch-Irish extraction. 
He was educated at Jefferson College, and previous to the war 
had held five commissions in the militia. He was married in 
1855 to Miss Mary Swan. He served during the Rebellion in 
the Tenth Reserve regiment, as Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and Colonel in succession, and participated in the battle of 
Dranesville, soon after which he came to the command of the 
regiment, in the Seven Days' battle upon the Peninsula, Bull 
Run, South Mountain, and Antietam. Towards the close of the 
latter engagement he was placed over the brigade, which he led 
to the close of the battle. His health having become much im- 
paired, by the advice of his surgeon he resigned and returned to 
private life. In May, 1863, he was appointed Deputy Provost 
Marshal, which office he held to the close of the war. 

fHOMAS F. McCoy, Colonel of the One Hundred and Seventh^ 
and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Mifflin county, 
in 1819. He was the youngest of nine children of John and 
Jane (Junkin) McCoy, of Scotch-Irish lineage. At the breaking 
out of the Mexican War, having for seven years previous served 
in the militia, President Polk appointed him First Lieutenant in 
the Eleventh United States infantry, and with it he marched to 
the Rio Grande. He was sent with the column ordered to Vera 
Cruz, and thence into the interior. His first encounter with the 
enemy was at the National Bridge. He was afterwards engaged 
at Passa La Hoya, and in a reconnoissance at Contreras, con- 
ducted by Captain Robert E. Lee, then of General Scott's staff. 
In the battles of Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino del Rev, Chapul- 
tepec, and Garita San Cosmehe took an active part, and was pro- 
moted to Captain for gallantry. In the bloody battle of Molino 



JAMES T. KIRK— THOMAS F. McGOY. 871 

del Rey he found himself the ranking officer, four of his superiors 
having fallen. Assuming command, he gathered up the thinned 
ranks of the regiment and led it to the close. Of his conduct 
here General Cadwalader says : " A reference to the official re- 
ports will show that his services were not overlooked either by 
the late commanding officer of his regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Graham, or after his death by his successor, Major Hunter, and 
that he is also particularly named in high terms in my own 
report," Returning to civil life with an honorable record, he 
was for two successive terms Prothonotary of Mifflin county. On 
leaving this position he studied law with William J. Jacobs and 
D. W. Woods of Lewistown, and was admitted to the bar. 

At the commencement of the Rebellion, he tendered his 
services to Governor Curtin, who, appreciating the value of his 
military experience, appointed him, in April, 1861, Deputy 
Quartermaster-General of the State, and in conjunction with the 
lamented R. C. Hale, chief of the department, labored assid- 
uously through all the earlier months of the war in clothing and 
fitting the volunteers for the field. 

Upon the death of Colonel Thomas A. Zeigle, of the One Hun- 
dred and Seventh regiment, on the 16th of July, 1862, the line 
officers united in inviting Colonel McCoy to fill the vacancy. His 
regiment was in Pope's army, and on taking the field was at once 
engaged in that unfortunate campaign which culminated in the 
battle of Bull Run. Colonel McCoy joined it and assumed active 
command on the 15 th of August near Cedar Mountain, and from 
this moment, through the long three years of battles and sieges, 
until the last gun was fired in front of Appomattox Court House, 
he was faithful and devoted in the discharge of his varied duties. 
During this time he was frequently in command of a brigade. 
General Duryea commends him for "his gallant conduct in the 
various battles of the campaign in Virginia," and designates him 
" as an officer, cool and deliberate under fire, and subordinate 
and respectful in an eminent degree, commanding the confidence 
of his companions-in-arms." 

At Fredericksburg he made a daring and successful charge, of 
which Colonel Root, then leading the brigade, in his official 
report spoke in high terms. No less importont was his conduct 



872 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

at Chancellorsville, holding the skirmish line on the left of the 
army for two days and nights without relief. At Mine Run 
he was designated to lead the brigade in the charge upon the 
enemy's lines. He commanded the brigade on perilous outpost 
duty at Mitchell's Station in the winter of 1864, with eminent 
caution and success. In the advance to the James his regiment 
occupied an important position covering the movement, and suc- 
cessfully repulsed an attack when other troops gave way, which 
brought from General Crawford an expression of satisfaction "for 
effectually holding the position without support." At the Wel- 
don Railroad, Colonel McCoy was surrounded in the dense wood 
in which the battle was fought, and many of his officers and men 
were captured. Although repeatedly summoned to surrender, 
he refused, and at the imminent risk of being shot down made 
his escape. In the hottest of the battle at Dabney's Mill General 
Morrow, being dangerously wounded, turned the command of 
the brigade over to Colonel McCoy, together with its flag, which 
he had been carrying in the thickest of the fight. McCoy, not to 
be outdone in such gallantry, seized the proud emblem and bore 
it triumphantly. " I was wounded," says General Morrow, " in 
the first day's fight. Colonel McCoy then assumed command, and 
I know his conduct through the whole engagement to have been 
gallant and skilful." 

Especially were Colonel McCoy's services appreciated in the 
battle of Five Forks, for which he was brevetted Brigadier- 
General. He was fortunate in having the friendship and high 
regard of General Baxter, with whom he served more than two 
years. " I wish to express," says that sturdy soldier, " my high 
appreciation and regard for the moral worth and integrity of pur- 
pose that has governed him in every action, and the promptness 
and ability with which his services have been rendered under all 
circumstances. In the camp, on the long and tedious marches, 
and on the battle field, his duties have been performed with that 
decision and ability, that cannot but render a command effective 
and reliable, which his has ever been." Not less complimentary 
was the commendation bestowed by General G. K. Warren, who 
characterized him as "one of the most worthy officers of his 
corps." There is one merit due to General McCoy quite as 



EDWARD O'BRIEN.— CARLTON B. CURTIS. £73 

important as that of leading in the " imminent deadly breach." 
In the course of his correspondence he casually remarks, " I feel 
sure that the highest type of a soldier is a Christian citizen fight- 
ing the battles of his country." To model his command after 
that type was his constant aim. To restrain hilarity and a ten- 
dency to riotous or immoral life in the camp was often unpopular, 
and, unless judiciously done, was liable to draw odium upon him 
who attempted it ; but the purity of life and the seasonable and 
sensible way in which General McCoy impressed his men and his 
associates with his own spirit, commanded respect. 

After the close of the war he returned to his home at LewistoMm, 
where he resumed the practice of his profession. He was married 
on the 22d of May, 1873, to Miss Maggie E. Ross, of Harrisburg. 

qITJdward O'Brien, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Connolly) 
<-*£z( O'Brien, was born in Pittsburg on the 10th of October, 
1823. His maternal grandfather served under Washington in 
the patriot army. He volunteered as a private in the Mexican 
War, was* advanced to the rank of Lieutenant, and was wounded 
in the left eye at the storming of Garita de Belen. In the late 
war he was Captain in the Twelfth three months' regiment, and 
Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth nine months'. He 
was in the battles of Antietam, Shepherdstown, Fredericks- 
burg, and Chancellorsville, in the latter having his clothing 
riddled with bullets and his horse shot under him, narrowly 
escaping with his life. " Under my own eye," says Hum- 
phreys, in whose division he served, " Colonel O'Brien rode 
in front of his regiment and literally led in the last charge on the 
stone wall at Fredericksburg, just before dusk on the 13th of 
December. . . . He is in every way reliable, a good soldier and 
gallant leader, always attentive to duty, careful and considerate 
of those under his command, prompt in execution." 

qSgARLTON B. Curtis, Colonel of the Fifty-eighth regiment, was 
T|-^ born in central New York on the 17th of December, 1811. 
He removed to Pennsylvania in 1831, and, having read law, 
settled at Warren in 1834. In the fall of 1836 he was elected to 
the Pennsylvania Legislature, where he served for two terms. He 



874 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was elected to Congress in 1850, as the successor of the late 
Chief Justice Thompson, where he served as a Democrat until 
1855. Upon the repeal of the Missouri Compromise he abandoned 
his old political affiliations, and henceforward acted with the Re- 
publicans. When war broke out, in 18G1, he was made Colonel 
of the Fifty-eighth. He was ordered to North Carolina with 
his command, where he was for the most part on outpost duty, 
arduous and perplexing, with frequent severe skirmishing. In 
July, 18G3, on account of failing health he resigned. In the fall 
of 1872 he was again elected to Congress. 

^iiancey Almerox Lyman, son of Eleazer and Sally (Payne) 
Lyman, was born in Tioga county, on the 19th of July, 
1820. He entered the service in April, 1SG1, as Captain in the 
Seventh Reserve regiment, and was promoted in succession to 
Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. He was engaged in the battles 
of Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads, 
Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericks- 
burg. He commanded his regiment at Antietam and held his 
men in good order until one-third were killed or wounded,, and 
though the brigade was broken, still kept them in hand and 
retired leisurely, receiving the plaudits of General Meade. By 
the wounds of his superiors the command also devolved on him 
on the field at South Mountain and Fredericksburg. In Feb- 
ruary, 1864, he resigned. He was married in 1841 to Miss 
Celinda M. ImzTaham. 



Oil 



saiaii Price, Brevet Colonel of the Ninety-seventh regiment, 
(^ was born on the 20th of May, 1822, in Chester county. His 
father was Benjamin, son of Philip Price, an eminent teacher, 
both prominent members of the Society of Friends. His mother 
was Jane Paxson, also a Friend. He received a liberal English 
education, with some knowledge of Latin, and graduated at the 
Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery in 1854. That a convic- 
tion of duty as revealed in the heart of each individual should be 
the paramount spring of action was held to be a leading tenet in 
the Quaker faith, and while peace and good-will among men was 
set as the end of their teaching, it was undoubtedly the promptings 




\;AL£C^<Z>4 f'Z^C. 



B ■ /E T C0L0NEL.U.5.V. 



CHANCEY A. LYMAN.— ISAIAH PRICE. 875 

of conscience which impelled many young Friends to join in the 
great contest between despotism and human freedom. On the 
18th of September, 1861, he was mustered into service as Captain 
of Company C of the Ninety-seventh. With his regiment he 
proceeded to the Department of the South. On the 3d of Jan- 
uary, 1862, he was detailed upon recruiting service, and ordered 
to report to Harrisburg. Early in June with his recruits he 
rejoined his regiment at Legereville. He participated in the 
engagements at Grimball's Plantation and Secessionville, on 
James Island, June 10th and 16th, and during the winter suc- 
ceeding was detailed upon court-martial duty. He led his com- 
pany in the affair at Stephen's Landing on the 16th of July, 
1863, and during the protracted siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, 
on Morris Island, was in command of the regiment. After the 
fall of these strongholds he was ordered to Florida, and upon the 
occupation of Fernandina was made Provost Marshal of the town. 
In the spring of 1864 his regiment was transferred to the Army 
of the James. In the advance upon the Richmond and Peters- 
burg Railroad on the 9th of May, at Proctor's Creek on the 16th, 
and at Green Plain on the 18th, he exhibited a determined spirit 
that won the highest admiration. 

On the night of the 19 th of May, Captain Price was on the 
picket line with one hundred and fifty men, and was several 
times attacked, but was able to hold his ground. Reinforcements 
were repeatedly called for, but none came. Finally three rebel 
regiments en echelon moved out from a concealed position and 
bore down upon his line. A detachment upon his left broke 
at the first onset, leaving his flank exposed. By his personal 
bravery he prevailed upon a part to return. But it was impossi- 
ble to stem the torrent of the attack, and his line was forced 
back. In the midst of the struggle Captain Price was struck by 
a spent canister shot. 

He was in command of the regiment at Cold Harbor. He also 
participated in carrying some of the enemy's works on the heights 
near Petersburg on the 15th of June, and in the assault on the 
30th of July upon the occasion of the springing of the mine. On 
the 6th of June he was commissioned Major. At the close of 
his term, the regiment having been reduced below the number 



876 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

required for two field officers, he, having been debilitated by 
an attack of fever, resigned and was honorably discharged. In 
March, 1867, lie was brevetted by Governor Geary Lieutenant- 
Colonel and Colonel. After his return from the field he resumed 
the practice of his profession in the city of Philadelphia. In 
184G he was married to Lydia, daughter of Jacob Ileald, of 
Delaware. 

An old companion-in-arms says of him : " There never was 
an officer more willing and anxious to hold himself up to the 
strict, stern, and varied requirements of his official duty than 
Major Price. With him lofty and pure patriotism and a desire 
to do everything he could to further the interests of the public 
service, regardless of self, were the grand incentives." 

\ 1 William Hofmann, Colonel of the Fifty-sixth regiment, and 
.x Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 18th of Febru- 
ar}', 1824. He was the son of John and Anna Louisa (Eckhardt) 
Hofmann, both natives of Prussia, who emigrated and settled 
in Philadelphia, in 1819. At the age of seventeen he learned 
calico engraving, and at the end of three years engaged in trade 
as a dealer in hosiery goods, the manufacture of which had been 
the occupation of his father. In 1848 he was married to Emma 
Margaretta Aunen, who, while her husband was in the field, 
acted the part of a real heroine in assuming the management of 
his business. In 1840 he joined the Junior Artillerists, and three 
years later the Washington Grays, continuing in active duty for 
a period of ten years. He served as a Captain in the Twenty- 
third regiment, and on being mustered out accepted the position 
of Major of the Fifty-sixth. In October following he was pro- 
moted to Lieutenant-Colonel. In the battle at Gainesville Colonel 
Meredith was wounded, when the command devolved upon Hof- 
mann, who led it in the actions of the two following days at 
Bull Run. In the affair at South Mountain he was placed over 
the brigade, which he led throughout the battle of Antietam. 
Upon the advance of the army down the valley of Virginia, Hof- 
mann was detailed with his brigade to operate with the cavalry 
under Pleasanton in clearing the passes of the Blue Ridge. He 
soon after returned to the command of his regiment, and was, on 



J. WILLIAM HOFMANN. 877 

the 8th of January, promoted to Colonel. In the severe battles 
of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville he led with his usual 
intrepidity, and at Gettysburg had the honor of opening the 
battle on the part of the infantry. He was sent soon after to 
Philadelphia to bring drafted men to the front, and while there 
was called to serve on a general court-martial. He returned in 
time to take part in the movement upon Mine Run, and after 
the determination' had been taken to retire without bringing 
on a general battle, he was detailed to destroy the bridges over 
that stream which had been constructed for the use of the First 
corps. In the first day in the Wilderness his regiment suffered 
severely. At noon of the following day General Wadsworth was 
killed in an effort to repel a charge of the enemy, and the division 
forced back. As the regiments retired through the thick under- 
brush, they were much broken. A number of these were rallied 
by Colonel Hofmann and reformed in rear of a line of works held 
by the Second corps. At evening the enemy made a furious 
onslaught, and succeeded in forcing the troops out and in planting 
the rebel colors on the works. At this juncture, with the frag- 
ments of nine regiments which he had rallied, numbering about 
400 men, he attacked and drove the enemy out, and thus reestab- 
lished the main line of communication between the right and 
left wings of the army, which had been momentarily interrupted. 
General Hancock, who was in command of the left wing and who 
was present, acknowledged the importance of this blow, which 
proved to be the final one on that sanguinary field. 

On the 21st of May, after having participated in the severe fight- 
ing at Spottsylvania and Alsop's Farm, he was assigned to the com- 
mand of the brigade. At the North Anna, soon after crossing, 
he was heavily attacked, but succeeded in hurling the foe from 
his position. On the 7th of June Hofmann was ordered to seize 
the railroad bridge over the Chickahominy. By making a long 
detour he came upon the enemy unawares and put him to rout, 
sustaining only small loss. Having crossed the James, he joined 
on the 18th of June in the assault upon the works before Peters- 
burg, where the loss was very severe. In the movement upon the 
Weldon Railroad on the 18th of August, Colonel Hofmann's brig- 
ade bore a conspicuous part, making many captures, among which 



878 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

were two field officers, nine line officers, and three battle-flags. He 
was soon afterwards made Brigadier-General, and was by special 
order of the President assigned to duty according to his brevet 
rank. In the action at Pegram's Farm, at Hatcher's Run, and in 
the raid upon the Weldon Railroad, General Hofmann led his com- 
mand. At the conclusion of his three years' term in March, 1865, 
he retired from the service. In the fall of 18G3 General Hofmann 
was the recipient of a jewelled sword, in silver scabbard, with 
belt, spurs, and sash, from the officers and men of his command. 
In the summer of 1864 he received from the men of the Fourth 
Delaware of his brigade, a revolver and spurs which they had 
captured in battle. By the members of his staff he was pre- 
sented with an elegantly bound copy of Jomini's Life of Napo- 
leon. He enjoyed the confidence of his superior officers, having 
been honored with testimonials from Generals Meredith, Rice, 
Cutler, Wadsworth, Doubleday, Griffin, Ayers, Warren, and 
Meade, the latter bearing testimony to " his high character for 
intelligence, energy, and zeal in the discharge of his 'duties, and 
for conspicuous gallantry on the field of battle." 

ijT^dward Overton, Jr., son of Edward and Eliza (Clymer) 
<Qi*rJ Overton, was born at Towanda, on the 4th of February, 
1836. He was educated at Princeton College, graduating in the 
class of 1856. He entered the service as Major of the Fiftieth 
regiment in September, 1861, and was promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel in August, 1863. He served with Stevens in the De- 
partment of the South, and with the Ninth corps in the fierce 
engagements at Bull Run and Chantilly, leading his regiment in 
the latter and continuing at its head in the battle of South 
Mountain and at Antietam, where he was severely wounded. He 
returned to duty in time to go west with the Ninth corps, and 
was with Sherman at Vicksburg and Jackson, and subsequently 
bore a part in the defence of Knoxville in its protracted siege by 
Longstreet. On the bloody battle ground of the Wilderness he 
was where dangers were thickest, and at Ny River, Cold Harbor, 
Petersburg, Mine Explosion, and Weldon Railroad, shared the 
fortunes of his regiment, facing the foe in one of the most san- 
guinary campaigns of the Rebellion. Since the war he has held 



EDW. OVERTON, Jr.— WM. F. SMALL.— J AS. GWYK 879 

the position of Register in Bankruptcy for the Thirteenth Con- 
gressional District. 

Aw/' ILLIAM Francis Small, son of Thomas and Sarah (James) 
$§▼ Small, was born in Montgomery county on" the 16th of 
September, 1819. He commanded the Monroe Guard, a militia 
company, in the riots of 1844, and led it throughout the Mexican 
War, especially distinguishing himself at Puebla, charging with 
only sixty men a battery strongly defended. After his return 
he rose to be Colonel and Brigadier-General of militia. In 1860 
he recruited the Washington brigade, and tendered its service to 
Mr. Buchanan, which was declined. When hostilities opened 
in April, 1861, he attempted to pass through Baltimore with his 
command with the Massachusetts Sixth, but not being armed 
was attacked by the mob and driven back, having several men 
wounded. He was commissioned Colonel of the Twenty-sixth 
regiment. In the battle of Williamsburg, while leading with 
great heroism upon a bastion of Fort Magruder, he was severely 
wounded and borne helpless from the field. Being incapacitated 
for duty, he resigned in June, 1862. He recruited and com- 
manded the Sixtieth militia when the State was invaded in 
1863. Previous to the war he was a member of the State Senate. 

f~'AMES Gwyn, Colonel,, of the One Hundred and Eighteenth 
regiment, Brevet Brigadier and Major-General, was born at 
Londonderry, Ireland, on the 24th of November, 1828. He was 
the son of Alexander and Catharine (Garvin) Gwyn. He was 
educated at Foyle College, and for a time studied surgery. On 
coming to this country he settled in Philadelphia, where he was 
connected with the mercantile house of Stuart Brothers. In 
February, 1850, he was married to Miss Margaretta E. Young. 
At the opening of the Rebellion he was commissioned Captain 
of the Twenty-third regiment, and when it was reorganized for 
veteran service he was again commissioned Captain and went 
to the field under the gallant General Birney. With him Cap- 
tain Gwyn fought at Fair Oaks, and at the close of the Peninsula 
campaign resigned to accept promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel of 
the One Hundred and Eighteenth. Its first engagement was at 



880 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Shepherdstown, soon after the battle of Antietam, where it fell 
into an ambuscade and was fearfully decimated. In the battles 
of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, with all the 
incidental skirmishing and fighting, Lieutenani>Colonel Gwyn 
maintained his character as a valuable and reliable officer, and 
at the close of these campaigns was promoted to Colonel. On the 
first day in the Wilderness he was severely wounded in the right 
thigh. . He rejoined his regiment in front of Petersburg. On the 
30th of September, 1864, Warren attacked the enemy in his 
works at Peeble's Farm. Gwyn, as the senior Colonel, com- 
manded the First brigade, First division. With great gallantry 
he led forward his men, reduced by repeated losses to about 
eight hundred, and captured two earthworks and a fortified line. 
For this action he was brevetted Brigadier-General, and assigned 
to duty in accordance with the brevet rank. At Five Forks, 
in April, 1865, which was the beginning of the end, General 
Cwyn's brigade captured a large number of the enemy and many 
battle-flags. He was immediately thereafter promoted to Brevet 
Major-General. At the close of the war he returned to mer- 
cantile business. 

^\S7illiam Henry Boyd was born on the 14th of July, 1825, 



3£)V at Quebec, Canada. His father was a soldier in the 
British army. At the breaking out of the war he was in the 
Directory publishing business in Philadelphia. He recruited a 
company of cavalry for Schurz's National brigade, which became a 
part of the First New York (Lincoln) cavalry, and which he led 
on the Peninsula as escort to General Franklin. After the Mary- 
land campaign this regiment was left with Milroy at Winchester, 
and fought the advance of Lee in his march towards Gettysburg. 
Boyd was detached to save the wagon train and brought it safely 
to Harrisburg, after which he operated in the Cumberland Valley 
both during the advance and retreat of the enemy from Pennsyl- 
vania, rendering important service. He was shortly after com- 
missioned Colonel of the Twenty-first cavalry, which in the Wil- 
derness campaign he led as infantry, and at Cold Harbor was 
severely wounded, the ball piercing his neck and lodging in one 
of the vertebra), where it remained for five months and was only 



W. IL BOYD.—F. S. STUMBAUGH.—O. S. WOODWARD. 881 

extracted after three unsuccessful attempts. In 1868 he was 
an agent of the Treasury Department. 



W^rederic Shearer Stumbaugh, Colonel of the Seven ty-sev- 
jl^f enth regiment, was born on the 14th of April, 1817, in 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John Stum- 
baugh, a descendant of Lawrence, who emigrated to this country 
from Strasburg, Germany, in the year 1751, and Sarah (Shearer) 
Stumbaugh. He was • married in September, 1841, to Anna 
Sophia Cressler. He was appointed Colonel of the Second regi- 
ment organized in the State, having for fifteen years previous 
been connected with the militia. At the expiration of the three 
months' term he was made Colonel of the Seventy-seventh. It 
was sent for duty to Buell's army in Kentucky, which was 
ordered to the support of Grant at Shiloh. At the opening of 
the battle the Seventy-seventh was a long day's march away. 
Early the dull sound of artillery told that the struggle had com- 
menced. It Avas spring, and the ways were unsettled. But fired 
with zeal to reach the ground, they moved rapidly forward, and 
at four on the following morning, April 7th, were embarked upon 
the Tennessee for the Landing. During the early part of the 
day the Seventy-seventh was held in reserve, but was attacked, 
and successfully repulsed a cavalry charge. At one in the after- 
noon Colonel Stumbaugh was placed in command of a brigade 
under General McCook, and so led his force in the heavy fighting 
which ensued as to win the hearty applause of that soldier. 

In the campaign before Corinth, he was in command of his 
regiment ; but soon after was prostrated by sickness, which proved 
to be of such a lingering nature that he offered his resignation, 
and was mustered out of service in December, 1862. In Novem- 
ber preceding he was nominated, by the President, Brigadier- 
General. Since the war, he has for several terms served as a 
member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, where he has always 
taken a leading rank. 

p rpheus S. Woodward, Colonel of the Eighty-third regiment, 
and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Erie county, on 
the 1st of May, 1835. He was the son of Ebenezer and Cornelia 

56 



882 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

(Prindle) Woodward. He served for three months in the Erie 
regiment, and at the conclusion became Captain in the Eighty- 
third, accredited with more battles than any other Pennsylvania 
regiment. In all these engagements down to the 5th of May, 
18G4, with the exception of Bull Run and Fredericksburg, he 
took part. He commanded his regiment at Gettysburg in one 
of the most trying positions of the war. He was promoted 
to Colonel in July, 1863, and to Brevet Brigadier-General in 
March, 18G5. He was slightly wounded in the left arm at 
Malvern Hill, and severely in the right knee-joint on the first 
day in the Wilderness, losing his leg, which ended his active 
service. The pain experienced during the ten days between 
the wounding and the amputation, in which he was constantly 
moving, was excruciating. Since the war he has served two 
terms in the Pennsylvania Legislature. He w r as married in 1861 
to Miss Marietta Hemrod. 

("TD obert Miller Henderson, Colonel of the Seventh Reserve 
^\ regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Cum- 
berland county, on the 11th of March, 1827. He was a farmer's 
son, and was educated at Dickinson College. He chose the law 
as his profession, and before he had attained his majority was 
admitted to practice. He was soon after elected a member of the 
Pennsylvania Legislature, where he served during the sessions of 
1851-52. He married Miss M. A. Webster, of Baltimore. When 
the war opened he entered the volunteer force as a Captain in 
the Seventh Reserve. His two brothers accompanied him, but 
one of them, William M., was compelled from ill health to resign, 
and in less than a year died. During the Seven Days' battle 
upon the Peninsula, Captain Henderson shared in the hard fight- 
ing, receiving a wound at Charles City Cross Roads. Four days 
thereafter he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, General Seymour 
recommending the advancement on the ground of "brilliant gal- 
lantry." After returning from the Peninsula, Colonel Hender- 
son marched to Kelly's Ford, and finally to the Second Bull Run 
bat tie-ground, where, in the severe struggle which ensued, he led 
his regiment with such coolness and courage as to elicit the warm 
commendation of Generals Reynolds and McDowell. Late in the 



R. M. HENDERSON.— I. ROGERS.— T. H. GOOD. 883 

action Colonel Henderson was severely wounded and carried 
from the field. After partially recovering, he resigned his com- 
mission, to accept the office of Provost Marshal of the Fifteenth 
district of Pennsylvania. At the close of the war he returned to 
civil life and resumed the practice of his profession. He was 
brevetted Brigadier-General. The position of Judge Advocate- 
General of the Army of the Potomac was tendered him by Gen- 
eral Meade, in a communication dated October 20th, 1864, but 
this for private reasons he was obliged to decline. 

JJFsaac Rogers, son of John and Matilda (Gorsuch) Rogers, 
(gi was born on the 5th of November, 1834. Entering the 
service as a Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Tenth regiment, 
he rose to Captain, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Colonel in suc- 
cession. He was with Shields at Winchester, and in the battles 
of Cedar Mountain, Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and 
Wilderness he bore himself with heroic courage. At Laurel Hill, 
on the 12th of May, 1864, he was mortally wounded, and expired 
eleven days thereafter, having endured intense suffering. He 
left his home a year before with a presentiment that he would 
never return. His last message to his family was: "Tell them 
I have fought and fallen for my country," and died commending 
his comrades to heaven. 

fiLGHMAN H. Good, Colonel of the Forty-seventh regiment, 
was born in Lehigh county, on the 6th of October, 1830. 
He was the son of James and Mary A. (Blumer) Good. At the 
age of twenty he joined the militia, and in 1856 was Brigade- 
Inspector. He married, in 1851, Miss Mary A. Trexler. In 
1858 he was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. When 
troops were called for the three months' service, his company, 
the Allen Rifles, was the first which arrived in camp, reporting 
at Harrisburg fully armed and equipped on the 20th of April, 
and became a part of the First regiment, of which he was Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel. He was made Colonel of the Forty-seventh regi- 
ment, and was sent to the Department of the South, where he 
participated in the battles of Pocotaligo, South Carolina; St.' 
John's Bluff, Florida; and in Louisiana at Sabine Cross Roads, 



884 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Pleasant Hill, Cain River Crossing, and Morganza. In July, 
1864, the Nineteenth corps to which he belonged was ordered 
north, and upon its arrival at Fortress Monroe was hastened for- 
ward to the Shenandoah Valley. At Berryville, Winchester, 
Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, he was among the most reliable 
and skilful leaders who had a place in the glorious column that 
followed Sheridan to victory. The most notable exploit of his 
military life was that at Pocotaligo, where the brigade which 
he then commanded had the advance, and in fact fought the 
battle. Colonel Hawley, of the Seventh Connecticut, says of his 
conduct here : " Throughout this terrible engagement he dis- 
played such marked coolness, indomitable bravery and skill as to 
win the admiration of all the officers and men in the expedition." 

/O eorge EIwood Johnson, son of Samuel and Eliza (Keen) 
^—* Johnson, was born in Philadelphia, on the 8th of December, 
1824. He entered the service as a Lieutenant in the Twenty- 
ninth regiment in May, 1SG1, and was promoted to Captain, 
Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel. He was captured in the battle 
of Front Royal and was a prisoner at Salisbury three months. 
He was engaged in the battles of Chancellors ville, Gettysburg — 
where he was captured but escaped — Lookout Mountain, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Ringgold — where he was wounded severely — 
Atlanta, in the March to the Sea commanded a battalion of 
pioneers for the Twentieth corps, and was with his regiment in 
the march north, participating in several minor engagements. 
He was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was 
married in 1848 to Miss Annie Burwell. In 18G8 he was 
chosen an Alderman of Philadelphia. 

f:AMES W. II. Reisinger, son of Charles and Providence 
(Roberts) Reisinger, was born on the 19th of January, 
1833, at Beaver. When the war came he with his brothers was 
in the oil regions. Carried along by the current of fortune- 
making and speculation they had overlooked the claims of 
patriotism, when they were one day greeted with a note from 
•their mother intimating her consent to their enlistment in the 
army of the Union. That hint was enough, and her four sons 




G. E. JOHNSON.— J. W. H. BEISINGER.—A. J. WARNER. 885 

were quickly transformed to soldiers. James W. H. became a 
Captain in the One Hundred and Fiftieth, with which he served 
until after Chancellorsville, when, from ill health, he was trans- 
ferred to the Veteran Reserve corps, and subsequently was 
commissioned Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Twenty-fifth 
colored regiment, with a section of which he was in command at 
Fort Pickens. Napoleon B. served in the Seventeenth Indiana ; 
Charles. S. lost a leg in front of Petersburg; and Roe, the 
youngest, received three balls in the right leg at Gettysburg. At 
the close of the war Colonel Reisinger published a weekly paper 
in Venango county, and afterward became editor and proprietor 
of the Meadville Republican, having a daily and weekly issue. 

doniram Judson Warner, Colonel of the Tenth Reserve, 
^^ and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the loth of 
January, 1834, in Erie county, New York. His father was a 
native of Vermont, his mother of Massachusetts. At the age of 
twelve the family removed to Wisconsin. Four years after, his 
father died, and he, being the eldest of five children, remained at 
home and took the management of the farm, which had been 
broken anew on reaching the State. By his own exertions upon 
the farm, and as a hired laborer and teacher, he not only obtained 
a liberal education at Beloit and the New York Central College, 
but continued the discharge of a filial duty by providing for the 
support of the family of his widowed mother. In 1856 he was 
married to Miss Susan E. Butts, of Wayne county, New York, 
and soon after went to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, where he had 
previously taught, and became principal of the Lewistown 
Academy. Subsequently he was appointed Superintendent of the 
schools of that county, but resigned before the expiration of the 
term to take charge of the Union School at Mercer, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he was engaged at the breaking out of the war. He 
had no military training, and on this account declined the offer 
of the place of Major, accepting the commission of Captain of 
Company G. Before the opening of the Seven Days' battle on 
the Peninsula he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. In the 
actions at Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, and Charles City 
Cross Roads his regiment was hotly engaged and suffered severe 



886 MARTIAL LEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

losses. In connection with the first two of these battles Colonel 
Warner mentions an interesting fact. " At Beaver Dam Creek, a 
request to be allowed to dig rifle-pits was hardly permitted by a 
regular army officer, and then only with an intimation that it 
was not evidence of true courage to get behind breastworks, and 
at Gaines' Mill it was impossible to get any attention paid to 
suggestions as to the propriety of throwing up temporary works, 
and no tools could be had for the purpose. A year later no one 
was asked for permission to dig trenches." At Charles City Cross 
Roads, when one wing of McCall's division was broken, after the 
most, stubborn fighting, Colonel Warner, in conjunction with 
Major Stone and a few other officers, rallied disjointed troops, 
and when the enemy was about to charge, arrested a powerful 
attack, creating the impression that heavy Union supports were 
in readiness to receive it. 

After the return from the Peninsula, Colonel Warner rendered 
important service throughout Pope's campaign and at South 
Mountain. But it was at Antietam that he gave the most signal 
proof of his ability as a soldier. As the battle opened he was 
ordered by General Hooker to proceed to the extreme right of 
the line, and as far to the front as he could, and report the 
movements of the enemy. As he went forward he discovered 
heavy masses of the foe pushing out upon that part of the field 
where Hooker was already most heavily engaged. With the eye 
of a true soldier he perceived that, unless that assault could be 
checked, Hooker's centre would be pierced. His resolution 
was instantly taken. " I immediately," he says in his report, 
" threw out nearly the whole regiment into a corn-field, as skir- 
mishers, placing the rest as a reserve under cover, and opened a 
sharp fire upon the enemy's moving columns. This manoeuvre 
had the intended effect. The enemy evidently expecting an 
attack in force, halted his columns, formed line, and threw out 
skirmishers to engage us. Meanwhile I sent a few chosen men 
further to our right, who crept up close enough to the rebel bat* 
ti ty to kill the horses and pick off the gunners. For about 
twenty minutes the skirmishing was kept up sharply, and the 
enemy's whole force was held at bay. He evidently construed it 
into a movement on his flank. I had ascertained and reported to 



ADOMRAM J. WARNER. 887 

General Hooker fully the enemy's movements." By his prompt 
and skilful conduct the centre was relieved, and Hooker was 
enabled to make one of the most gallant and well-directed fights 
of the war. But Colonel Warner, while doing bravely and well 
for his country, was himself sorely scourged. Being the only 
mounted officer he was a conspicuous mark for the enemy's sharp- 
shooters. After having his horse twice struck, his sword once, one 
ball graze his right side and another pass through his coat, he was 
hit by a Minie ball in the right hip, which shattered the pelvis 
bone and buried itself, where for a long time it was inextricable. 
Two unsuccessful attempts were made to find it, during which 
he suffered great anguish. Not until the 8th of February, 1864, 
after an operation that lasted five hours, was it finally removed. 
His subsequent field service was trying. He could only walk with 
the aid of crutches or canes, which he carried fastened to his saddle, 
and riding was exceedingly painful. But the Gettysburg cam- 
paign was at full tide, the enemy already on the soil of his State, 
and he could not resist the desire to hasten forward to join in 
the great struggle. As he was advancing into position across 
a spur of the Little Round Top, he received a severe injury 
from the fall of his horse. " Once on the field of Gettysburg," 
he says, " I felt sure of victory ; for it was the determination of 
the men to bravely withstand the enemy that won us the battle." 
As soon as the conflict was over he was sent again to Washing- 
ton for treatment. He had been reported to the Secretary of 
War as unfit for duty, with wounds likely to prove fatal. This 
prevented his promotion, which had been recommended by Gen- 
eral Meade. He was, however, advanced to Colonel, to date 
from April 25th, 1863; but after Gettysburg, seeing no hope of 
being useful in the field, he accepted of a transfer to the Seven- 
teenth regiment of the Veteran Reserve corps, on the 23d of 
November, and in March following was brevetted Brigadier-Gen- 
eral. In the meantime he was kept on court-martial duty, and 
was finally sent to Indianapolis, and placed in command of that 
post. Bounty-jumping was here rife, a practice which he could 
not regard but with feelings of abhorrence. Indeed the whole 
system of giving bounties he condemned in unqualified terms. 
To break up this flagitious outrage he resorted to the most 



MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

severe punishment, ordering the worst offenders to trial and 
execution, and binding whole gangs of others together and send- 
ing them thus yoked to the front. At the conclusion of his 
service he took up his residence at Marietta, Ohio, where he be- 
came President of the Marietta, Pittsburg, and Cleveland Railroad 
Company, in which position he is still employed. 

ipg)0RENZ0 Cantador was born on the 10th of June, 1810, at 
Dusseldorf, Prussia. He entered the Prussian army in 



1832, as a volunteer, was promoted an officer of the Landwehr 
in 1833, and in the attempted revolution of 1848 commanded a 
body of the National Guard. He was subsequently engaged in 
mercantile pursuits, and in 18G1 was commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Twenty-seventh regiment, having in the meantime 
become a resident of Philadelphia. He was in the battles of 
Cross-Keys, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, 
and Gettysburg, and had two horses shot under him. He re- 
signed in November, 1863. He is six feet four inches in height, 
and well formed. 

v^jT-Oiin Ely was born on the 16th of January, 1816, in Bucks 
^f) county, where his ancestors, who were of the Society of 
Friends, had lived for six generations. He abandoned a lucra- 
tive trade in coal at the opening of the Rebellion, and contributed 
liberally to the formation of a company for Colonel Baker's Cali- 
fornia regiment. In August, 1861, he recruited a battalion of 
live companies for the Twenty- third regiment, of which he was 
appointed Major. He was engaged at Williamsburg, and at Fair 
Oaks had a leg broken by a musket shot, but kept his horse until 
the fighting was over. His promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel 
followed close, and in the battle of Marye's Heights, in May, 
1863, he acted a leading part in that daring charge which hurled 
the enemy from his stronghold, and received severe injuries from 
the fall of his wounded horse in the midst of the assault, which 
compelled him to tender his resignation. In January, 1864, he 
was appointed Colonel in the Veteran Reserve corps. From July 
to November, he was recruiting and disbursing officer in West 
Virginia, when he was transferred for similar duty to New Jersey. 



« 
L. CANTADOB.—JOHN ELY.—E. E. ZEIGLER.—A. S. LEIDY. 889 

In January, 1866, he was placed in charge of the Bureau of 
Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands in Kentucky, having 
in the meantime been advanced to Brevet Brigadier-General. 
General Ely was twice married — in 1837 to Rebecca R. Winder, 
and in 1856 to Marie Antoinette Morris — and had one son, 
Samuel L. Ely, who served in the Eighth cavalry. In person 
he was nearly six feet in height, deep chested, and of powerful 
frame. General Ely was intrusted with responsible duties in the 
Freedmen's Bureau, which he resigned in 1867. In 1869 he was 
appointed United States Marshal for the eastern district of Penn- 
sylvania, but died suddenly on the 4 th of May, soon after being 
inducted into office. 

Jp^DWiN E. Zeigler was born in Lewistown, in 1842. He was 
(^4 a member of the noted Logan Guards, the van of the first 
column to reach the Capital in April, 1861, and with it served for 
three months at Fort Washington. On being mustered out he 
entered the Forty-ninth regiment as a Lieutenant, where he served 
until March, 1862, when he was transferred to the One Hundred 
and Seventh, of which he became in succession Captain, Major, and 
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. In the stubborn battle at the Wel- 
don Railroad on the 19th of August, 1864, he was taken prisoner 
and was incarcerated in the prisons at Salisbury and Danville 
until the spring of 1865. General McCoy says of him : " Colonel 
Zeigler participated in nearly all the battles of his regiment, and 
was esteemed as one of its most courageous, faithful, and reliable 
officers." At the close of the war he became an agent of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Company at Huntingdon, and was subsequently 
promoted to a much more responsible position in Allegheny City. 

tSHER S. Leidy, Colonel of the Ninety-ninth regiment, was 
born on the 30th of July, 1830, in Philadelphia. He was 
the son of Philip and Christiana Teliana (Maley) Leidy. He 
was educated at the Philadelphia High School, the College of 
Pharmacy, and the Medical Department of the University of 
Pennsylvania. He was active in raising the Ninety-ninth regi- 
ment, which he assisted materially in equipping, organizing, and 
disciplining, and was commissioned its Major. He was severely 



890 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, the left thigh bone 
being fractured. By skilful treatment he recovered with only 
slight permanent disability. He was promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel on the 1st of February, 1862, and to Colonel in June 
following. On various occasions he was called to the command 
of Kearny's old brigade. The most important battles in which 
he participated were Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chan- 
cellorsville, though he was conspicuous in a large number of less 
important engagements, notably at White's Ford, where Stuart's 
cavalry attacked and was repulsed, and at Wolf Creek Bridge, 
where Moseby was likewise driven in rout. He was handsomely 
noticed by Kearny at Bull Hun, by Birney at Fredericksburg, 
and by Ward, Birney, and Sickles at Chancellorsville. He was 
honorably discharged on the 9th of April, 1864. 

tnoMAS Leifer Kane, Colonel of the Bucktail regiment, 
Brigadier and Brevet Major-General, second son of John 
K. Kane, was born in Philadelphia. Having overtaxed himself 
in study he was sent, at the age of sixteen, to Norfolkshire, Eng- 
land, to reside with an aged kinsman, to whose property he was 
by family arrangement to succeed. Finding it a condition of his 
fortune that he should become a British subject, he broke with 
his relative, and left England for the Continent, where his educa- 
tion was completed. On his return to the United States he 
engaged with youthful ardor in various reforms designed to intro- 
duce advanced French ideas into American politics. He drew 
about him a circle of young professional men, who, though vary- 
ing widely in opinion, united in preparing articles of a progressive 
tone, the publication of which they pushed in newspapers and 
serials. The little junto, however, split and went to pieces upon 
the slavery question, Kane with the minority being an uncon- 
ditional abolitionist. 

In the meantime he had studied law and was admitted to 
practice ; but an adventurous spirit possessed him, and he forsook 
his profession to find, in the western wilds of America, its satis- 
faction. With his brother, Elisha Kent, whose exploits have 
tilled the world with their renown, he had early planned ex- 
tended travel, and when his brother entered upon his Arctic 



THOMAS L. KANE. 891 

explorations he went west. Fremont's journals had not then 
familiarized the reading public with the character of the national 
domain west of the Missouri. It had as yet been little explored, 
and the months of Kane's residence in the Indian villages of the 
plains were full of adventure. He returned to Philadelphia the 
sworn defender of the Red Man. The boldness of his attacks on 
the Indian rings at Washington conciliated prominent members 
of the Society of Friends, who led him to regard with favor their 
methods of advancing reform, and fed his zeal in the cause of the 
American slave. He made southern trips to urge upon Eminent 
slave-holders gradual compensated emancipation, and three voy- 
ages to the British. West Indies to study the working of emanci- 
pation there, extending his researches to the Spanish Islands. 

In 1846, while on a confidential mission from President Polk 
to New Mexico, he fell in with the Mormons, just then driven 
from Nauvoo, whose wretched condition excited his pity and 
moved him to efforts for their amelioration. Mr. Buchanan, in 
his message of 1858, alludes in terms of compliment to his media- 
tory offices in pacifying Utah. In 1848 he was chairman of the 
Freesoil State Central Committee. At the time of the passage 
of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, he was a United States Com- 
missioner ; but spurning its provisions he resigned his place in a 
letter which was construed as a contempt of court. The action 
of the District Judge in committing him was, however, overruled 
by Judge Grier of the Supreme Bench. Kane, shortly after this, 
appears as a corporator of the Underground Railroad, asserting 
practically the abstract right of a member of society to break 
any law against his conscience, provided he does so openly, and 
without attempting to evade its penalties. In June, 1852, he 
was upon the platform at an anti-slavery meeting in the Taber- 
nacle, New York, facing boldly the threats of violence, and at a 
similar assemblage in Philadelphia, to be addressed by George 
W. Curtis, resolutely advocated the meeting of force by force. 

But as a resident of Philadelphia he found scope for his energies 
in more practical duties. As a city director of the Sunbury and 
Erie Railroad he was influential in having its route changed to 
one running through a pass of the Alleghenies, which he had 
discovered in his summer explorations. He was an active mem- 



892 MARTIAL DEEDS OE PENNSYLVANIA. 

ber of the American Philosophical Society, a manager of the 
House of Refuge, to the success of which he largely contributed, 
and a familiar visitor to the almshouse and prisons of the city. 
He was now able to reduce to practical operation some of the 
less Utopian theories of his youth. He established and main- 
tained, at his own expense, for several years, a large and most 
successful Salle d'Asile, the first working model in America of 
this excellent charity, and found coadjutors among the most 
sober and conservative of his fellow-citizens in another enterprise 
which he regarded as of great usefulness — the popularization of 
music in public schools and charitable associations for the train- 
ing of youth. 

In 18G0 the portents of storm in the political horizon made 
him uneasy, and abolitionist though he was, he deprecated war. 
He counselled peaceful measures, advocated the Crittenden Com- 
promise, and made numerous trips to Washington, as the winter 
advanced, to plead with his old Southern friends in Congress. 
Yet, when the Rebellion broke out, he dropped all his occupa- 
tions, abandoned all his plans, and w r as the first volunteer from 
Pennsylvania for the war, reconciling his course with the peace 
principles which he had professed, on the score that he went 
forth as an armed policeman to restore order. Although he had 
raised a regiment he was himself mustered in as a private. 
When subsequently elected Colonel, he resigned on the following- 
day in favor of one recommended by General Scott as a proficient 
in military tactics. He was a rigid disciplinarian, but did not 
thereby forfeit the love and confidence of his men. In the first 
victory gained in the Army of the Potomac his regiment was 
prominently engaged, he manoeuvring it with singular skill and 
receiving a ghastly w r ound in the mouth. 

While in winter quarters at Camp Pierpont, before Washington, 
in the winter of 18G1-G2, Kane wrote his Instruction for S/,-ir- 
mislnrx, a protest against the enforcement of European tactics 
upon American riflemen. He claimed for its chief merit the 
employment of large bodies of men in dispersed order ; deploying 
and bringing them together again more readily than by the pre- 
vailing system. His manuscript was submitted, by command, to 
General Casey, upon whose recommendation General McClellan 
issued an order, dated March 7th, 18G2, to General McCall, 



THOMAS L. KANE. 893 

instructing him to " detail four companies of the Kane rifles to 
report to Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, and until further orders to be 
drilled by Colonel Kane exclusively in the system of tactics 
devised by him." Under his instruction these companies became 
proficient. He served in Bayard's brigade, and here found him- 
self among officers whose tone was like his own. Bayard was his 
personal friend. But both were fighting for the Union against 
the sympathies and wishes of many of their family connections. 
Their camp near Fredericksburg was set among the plantations 
of old friends and relatives, now estranged. Complaints of out- 
rages committed by Union soldiers were often brought to his 
notice, and meddlesome persons sought to charge him before 
his former associates with instigating them, though without a 
shadow of foundation. 

It was a relief when spring came to turn from these painful 
scenes to active campaigning. A specialty of Kane's tactics was 
a peculiar fatigue march, and in the movement to the Shenan- 
doah against Jackson, his skirmishers kept pace with the cavalry, 
outmarching the rest of the column. Kane was no less mag- 
nanimous than brave. It was his fortune to hold a command 
opposed to Ashby throughout that officer's career, and in 18G1, 
when operating in the New Creek country against the Black 
Horse cavalry, he had ordered his men to respect Ashby's life. 
At Harrisonburg, Ashby made himself conspicuous, commanding 
Jackson's rear guard while Kane was pressing the pursuit. Kane 
was shot, as his men claimed, hj Ashby — a pistol ball having 
been extracted from one of his wounds — and they were intent 
to avenge the wrong. This was finally accomplished by Fred. 
Holmes, a Bucktail, who had himself already received his death- 
wound. As Ashby passed near, Holmes raised himself on his 
arm and fired. A Bucktaii's aim none might elude, and Ashby 
fell. The engagement at Harrisonburg gave occasion for a dis- 
play of generous magnanimity worthy to recount. Kane's fall 
left Charles F. Taylor, brother of Bayard, in command of the 
Bucktails. Kane refused to be carried off the field at the peril 
of his men, and by his order Taylor withdrew them to a place 
of safety. This done he returned alone to seek his wounded 
Colonel. Darkness had fallen, and Kane had been carried off 
the field by the enem}-. Taylor surrendered himself, stating his 



894 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

errand. His capture was reported to Jackson and Ewell, and 
an aid immediately brought him the offer of a parole. Taylor 
declined it until he should first find his commander, whom he 
discovered next day, " hatless, coatless, shoeless, and out of his 
head," lying on an ammunition wagon in the blazing sun. The 
offer of parole was formally renewed to both at intervals until 
accepted. As they were carried across Virginia to Salisbury, 
North Carolina, Kane was again thrown among the companions 
of his boyhood. At one point they passed a wounded man 
propped up against a tree. It was a relative of Kane, who had 
been shot by the Bucktails and was dying. Another cousin, 
unlike any other Southerner they met, shook the bed on which 
Kane was tying to arouse him, and addressing him by his Chris- 
tian name taunted him with his wounds and captivity. His own 
men removed the young Virginian forcibly, crying " For shame." 
The obsequies, of Ashby were being celebrated as they went 
through Charlottesville. The funeral bell was heard tolling, the 
musketry firing over the hero's grave. Passing the University 
of Virginia, a young gentleman came into the car where the 
two prisoners lay among the rows of wounded Confederates, and 
began giving them refreshments from a basket which he carried 
on his arm. Approaching Kane the latter said, " We are Fed- 
erals." " These provisions are my father's," the lad answered 
courteously ; " he meant them for gallant men. I am sure you 
have been one, sir." Kane asked his name, and when he gave it s 
recognized in him the son of one of his oldest family friends. 
Everywhere he met with kindness ; and when he reached home 
he sought to repay it. He had seen enough of the misery of 
Southern hospitals, without ice, quinine, or chloroform, to pity 
the wounded there languishing. One of his first acts was to 
dictate a letter to President Lincoln, requesting permission to 
send a schooner-load of these articles to the Southern hospitals at 
his own expense. But the President was inflexible in his denial. 
In the meantime he had been promoted to Brigadier-General 
of volunteers and given a brigade in the Twelfth corps. After 
Chancellorsville, a selection was made of regiments "warranted 
to stand fire " to defend the rear on the retreat. The honor of 
commanding this brigade was conferred on General Kane. Per- 
haps the most important in its results of his irregular services 



THOMAS L. KANE. 895 

was his rejoining his brigade before the battle of Gettysburg. 
He was intrusted, by the War Department with the important 
message to General Meade not to place any reliance on the tele- 
graphic cipher, as it had been intercepted and was understood 
by the enemy. As the rebel General Stuart's command of horse 
was between the Capital and Meade's army, it was hazardous to 
attempt to reach it. A special train furnished him was am- 
buscaded above Poolesville, and he came near falling into the 
enemy's hands. General Schenck, in command at Baltimore, 
detailed a barouche with spirited horses, in which he made his 
way to the Union head-quarters. As was apprehended, he fell 
into Stuart's hands near Westminster, where he was arrested 
and examined, but it being in the sleepy hours before day, was 
allowed to pass on. He reached Taneytown in the afternoon 
of the 1st of July. On reporting to his brigade, it was ordered 
upon the front, and its place on the line on Culp's Hill is marked 
to this day by the severity of the fire. During the afternoon of 
the 2d, while the sharp fighting was in progress on his left, he 
shifted and strengthened his position ; but in the evening he was 
hurriedly ordered out to reinforce the opposite wing of the army. 
Before he was halfway to Round Top, his destination, he learned 
that the enemy had been repulsed, at the same time detecting 
heavy firing in the direction he had left. Instead of reporting 
and awaiting orders, he instantly countermarched, arriving at a 
critical moment. The enemy was found in possession of his 
breastworks. The night was fir advanced ; but he drove them 
out inch by inch, and retook in person a piece of rocky ground — 
a key-point in the hard fighting of the succeeding clay. 

Having been disabled by wounds and sickness he withdrew 
from the active command soon after the battle, and on doing so 
issued to his brigade the following characteristic order, which 
may properly conclude this narrative : " The hard fighting seems 
over. If there is to be more of it soon, I will be with 3011. If 
not, farewell, and may God bless and reward 3*011 for your noble 
conduct, but for which, neither I nor any of the thousands of 
this army would have home, country, pride, or honor to return 
to. If you should not see me again in the brigade I hope you 
will remember long- and affectionately your friend and com- 
mander." 



CHAPTER XIV. 




^j^AXUSHA PENNYP ACKER, Colonel of the Ninety- 
seventh regiment, Brigadier and Brevet Major- 
General, was born at Valley Forge, the scene of 
the unparalleled fortitude of Washington and the 
patriot army. He was the son of Joseph J. and 
Tamzen A. (Workiger) Pennypacker, natives of 
Chester county. The mother died when the son, 
her only child, was but three years old, and he 
was placed in charge of his paternal grandmother, 
who cared for him with all a mother's tenderness. 
He received a good English and classical educa- 
tion, and at the instance of his father learned the 
art of printing. He was about to commence the 
study of law when the war broke out, but dismissed the lights of 
jurisprudence for the camp and bivouac fires. 

He had previously attached himself to the infantry company 
of Henry R. Guss, with whom he served in the three months' 
campaign under Patterson in the Ninth regiment as Quarter- 
master's Sergeant, performing the duties of Quartermaster during 
the greater part of the campaign. He displayed unusual execu- 
tive ability, and when Colonel Guss received authority to raise 
a regiment for three years Sergeant Pennypacker recruited the 
first company and was commissioned Captain. He was appointed 
commandant of Camp Wayne, where the regiment was placed, 
and authorized to muster the troops as fast as organized. Soon 
after his entrance upon this duty he was promoted to Major, and 
in addition aided his associate officers in the routine of their 
labors, in which by his experience he was well versed, conduct- 
ing regimental and battalion drills with the skill and confidence 
of a veteran drill-master. 

His regiment left camp on the lGtli of November, 1861, for 

896 





^^^<-^^/^t^r 






GALUSHA PEXNYPACKER. 897 

Fortress Monroe, and a month later sailed for South Carolina. 
A storm kept the vessel tempes1>tossed several days, and the 
men, fresh from the farm and the work-shop, had their first ex- 
perience of the sea. It was a dismal voyage ; but the kind face 
and pleasant voice of Major Penny packer, as he moved among 
the men, inspecting their quarters and caring for their wants, 
reassured many a drooping spirit, and brought sunshine amidst 
clouds and storms. While in the Department of the South, his 
regiment was engaged in the operations against Fort Pulaski in 
January, 1862, and in the following month in the occupation of 
Fort Clinch, Fernandina, and Jacksonville, at the latter place 
having brisk conflicts with the enemy. Active service continued 
with little cessation while his regiment remained in the depart- 
ment, its command much of the time devolving on Major Penny- 
packer. In the discharge of that trust he showed signal ability, 
causing General A. H. Terry, who was serving in this depart- 
ment, to say to Colonel Guss : " You have a most excel- 
lent and deserving officer in Major Pennypacker; he will make 
his mark in the service," — a prediction which was signally 
verified. In February, 1863, he was member of a board ap- 
pointed to examine officers. His selection for this grave duty, 
when barely twenty years of age, over soldiers graced with the 
training of West Point, shows how completely he had won the 
confidence of his commander, and how devoted he had been in 
the brief period of his novitiate to the military profession. 

The second assault on Fort Wagner was made at dusk on 
the evening of July 18th, 1863, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts 
(colored) leading the way. The slaughter was terrible, and 
though promptly and gallantly supported by Putnam's brigade, 
it proved disastrous. Stevenson's brigade, in which was Penny- 
packer's regiment, was brought up to cover the retreat, and 
during the long hours of that dismal night, under a constant 
fire from the fort, the men were employed in bringing in the 
wounded, crawling stealthily up to the very moat and slopes of 
the fortress. To this attempt to gain the stronghold, regular 
approaches succeeded. In the face of desperate resistance, and a 
ceaseless fire from the most formidable enginery of war, these 
operations were pushed. In the midst of them Major Penny- 
57 



898 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

packer was stricken with fever. When the siege works were 
ready for a fresh assault, the commanders of regiments were 
called together to receive their final instructions. Major Penny- 
packer was too sick to be present, but he awaited until past mid- 
night the return of his next in command, who attended in his 
stead, and refused to retire until he had fully mastered every de- 
tail of the plan of attack. When morning came he mounted his 
horse, the very study and meditation of the scheme inspiring him 
with vigor. At the point where horses must be left, he dismounted 
and marched at the head of his columns. But on reaching the 
parallels it was ascertained that the enemy had forsaken their 
posts, leaving the stronghold to fall into the hands of the be- 
siegers — a bloodless victory. 

So much reduced was he by the severe duty here imposed 
that, at the urgent representation of his physicians, he accepted 
a furlough and went north to regain his shattered strength. He 
returned and rejoined his regiment near the close of October, 
1SG3, which had in the meantime been transferred to Fernanclina, 
Florida. He was immediately placed over five companies, and 
in April following succeeded to the command of the post. He 
headed two expeditions to the mainland for the purpose of sur- 
prising rebel camps and obtaining lumber for the use of the 
department, both of which were successful. In April, 18G4, he 
was ordered to Virginia, there to join the Army of the James, 
and was soon after commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. Arrived 
at Gloucester Point, the place of rendezvous of the troops, his 
regiment was assigned to the Second brigade of General Terry's 
division of the Tenth corps. In the operations from Bermuda 
Hundred and along the line of the Petersburg and Richmond 
Railroad, in the main fruitless, though involving desperate fight- 
in,-. Colonel Pennypacker manoeuvred his men in the face of 
mi pcrior forces with consummate skill. Especially was this the 
case in the action at Wier Bottom Church, on the 16th of May. 
It was necessary that the enemy, who was concentrating there 
in considerable force, should be held in check until the main 
body of General Butler's army could be withdrawn. By a forced 
march the regiment was brought into position in time to check 
the foe, and by so disposing his troops as to convey the impression 



GALUSITA rEXXYPACKER. 899 

that his was only the skirmish line to a powerful body, he stopped 
a vastly superior force, until Butler was safe in his works. 

Two days after this, Beauregard, who commanded the rebel 
troops, attacked and carried a portion of the Union line occupied 
by the Eighth Maine. Pennypacker was ordered up with his 
regiment to retake it. Selecting four companies with which 
to make the assault, by a sudden spring he routed the enemy, 
though in the face of a terrific fire, and reoccupied the ground. 
It was a brilliant dash, and though attended with fearful slaughter 
was completely triumphant. At Foster's Plantation, on the 
20th, his command was less fortunate, but not less heroic ; for, 
charging gallantly over open ground, his steadfast line was swept 
by a storm of musket shot and canister from well-served guns. 
Twice had he fallen from grievous wounds, but recovering him- 
self, had led on, exhorting and encouraging, when he was a third 
time stricken, and now rendered helpless. A more gallant or 
persistent charge was not delivered during the war, nor one 
which more clearly demonstrated the devotion of a body of men 
to their commander. He was carried helpless to his tent with 
a wound in his right arm, another in his left leg, and still a third 
in his right side, and three days thereafter was sent to the gen- 
eral hospital at Fortress Monroe. Impatient to be with his men, 
though still suffering from his wounds, he resumed command on 
the 12th of August, and soon after was made Colonel. The 
actions at Deep Bottom and Strawberry Plains speedily followed, 
in which, though with right arm still disabled, he headed his com- 
mand, and at the moment of extreme peril in the latter engage- 
ment succeeded by great skill and heroism in bringing off his 
regiment, when by a sudden unfortunate turn in the fight it 
seemed given over to inevitable capture. On returning to the 
lines before Petersburg, Colonel Pennypacker succeeded to the 
command of the brigade, and was shortly after permanently 
assigned to it by General Butler. 

Towards the close of September, aggressive operations were 
renewed on the north side of the James, and in the actions at 
New Market Heights, and before Fort Gilmer, Colonel Penny- 
packer led his brigade, winning new claims to confidence in his 
more responsible position. In the latter engagement he received 



900 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

a painful wound, and his horse was shot under him. Though 
suffering greatly, he refused to leave the field. Commanding 
positions were secured at New Market Heights and at Fort Har^ 
rison. To regain them the enemy made desperate assaults, 
and the slaughter was frightful. The reconnoissance towards 
Richmond by Terry and Kautz involved severe actions at the 
Darbytown and Charles City Roads. Major Price, who succeeded 
him in command of the regiment, and who furnished the material 
for this sketch, thus speaks of his chief: " During these impor- 
tant movements, Colonel Pennypacker was continuously in com- 
mand of his brigade, always at the post of duty, always prepared 
for instant action, always thoroughly cognizant of every move- 
ment of the enemy in his front." 

Early in December, the Tenth and Eighteenth corps were 
merged in one and designated the Twenty-fourth. A plan was 
devised about this time for the reduction of Fort Fisher, com- 
manding the entrance to Wilmington, the chief remaining en- 
trepot to the Confederacy. With Ames' division of the Twenty- 
fourth and Paine's of the Twenty-fifth (colored), about six thou- 
sand five hundred men, General Butler set sail on the loth of 
December, to act in conjunction with Admiral Porter. Under 
cover of the fleet, Ames' division debarked, and pushed up close 
under the fort, Pennypacker leading his brigade. A reconnois- 
sance was made by General Weitzel, second in command, which 
resulted in the conclusion that the place was impregnable ; where- 
upon Butler ordered the division to embark, and sailed away to 
the James. On the 2d of January, scarcely two weeks later, 
the same troops, with the addition of Abbott's brigade of Terry's 
division and a small siege train, in all about eight thousand men, 
under General Terry, were ordered to renew the attempt. Ren- 
dezvousing with the fleet off Beaufort, Terry was obliged by 
stress of weather to wait from the 8th to the 12th, when, moving 
up, he landed with his entire force. A line of skirmishers was 
thrown out which met little resistance, and Colonel Pennypacker 
at dusk, with his own and two other brigades, was sent to estab- 
lish a line of defensive works across the island from sea to river. 
The ground was marshy and difficult, and it was not until two 
o'clock on the ibllowing morning that a line much nearer the 



GALUSHA PENNYPACKEB. 901 

fort than the one originally sought was found feasible, and the 
work of intrenching commenced.' Before morning, a good pro- 
tection was completed, giving a sure foothold. After a careful 
reconnoissance, Terry determined - to assault. At eight o'clock 
on the morning of the 15th, the fleet moved down and opened 
fire at close quarters. Ames' division had been selected to lead. 
At two o'clock p. m. one hundred picked men, with Spencer 
repeating carbines and light spades, went forward at a run, and 
when arrived within two hundred yards of the fort, quickly 
threw up sufficient earth to afford some protection, and opened 
fire. Curtis' brigade followed, and was succeeded by Penny- 
packer's and Bell's at regular intervals. By successive steps 
these were advanced one after another by rapid movements, 
taking shelter behind the slight works prepared. The missiles 
of the fleet and the work of the intrepid axe-men had made 
openings in the palisades, when Curtis' brigade sprang forward, 
and though meeting a terrific fire, passed all obstruction and 
made «a lodgment upon the parapet. Pennypacker was not far 
behind, " overlapping Curtis' right," says Terry, " and drove the 
enemy from the heavy palisading, from the west end of the land 
face to 'the river, capturing a considerable number of prisoners; 
then pushing forward to their left, the two brigades together drove 
the enemy from about one quarter of the land face." Bell carried 
the side next the river, where the works were of minor strength. 
But the difficulties had now but just begun to be met. " Hand- 
to-hand fighting," -continues Terry, " of the most desperate char- 
acter ensued, the huge traverses of the land face being used 
successively by the enemy as breastworks, over the tops of which 
the contending forces fired into each other's faces. Nine of these, 
one after the other, were carried by our men. . . . The fighting 
for the traverses continued until nearly nine o'clock, when a 
portion of Abbott's brigade, which had been brought to the sup- 
port of the assault, drove the enemy from the last remaining 
stronghold, and the occupation of the work was conrpleted." 
Language is inadequate to the presentation of the terrors of the 
scene as assailants and assailed met each other over the traverses 
of this strongest of rebel works. But the valor of this devoted 
division was superior to all, and everything went down before it. 



902 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

When his brigade had scaled the battlements of the frowning 
fortress, Colonel Pennypacker, seizing the Hag of his old regi- 
ment, heroically led the way. Three of the traverses, after 
fearful struggles, had been carried, when Colonel Pennypacker 
received a severe wound. Recovering himself, by one desperate 
effort he planted his flag at the farthest reach on the front, and 
then fell back helpless and exhausted from the loss of blood. 
"I have no words," says General Terry, "to do justice to the 
behavior of both officers and men on this occasion. Better sol- 
diers never fought. Brigadier-General Curtis and Colonels Penny- 
packer, Bell, and Abbott, the brigade commanders, led them 
with the utmost gallantry. Curtis was wounded after fighting 
in the front rank, rifle in hand ! Pennypacker, while carrying 
the standard of "his regiment, the first man in a charge over a 
traverse ! Bell was mortally wounded near the palisades !" 

Captain George F. Toule, Inspector-General to General Terry, 
in a letter from the fort, of January 23d, 18G5, says : " The 
assault was magnificent. For six hours success seemed doubtful. 
The men actually clubbed rifles over the parapet, and the fighting 
was of that hand-to-hand character we so often read about but 
seldom see. . . . Curtis was wounded. Bell was wounded and 
died the next day. Poor Pennypacker was wounded while lead- 
ing his brigade over the parapet, with the colors of the Ninety- 
seventh in his hand. I saw him as he was brought off on a 
stretcher. He refused to leave the field until he had seen Gen- 
eral Terry. I told the General, who went to see him. Penny- 
packer then pointed to the foremost flag on the traverses, and 
said. ' General, take notice ; that is the flag of the Ninety-seventh 
Pennsylvania/ Everybody feels badly that he should receive 
such a severe wound, and none more so than myself. ... The 
carrying of such a strong work as Fisher by assault is an event 
unparalleled in military history. Including the Mound battery, 
and Battery Buchanan, there are eighty-four guns. Among them 
a splendid one-hundred-and-fifty pounder gun, with a rosewood 
carriage, presented to the rebels by English friends. General 
Terry intends to present it to West Point." 

Colonel Pennypacker's wound was a ghastly one in the right 
side and hip, made by a Minie ball, the pelvis being shattered. 



GALUSHA PENNY PACKER. 903 

As soon as it was deemed safe he was taken to the Chesapeake 
Hospital, at Fortress Monroe, where he received the best surgical 
and medical attention. His recovery was for a long time con- 
sidered doubtful, and his suffering intense. 

Immediately after this action, the rank of Brevet Brigadier- 
General was conferred upon him, and soon after that of a full 
Brigadier. Upon the recommendation of General Terry he was 
also made Major-General by brevet for gallant and meritorious 
services during the war. 

As soon as he was so far recovered as to travel with safety, 
he returned to his home at West Chester. He was received on 
his arrival with the most flattering demonstrations of respect and 
esteem, by an organization of citizens, accompanied by the cadets 
of the two military schools, the populace crowding to behold the 
maimed soldier. He was formally welcomed by Senator Wilmer 
Worthington in a delicate and graceful eulogy of his faithful 
service. Though gradually recovering his strength he was still 
unfit for field duty, and after twice tendering his resignation it 
was finally accepted on the 30th of April, 1866, he being the last 
of his regiment to leave the service, as he was the first to enter 
it. He was the youngest general officer who served in the army 
during the war, having been confirmed as Brigadier and Brevet 
Major-General at the age of twenty-two. 

Relieved from martial duties, though with wounds unhealed, 
General Pennypacker at once commenced the study of law. But 
the Government could ill afford to spare the services of so true 
and good a soldier, and on the 1st of December, 1866, he was 
appointed a Colonel in the regular army and assigned to the 
command of the Thirty-fourth infantry. He was permitted to 
delay joining his regiment for several months that he might have 
proper surgical treatment. In the meantime he was nominated 
and confirmed a Brevet Brigadier and Brevet Major-General in 
the regular army. 

On the 20th of May, 1867, he joined his regiment, then sta- 
tioned at Grenada, Mississippi. He was afterwards President 
of a military commission convened at Vicksburg, and for a short 
time commanding officer of the sub-district of Mississippi. Sub- 
sequently the Twenty-fourth infantry was discontinued as an 



904 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

organization, when General Pennypacker was assigned, on the 
25th of March, 18G9, to the command of the Sixteenth infantry, 
which position he still holds. 

Previous to the nomination for Governor in 1872, General 
Pennypacker was urged by many influential papers throughout 
the State for that high office. In the effort to harmonize con- 
flicting interests, the propriety of selecting a candidate so de- 
servedly popular, in order to secure the united support of all 
parties, was regarded as of the first importance. For the in- 
tended honor he expressed to his friends in the convention 
grateful appreciation, but respectfully yet positively declined to 
be considered a candidate, preferring to retain his position in the 
army. His name was accordingly withdrawn from the conven- 
tion before a ballot was taken. His age was barely that fixed 
by the Constitution for Governor. 

T®riLLiAM J. Palmer, son of John and Matilda (Jackson) 
V.Y Palmer, was born near Smyrna, Delaware, on the 18th 
of September, 1836. He was educated at the Central High 
School of Philadelphia, and spent a year in inspecting practical 
mining and engineering in England, becoming soon after his 
return private secretary to J. Edgar Thomson, President of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He formed and was made 
Captain of the Anderson Troop for escort duty to General Ander- 
son on taking command in Kentucky. Captain Palmer subse- 
quently set about recruiting a regiment of cavalry, and when 
partially completed it was sent into the Cumberland Valley to 
meet the enemy in his Maryland campaign. Soon after Antietam 
Captain Palmer volunteered to go into the enemy's lines on 
delicate duty, was taken prisoner, and was not released until 
January, 1863. He had in the meantime been promoted to 
Colonel, and on rejoining his regiment, now with Rosecrans in 
Tennessee, soon brought it to an effective state. He was active 
in the Chickamauga campaign, in the battle of Missionary Ridge, 
and in the operations against Longstreet in the valley of the 
French Broad River, in the winter of 1864. In the Atlanta 
campaign he had charge of a portion of the line of supply, and 
when Hood moved on Nashville, Palmer was set upon his rear, 



WILLIAM J. PALMER.— SAMUEL K. SCHWENK. 905 

burning a pontoon train near Russellville, destroying a supply 
train near Aberdeen, and subsequently routing a column under 
General Lyon. In the spring of 1865, having been made a 
Brevet Brigadier-General, he was given a brigade and sent into 
North Carolina, and when Johnston surrendered was placed over 
a division and put upon the track of Jefferson Davis, then trying 
to escape to the Gulf. Palmer with others pushed the pursuit, 
and he was close upon his trail when the rebel President was 
captured in his female paraphernalia. On leaving the service he 
was chosen Treasurer of the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company, 
and builder and manager of construction of the last two hundred 
and thirty-two miles. After the lapse of a little more than five 
years he organized the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Com- 
pany, the main line to extend to El Paso in Mexico, the track 
having a gauge of only three feet. In 1870 he married Miss 
Queen Mellen, of Flushing, Long Island. He has established 
his home in a wild gorge of the Rocky Mountains, which he has 
named Queen's Canon. General Thomas said of him : " There is 
no officer in the regular or volunteer service who has performed 
the duties which have devolved upon him with more intelligence, 
zeal, or energy, than General Palmer, whose uniform distin- 
guished success throughout the war places his reputation beyond 
controversy." 

^©amuel Klinger Schwenk, Colonel of the Fiftieth regiment, 
$f and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 8th of 
May, 1842, in Dauphin county. He is descended from the Von 
Schwencks of Germany, a noble family, several of whom served 
with distinction in the late Franco-German war, and both pater- 
nal and maternal ancestors served in our Revolutionary war and 
in the wars of Napoleon. He was educated at Dickinson Semi- 
nary, which he left in his senior year to enlist in the service of 
his country. He studied military tactics when but a boy, with 
an old French officer, and at the age of sixteen was appointed 
Lieutenant of the Germanville artillery. While at college he 
instructed the Dickinson Cadets, composed of the teachers and 
students of the college. On the 19th of August, 18G1, he was 
appointed a First Lieutenant in the Fiftieth, and proceeded with 



906 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

it to South Carolina. In affairs at Beaufort and twice at Port 
Royal Ferry he acted with skill, and received the thanks of 
Generals Stevens and Hunter. He returned to Virginia in time 
to take part in the battles of Bull Bun and Chantilly. At South 
Mountain he was wounded in the ankle. At Antietam he was 
still with his company, though scarcely able to walk, and was 
given command of the sharpshooters on the Ninth corps front, 
where he was pitted against the famous Palmetto sharpshooters, 
whom he drove, and opened connection with Hooker's corps on 
the right, receiving handsome mention from Generals Wilcox and 
Burnside. At Fredericksburg he again led the skirmishers, and 
reached out on the left until he joined hands with those of Frank- 
lin's Grand division. The Ninth corps was sent west in the 
spring of 1863, and at Blue Spring and Hough's Ferry, where the 
advance of Longstreet was met, Captain Schwenk performed one 
of those daring feats with which his name was often associated. 
He not only fought the enemy's skirmishers and captured a 
number of them,, but actually went within the hostile lines, gain- 
ing full information of the position and numbers, and in the 
end took a party sent out to demand his own surrender. "At 
Campbell's Station," says his brigade commander, General Cutch- 
eon, " he behaved most bravely," and during the entire siege of 
Knoxville was " especially distinguished for his coolness, prudent 
judgment, and determined gallantry, as well as professional skill 
in the construction of defences." The same officer further says : 
" During the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania his regi- 
ment fought side by side with the Twentieth Michigan, of which 
I was then the commanding officer. In the first of these actions 
his gallantry was conspicuous and remarked by all who witnessed 
it. At the passage of the Ny River, on the 9th of May, 1864, 
his services were more valuable and permanent, being in com- 
mand of the right company of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, hold- 
ing the extreme right of our line. The enemy charged and 
attempted to turn that flank. Most of the regiment gave way 
and fell back from the crest. Our flank seemed to be turned. 
At this moment Captain Schwenk, by his great personal exertions 
and bravery, rallied a part of his regiment, charged the enemy 
with the bayonet, and repulsed them from the crest, thus saving 



SAMUEL K. SCHWENK. 907 

the brigade from serious disaster. Again on the 12th of May, in 
the battle of Spottsjdvania Court House, he greatly distinguished 
himself, so as to draw the attention and admiration of the whole 
brigade." At the North Anna, and at Shady Grove he was alike 
conspicuous, always upon the advance line, where dangers thick- 
ened and peril was most imminent. In the severe fighting at 
Cold Harbor he was severely and at the time thought mortally 
wounded. A ball entered the side, split and traversed a rib 
bone, carrying away a portion of the vertebra. It was treated 
by men eminent in the medical profession, the case being re- 
garded as remarkable, many months elapsing before he could 
move about. In the meantime an examining board had pro- 
nounced him permanently disabled, and the order for his discharge 
on account of " physical disability from wounds received in 
action " had been issued. On the day following that on which 
this was promulgated, Governor Curtin had ordered his promo- 
tion to Lieutenant-Colonel. On six several occasions he went 
before the examining board to have the revocation of the order 
of discharge recommended, before he succeeded, and then with 
his wounds still open. He proceeded immediately to the field 
and assumed command of his regiment, with the rank of Major. 
At the retaking of Fort Steadman and in the ".final capture 
of Petersburg he was engaged, leading his troops with marked 
skill and enterprise. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel 
and Brigadier-General by brevet for "skilful and meritorious 
services during the war." Upon the occasion of laying the 
corner-stone of the national monument at Gettysburg, in July, 
1865, Colonel Schwenk's regiment was selected, upon the recom- 
mendation of General Grant, to represent the infantry of the 
army. At the muster out of service, on the 30th of July, only 
134 men and two officers, out of 940 who originally went forth, 
remained. In his farewell order to his men he said : " The story 
of the old regiment, with the incidents of the past four years, 
will always be remembered and cherished with the memory and 
virtues of our noble comrades, whose remains are mouldering in 
ten different States. Your deeds of valor and trials of endurance, 
with the achievements of thirty-two battles, will brighten many 
pages in the annals of your country's fame." 



908 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Soon after his discharge General Schwenk entered Hancock's 
First Army corps, and served for a time in Michigan. Near the 
close of the year 1866 he was appointed First Lieutenant in the 
Forty-first regular infantry, which he joined at Baton Rouge, 
Louisiana, in March following, and was shortly after made Adju- 
tant. He was in succession brevetted Captain, Major, and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel in the regular army for conspicuous gallantry and 
skilful and meritorious services at Nv Liver, Spottsylvania, and 
Cold Harbor. He was stationed at Brownsville, Texas, in 1867, 
and was Adjutant-General to General Mackenzie in- command 
upon the Rio Grande. During the prevalence of yellow fever 
he in addition performed the duties of Regimental and Post-Adju- 
tant, until he was himself stricken with the fever, of which, after 
having nearly recovered, he suffered a violent relapse which 
came near carrying him off. He was promoted to Captain in 
December, 1867, and stationed at forts along the Texas frontier, 
where he had several encounters with the Indians. In July, 
1868, he was President of the first Military Commission for Texas 
under the reconstruction acts of Congress. A year later he was 
sent to Nashville, Tennessee, in charge of recruiting service, with 
offices in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. When 
the army was reduced in 1871, he. was assigned to the Eighth 
cavalry, but in consequence of disability from wounds, of which 
he received eight during the war, he was compelled to give up 
active service and will probably have to go upon the retired list 
of the army 

Sartin D. Hardin was born on the 26th of June, 1837, in 
Jacksonville, Illinois. His father, a native of Kentucky, 
a member of Congress, was killed in leading a charge in the 
battle of Buena Vista. His grandfather, Martin D., for whom he 
was named, was a member of the United States Senate, and his 
great-grandfather, born in western Pennsylvania, was a distin- 
guished soldier in the Revolutionary War. His mother, Sarah 
Ellen (Smith) Hardin, married, in 1851, Chancellor Walworth of 
New York. He was educated at West Point, where he graduated 
in 1859. He entered the service as a Lieutenant of artillery, 
and, after a brief term at Fortress Monroe, was sent with a 



MARTIN D. HARDIN. 909 

detachment of three hundred men to the Pacific coast, and posted 
at Fort Uniqua, Washington Territory. He returned at the 
opening of the Rebellion, and was stationed with his company in 
the defences of Washington, and served with it in McClellan's 
column until after the battle of Yorktown, when he was for some 
time prostrated by sickness. He returned to duty in time to 
participate in the Seven Days' battle, during which he served on 
the staff of General Hunt, Chief of Artillery. In July, 1862, he 
was made Colonel of the Twelfth Reserve regiment, and in the 
battle of Bull Run led Jackson's brigade, holding open ground 
with determined courage, and near the close of the engagement 
received a severe and dangerous wound. He participated in the 
battle of Gettysburg, and at Mine Run by his gallantry broke 
through the enemy's mask, disclosing his purposes. Near the 
close of 1863, while on duty near Catlett's Station, he was shot 
by guerillas and severely wounded, losing his left arm. He 
served on a board to examine prisoners of state, and in charge 
of draft rendezvous at Pittsburg until the opening of the spring, 
when at his earnest solicitation he was restored to his regiment, 
and put in command of a brigade of the Reserves. He was 
wounded at the North Anna, and distinguished himself at 
Bethesda Church. On the muster cut of the Reserve corps, on 
the following day, Colonel Hardin was put in command of the 
defences of Washington north of the Potomac and promoted to 
Brigadier-General. When attacked by Early, in July, 1864, he 
rendered important service in holding him in check until the 
arrival of the Sixth corps. On the 15th of August, 1865, he 
was assigned to the command of a district in North Carolina. In 
July, 1866, he was commissioned Major of the Forty-third Vete- 
ran Reserve, and was stationed at Detroit. In June, 1867, he was 
given leave of absence and spent a year in Europe. On his return 
he served in Michigan and at Buffalo, New York, until Decem- 
ber, 1870, when he was retired from active duty with the rank 
of Brigadier-General, having been advanced by brevet through all 
the grades to that of Brigadier in the regular service. On retiring 
he studied law, and was admitted to practice in Chicago, in July, 
1871. He was married in 1864 to Miss Estella Graham, second 
daughter of James Sutton Graham, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky. 



910 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

"JEt enry Martin Hoyt, Colonel of the Fifty-second regiment, 
<^_J- an( ]_ Brevet Brigadier- General, was born in Luzerne 
county, on the 8th of June, 1830. His parents were natives of 
Connecticut. He was educated at Lafayette and Williams' Col- 
leges, graduating at the latter in 1849. He studied law in the 
office of George W. Woodward, and early took a good rank at 
the bar. The national cause found no more ready supporter, 
and he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifty-second 
in August, 1861. While on an examining board at Washington 
he studied diligently books upon tactics, engineering, fortifica- 
tions, and the various requirements of a soldier. On the Penin- 
sula he was of Naglee's brigade, and participated in the recon- 
noissance from Bottom's Bridge to Seven Pines in advance of the 
whole army, and commanded the party which constructed the 
bridges across the Chickahominy. When the battle of Fair Oaks 
opened he rendered signal service by communicating to General 
Sumner the exact position of the Union troops, joining Sumner's 
column as it moved to the support of Heintzelman in that battle, 
and fighting under him to the end. This brigade had the honor 
of being selected to hold the enemy in check at the passages of 
the Chickahominy, and when recalled joined Franklin at White 
Oak Swamp, in both situations exhibiting the .most undaunted 
courage. 

At the close of this campaign Colonel Hoyt was ordered first to 
North Carolina, and thence to South Carolina, where he was 
engaged in the siege of Fort Wagner, the first serious obstacle to 
the reduction of Charleston. The operations were laborious and 
conducted under the terrible fire of the enemy and the more 
wasting effect of the summer's heat. For forty days the work 
was pushed. A single paragraph from a letter written by Colonel 
Hoyt at the time will illustrate its nature. After describing the 
bus}' scenes of a detail, he says : " Over all this diversity of labor 
were constantly exploding, at night, the shells of the enemy. 
' Cover Johnson ! ' would be called out from one lookout. There is 
a flash away across the harbor. In ten or fifteen seconds comes a 
report. Away up in the air is seen a small unsteady twinkle. 
Presently it 'whistles,' and 'wobbles,' and roars like a coming 
storm. Down, down on the heads of the men crouching behind 



HENRY M. HOYT. 91 1 

their mounds of sand, lower and lower still, and in very immi- 
nent proximity, it winds up with a bang, and a villainous 
whirr- r-r of half a hundred pieces humming into the marshes, or 
mayhap into the living muscles of its poor victims. Then the 
Bull of the Woods would open its pyrotechny, and Bee, and Beau- 
regard, and the Peanut, and Haskell, and so the thing was kept 
up until, tired, and weary, and mangled, the detail went out of 
the trenches at dawn." When all was ready, a hundred heavy 
guns opened upon devoted Wagner and the troops were held in 
readiness to assault, Colonel Hoyt having been assigned the task 
of charging Fort Gregg ; but before the time for the movement 
had come the enemy evacuated and the stronghold fell without 
a blow. 

In June, 1864, a plan was devised to capture Charleston by 
surprising the garrisons guarding its approaches. The attempt 
was made on the night of the 3d of July, in three divisions, 
Colonel Hoyt, closely supported by other troops, leading that 
which was to capture Fort Johnson. The channel was difficult, 
and the pilot, either through ignorance or treachery, utterly 
failed in his duty. Colonel Hoyt, determined to carry out his 
instructions, undertook the guidance and triumphantly cleared 
the bar. But precious time had been lost, and as he approached 
the fort he was discovered and a simultaneous, rapid fire was 
opened upon him. His supports failed to follow, though of 
this he was ignorant, and pushing boldly forward, landed, and 
with 135 men, his whole party, charged and captured a two-gun 
battery. The heavy guns of Fort Johnson, two hundred yards 
beyond, were beginning to open their hoarse throats, while the 
intervals were filled with the sharp rattle of musketry. No sign 
of wavering was seen in the intrepid band as they moved steadily 
forward, led by Colonel Hoyt. They crossed the parapet, strug- 
gled at the crest face to face with the foe, and began to leap into 
the fort, when the astounding and mortifying fact was disclosed 
that they were unsupported. The whole garrison was now alive 
and swarming upon all sides. It was plain that a further 
struggle would be useless, and the detachment surrendered as 
prisoners of war. The skill and daring displayed by Colonel 
Hoyt and his men extorted the highest praise from friend and 



912 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

foe. The Charleston Mercury of July Gth said: "The second 
column, under Colonel Hoyt of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania, 
who also had command of the expedition, attacked the Brooke 
gun, and landing, Lieutenant Boworth of the Second South Caro- 
lina artillery was compelled to fall back, after himself and men 
fighting bravely. The enemy, cheered by this success, with their 
commander at their head waving his sword, advanced in heavy 
force upon Fort Johnson ; but these were received with a terrific 
fire by the light and heavy batteries on the line." General 
Foster, in command of the department, said in orders : " The 
boats commanded by Colonel Hoyt, Lieutenant-Colonel Conying- 
ham, and Lieutenants Stevens and Evans, all of the Fifty-second 
Pennsylvania, rowed rapidly to the shore, and these officers with 
Adjutant Bunyan (afterwards killed) and 135 men, landed and 
drove the enemy, but, deserted by their comrades, were obliged to 
surrender to superior numbers. Colonel Hoyt bestows unquali- 
fied praise on the officers and men who landed with him; of 
these seven were killed and sixteen wounded. He himself 
deserves great credit for his energy in urging the boats forward, 
and bringing them through the narrow channel, and the feeling 
which led him to land at the head of his men was the prompting 
of a gallant spirit which deserves to find more imitators." 
General Schemmelfinnig said, after recounting the preliminaries : 
"After this you placed yourself at the head of the column and- 
led them most gallantly, faithfully carrying out as far as possible 
with the small number of men who landed with you the orders 
given you by me. Had you been supported as your brave con- 
duct deserved, it would have ensured the success of the important 
operations then being carried on in front of Charleston." 

Colonel Hoyt with other Union officers was sent to Macon, 
and subsequently to Charleston, where they were exposed to the 
sweep of the Union guns. On his way thither he, with some 
companions, leaped from the cars and undertook to make their 
way to the Union fleet, but were tracked by bloodhounds and all 
captured. After his ex3hange he returned to his regiment, and at 
the close of hostilities, which occurred not long after, resumed 
the practice of his profession. In 18G7 he was appointed by 
Governor Geary an additional law judge of the eleventh dis- 



J. P. S. GOB IK— J. BOWMAN SWE1TZER. 913 

trict. He discharged its duties with honor and dignity until the 
ensuing election, when one of the dominant political party was 
chosen to succeed him. In person he is full six feet in height, 
well proportioned, and of a dignified presence. He was married 
in 1855 to Miss Mary E. Loveland. 

fOHN P. S. Gobin", son of Samuel S. and Susan A. (Shindel) 
Gobin, was born on the 26th of January, 1837, at Sunbury. 
His great-grandfather, Charles Gobin, was a Revolutionary soldier. 
He learned the printing business in the office of the Sunbury 
American, studying law in the meantime. In the three months' 
campaign he served in the Eleventh regiment as Lieutenant, after 
which he entered the Forty-seventh as Captain, and advanced 
through the several grades of Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, 
and Brevet Brigadier-General. He was early sent to the Depart- 
ment of the South, where he participated in the actions of Pocotal- 
igo, St. John's Bluff, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, and Cane 
River Crossing. During 1862 and part of 1863 he was Judge 
Advocate-General of the Department of the South. He returned 
north in the summer of 1864, and made the campaign with 
Sheridan in the Valley, a portion of the time commanding a 
brigade in the Nineteenth corps, participating in the battles of 
Opequan and Fisher's Hill, and particularly distinguishing him- 
self at Cedar Creek. His regiment was here the right of Sheri- 
dan's line, and when a portion gave way from the severe pressure 
of the rebel front which overlapped the Union, he held fast and 
gave the enemy his first repulse, the turning point in the battle. 
Returning to the South in June, 1865, General Gobin was placed 
in command of the First Sub-district of Charleston, and was 
Provost Judge from July to January, 1866, when the term of 
service of his regiment ceased. He married, in October, 1865, 
Miss Annie M. Howe, of Key West, Florida. Since the war he 
has practised his profession in Lebanon. 

f'\ Bowman Sweitzer, Colonel of the Sixty-second regiment, 
& and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Fayette county, 
in 1824. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was a lawyer 
of Pittsburg. In conjunction with Samuel W. Black he recruited 
58 



914 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Sixty-second regiment, which they transformed into one of 
the most reliable corps in the whole army. At Hanover Court 
House a handsome victory was gained and prisoners taken. In 
the sanguinary battle of Gaines' Mill, Colonel Black, while 
directing a charge upon the left, was killed. Nothing daunted, 
Colonel Sweitzer assumed command and resolutely beat back the 
foe. The line was now hard-pressed upon the extreme left, and 
thither Colonel Sweitzer was directed to lead his regiment. The 
struggle was desperate and was at this time raging with terrible 
heat along the whole front. To the last Colonel Sweitzer 
breasted the storm. But the current of disaster was now setting 
against the fragment of the Union army engaged, which was 
vastly outnumbered, and he fell, wounded, into the enemy's 
hands. He was taken to Libby, and his fate was for a while in 
doubt. He was reported killed, and several papers published his 
obituaries. His wife, on her way to the front, casually over- 
hearing a soldier declare that he saw Colonel Sweitzer killed, 
swooned and was for some time insensible. It was with a joyous 
heart that she learned on the following day, from the noble phi- 
lanthropist Clement B. Barclay, that her husband was still alive 
and only slightly wounded. 

As soon as exchanged Colonel Sweitzer returned to his regi- 
ment, and led in the battle of Antietam. The command of the 
brigade to which the Sixty-second was attached fell to his hands 
a short time afterwards — the brigade which the intrepid Griffin 
had led. This he commanded in the battle of Fredericksburg, 
under a fire that has rarely been paralleled. As they advanced 
in beautiful order, General Burnside, who was watching every 
movement through his field-glass, exclaimed as he beheld the 
magnificent spectacle : 

"What troops are those?" 

" Second brigade, General Griffin's division," replied General 
Sturgis, who stood near. 

" No troops ever behaved handsomer," said Burnside, as he 
moved nervously. 

But all was to no purpose. Though they fought with a des- 
peration worthy of success, they were hurled back from the 
stone walls and intrenched guns, where a foe lurked that no 



JOHN FLYNN. 91 5 

daring could reach. Colonel Sweitzer was wounded and had a 
horse killed under him. At Chancellorsville he handled his 
brigade with remarkable skill, extricating it, when cut off and in 
imminent danger of capture, with surprising success. A writer 
in the Boston Advertiser thus alludes to him in the battle which 
next succeeded : " At Gettysburg he was as brave as a lion, 
regardless of his own personal safety, but urging his men on 
to victory. When he was ordered to move on the enemy, he 
went up to the very front, some distance in advance of his troops, 
with his brigade flag flying by his side. Through some oversight 
or bad management Colonel Sweitzer's brigade was left in the 
very front without any support, and it became flanked by the 
enemy. It was then thought that the whole brigade were 
prisoners. But Colonel Sweitzer was equal to the emergency, 
and by a skilful movement withdrew his command, though his 
loss was very heavy." 

Colonel Sweitzer was one of the most trusted leaders in the 
campaign from the Wilderness to Petersburg, where the way was 
through human gore, and the track was marked by war's mcst 
blasting and blighting effect. At the expiration of his term he 
was mustered out of service together with the fragment of a regi- 
ment which remained of that once strong body of men, and he 
retired to his home at Pittsburg. In March, 1865, the brevet 
rank of Brigadier-General was conferred upon him — a rank which 
he had really held for more than two years. Acts of heroism 
which in the early stages of the war would have been rewarded 
with a star were allowed to pass unregarded in the later, so 
gigantic had become the contest and so vast the theatre on which 
it was conducted. 

fOHN Fltnn was born on the 10th of March, 1819, at Water- 
ford, Ireland. He came to this country in early manhood, 
and in 1844 enlisted as a private in the regular army. He 
served in Mexico, and was noticed by General Worth at Cheru- 
busco and characterized by Captain F. T. Dent, at Molino del 
Rey, as "foremost and fearless." Upon his discharge-paper, given 
to accept promotion, Captain Whitall noted the following : " First 
Sergeant John Flynn is an active, efficient, and intelligent soldier." 



916 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

At the opening of the Rebellion he was made Lieutenant and 
Adjutant of the Twenty-eighth regiment and afterwards Captain, 
participating in the affairs at Bolivar Heights, Cedar Mountain, 
Rappahannock, Sulphur Springs, Antietam, and Chancellorsville. 
Shortly after the latter engagement he was promoted to Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel. At Gettysburg he was severely wounded. In the 
famous Battle above the Clouds at Lookout Mountain he was 
conspicuous for gallantry, and in March, 1864, was promoted to 
Colonel. Throughout the Atlanta campaign he led with skill 
and courage his well-tried regiment. In the battle of North 
Edisto he received a wound in the foot which necessitated the 
amputation of a portion of it. He was brevetted Brigadier- 
General in March and mustered out in November, 18G5, after a 
faithful service of over twenty-one years — a hero in two wars. 
lie was married in 1850 to Miss Mary Pinchard. In person he 
is over six feet in height. He is characterized by an old com- 
panion-in-arms as " intelligent, zealous, a thorough soldier, at all 
times and under all circumstances bearing in mind that a soldier 
should be a gentleman." 

iiarles H. T. Collis, Brevet Brigadier and Major-General, 
was born on the 4th of February, 1838, at Cork, Ireland. 
He was the son of William and Mary Anne (Lloyd) Collis. In 
the year of his birth his parents removed to England. His 
father being a gentleman of means, his early education was of the 
most liberal character. He was fond of athletic games, expert 
at cricket and ball, and skilled in horsemanship. At the age of 
fifteen he came with his father to the United States, and settled 
in Philadelphia. His mother, live sisters, and two brothers sailed 
shortly afterwards in the City of Glasgow, but were all lost at 
sea, the vessel, after leaving port, never having been heard of 
more. His training was conducted with a view to a legal edu- 
cation. He was married on the 9th of December, 1861, to Miss 
Septima M. Levy, of Charleston, South Carolina, for several years 
a resident of Philadelphia. 

His only military experience previous to the war was gained 
while acting on the staff of William D. Lewis, Jr., commanding 
the First regiment, Pennsylvania militia. He served in the 




JLtAsCuJUA M^9.j(qoOUs6 



CHARLES II. T. COLLIS. 917 

Eighteenth regiment through the three months' campaign, and at 
its close recruited a company of Zouaves d'Afrique for the special 
service of body guard to General N. P. Banks, successor to Gen- 
eral Patterson. When Banks was attacked by Stonewall Jack- 
son, with forces many times outnumbering his own, to Captain 
Collis with his fine company was assigned the hazardous and 
difficult duty of covering the retreat. By skilful dispositions and 
bold assaults he succeeded in delaying the hostile advance until 
Banks had got his trains away and the main body into position 
to defend himself. For this important service Captain Collis was 
warmly commended by the General, and was induced by him to 
raise a regiment of Zouaves. In this he was successful and was 
commissioned Colonel, the entire regiment being uniformed after 
the manner of the French Zouaves d'Afrique. But though gayly 
dressed they were no holiday troops, as was proved in many a 
bloody struggle. At the battle of Fredericksburg Colonel Collis 
was with Birney on the left, and when the contest was hottest 
he was thrown in to the support of the Pennsylvania Reserves, 
coming to the rescue at an important juncture, hurling back the 
enemy and saving the guns of Randolph's and Livingstone's bat- 
teries. His service in this battle was specially recognized in the 
reports of Generals Robinson and Stoneman. At Chancellorsville 
he so impressed all with his intrepidity that a letter asking his 
permanent assignment to its command was signed by every regi- 
mental commander of the brigade, and the enlisted men of his 
own regiment, desirous of emphasizing their gratification with 
his growing honors, presented him with a sword inscribed "in 
commemoration of his distinguished gallantry in the battle of 
Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863." 

In the retreat of Meade from Culpeper in the fall of this year, 
General J. E. B. Stuart came unawares upon Colonel Collis' brig- 
ade, now composed of six Pennsylvania regiments (Fifty-seventh, 
Sixty-third, Sixty-eighth, One Hundred and Fifth, One Hundred 
and Fourteenth, and One Hundred and Forty-first) ; but the 
rebel chieftain found the young Colonel prepared, and was obliged 
to withdraw sadly repulsed. General Birney immediately issued 
the following order : " The Major-General commanding the 
division thanks the officers and men for their admirable conduct 



918 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

during the late movements. Especial credit is due to the First 
brigade, Colonel Collis, for its gallantry in repulsing the enemy's 
attack on the head of the column at Auburn, and to Colonel 
Collis for his skill and promptitude in making the dispositions 
ordered." Soon after this engagement General Birney thus wrote 
to the President : " Colonel Collis has for a long time very ably 
commanded the First brigade of my division ; the brigade has 
always behaved, under General Kearny and myself, with the 
utmost gallantry, and deserves a general officer to command it, 
promoted for services in it." In this request Birney was joined 
by Generals Robinson, French, and Meade, and in the following 
October he was appointed Brigadier-General by brevet. 

At the opening of the campaign of 18G4, an independent brig- 
ade consisting of six regiments of infantry and one of cavalry 
was organized for duty at the head-quarters of General Grant, 
to the command of which General Collis was assigned. In this 
capacity he participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
vania, Guinea Station, and Petersburg, under the immediate eye 
of the Lieutenant-General, and so well did he acquit himself 
in the charge delivered from Fort Sedgwick upon the enemy's 
salient, where he led the assaulting column, that he was brevetted 
Major-General upon the field. • 

At the close of the war General Collis returned to the practice 
of his profession, and was soon after appointed Assistant City 
Solicitor. In 1869 he was appointed Director of City Trusts of 
Philadelphia by the Board of Judges. He was tendered the 
position of Assistant Attorney-General of the State, under Mr. 
Brewster, but declined. In 1871 he was elected City Solicitor 
by a large majority, and reelected in 1874 for a second term of 
three years, by an increased majority. His opinions as law- 
officer of the city government possess enduring merit, notable 
among which was that adverse to the right of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1873 to enact an election law, in which he was 
sustained by the Supreme Court without a dissenting voice. 
Few men so youthful have won so high a rank both civil and 
military as has General Collis. 



JAMES McL. THOMSON.— JOHN H. TAGGABT. 919 

f^AMES McLean Thomson, son of Andrew and Jane Eliza 
(McLean) Thomson, was born in Adams county, on the 
4th of February, 1833. He entered the service of the United 
States as a Captain in the One Hundred and Seventh regiment 
and led his company through Pope's campaign. At South Moun- 
tain and Antietam the command of the regiment fell to him. 
In the former he led in a charge with fixed bayonets which 
routed the enemy, Colonel Gale of the Twelfth Alabama being 
killed and the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifth South Carolina 
wounded and taken prisoner. In the latter he led on his men 
up to the noted Corn-field, where he suffered severe losses, having 
been pitted against vastly superior numbers, but held his ground 
with unwavering courage. He was shortly after promoted to 
Major, and took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. In Feb- 
ruary, 1863, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel. He was with his 
corps at Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg the command of the 
regiment again devolved upon him. Here his horse was killed 
under him and he was struck by a grapeshot. He was brevetted 
Brigadier-General for gallantry, and continued to serve until the 
close of the war, when he was transferred to the regular army. 
In stature he is over six feet in height. He married in 1861 
Miss Mary Rebecca Slye, of Washington, D. C. 

tj?OHN Henry Taggart was born on the 22d of January, 1821, 
at Georgetown, Kent county, Maryland, where his ances- 
tors for several generations had lived. The father died in 1825, 
when the mother with her two children, a boy and girl, removed 
to Philadelphia. At the age of eleven the son was apprenticed to 
a printer, William Fry, of the National Gazette, with whom he 
remained nine years. To his mother, who had taught school in 
Maryland, he was much indebted for the rudiments of education. 
But aside from this his university was the printing office, where 
a knowledge of the history and politics of the time, and the 
progress of civilization, was principally gained. He was also 
indebted to the Apprentices' Library of Philadelphia, which as a 
lad he liberally patronized. He joined the militia in 1842, aided 
in suppressing the riots of 1844, and was commissioned Lieu- 
tenant by Governor Shunk. Believing fully in the doctrine of 



920 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

coercion, he was among the first to offer a company, and was put 
in command of Camp Curtin in May, 1861, and a month later 
made Colonel of the Twelfth Reserve regiment. 

He was warmly engaged at Dranesville, where, he says in his 
report, " The conduct of the men under fire, nearly all of them 
for the first time, was most commendable. There was no flinch- 
ing, and the line was preserved unbroken." 

At Beaver Dam Creek one of his companies was placed in 
Ellerson's Mill, where it did excellent service, of which Roger A. 
Pryor said : " Ellerson's Mill was defended with desperate obsti- 
nacj." The fatality in the battle of the following day at Gaines' 
Mill was very great, as also at Charles City Cross Roads. Finally 
at Malvern Hill the Union retreat and the rebel pursuit and 
attack was staid by one of the most sanguinary struggles of the 
campaign. Tl 3 Union army played the part of a lion at bay, 
and the death and destruction which it dealt from artillery sup- 
ported by determined infantry was indeed frightful. Upon the 
withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula, Colonel Taggart 
resigned and was appointed to the head of an institution founded 
to impart professional military instruction. Patriotic citizens of 
Philadelphia, anxious to uphold the Government in this trying 
hour, recognizing the difficulty of obtaining suitable officers to 
command colored troops just then being called into the army, 
proposed to establish a school for the instruction of soldiers for 
these positions. The chairman of the board was Thomas Webster, 
its secretary Cadwalader Biddle, its treasurer S. A. Mercer. 
Through the liberality of this board, funds were raised to furnish 
the instruction free, open alike to citizens of all the States, and 
Colonel John H. Taggart w r as selected to conduct it. It was 
known as the Free Military School of Philadelphia. The insti- 
tution had the warm approval of the national authorities, and 
permission to grant furloughs to deserving soldiers to attend it 
was given to officers in the field. General Casey, chief of the 
examining board, wrote on March 7th : " It gives me great 
pleasure to learn that your school is prospering, and I am 
pleased to inform you that the board of which I am president 
have not as yet rejected one of your candidates." Pupils en- 
tered it from eighteen States of the Union, and from ten of the 



JOSEPH JACK.— FRANKLIN A. STRATTON. 921 

leading nations of Europe. It was continued in operation from 
the 26th of December, 1863, when it was opened with only two 
students, to September 15th, 1864. During this period four hun- 
dred and eighty-four were graduated and passed successful ex- 
aminations. At the end of this time the funds were exhausted, 
when it was continued by Colonel Taggart on his own responsi- 
bility until the fall of Richmond, charging a small tuition. This 
service of Colonel Taggart was doubtless greater than he could 
possibly have rendered by continuing in the field. The Phila- 
delphia Dispatch of October 2d, 1864, said of him : " The prac- 
tical experience of Colonel Taggart is such that probably there 
is no person in the country, except the veteran professors at 
West Point, so well fitted to direct the studies which are neces- 
sary to be prosecuted by those aspirants who are ambitious to 
become officers of volunteers." On the 1st of November, 1865, 
he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue, which office he 
held until the advent of President Johnson to power. In 1869 he 
became editor and proprietor of the Philadelphia Sunday Times. 

Colonel Taggart was married on the 17th of June, 1845, to 
Miss Eliza Graham, a native of Philadelphia. Nine children 
were the issue of this marriage, the eldest son carrying a musket 
in the militia of 1863. 

fiOSEPH Jack, son of John and Nancy (McCoy) Jack, was a 
native of Westmoreland county. He rendered long service 
in the militia, having been successively Captain, Major, and Gen- 
eral of a brigade. He was made Colonel of the One Hundred 
and Sixty-eighth regiment in December, 1862, which as a part 
of the Keystone brigade he led at Suffolk, Virginia, in North 
Carolina during the siege of Little Washington, and in the demon- 
stration towards Richmond during the Gettysburg campaign. 
He retired from the service at the close of his term in July, 1863. 

*#^ranklin Asa Stratton, Colonel of the Eleventh cavalry, 
Js4£ and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Northfield, Mas- 
sachusetts, on the 30th of November, 1829. He was educated 
for the occupation of civil engineering, and previous to the war 
was engaged in several western States in its practice. In 1857 



922 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

he commanded a company of riflemen in a severe winter cam 
paign against the Sioux Indians. In the summer of 1861 he 
moved to Washington with a company of Iowa men, which be- 
came a part of what was eventually the Eleventh. He was 
promoted to Major in September, 1862, to Lieutenant-Colonel in 
September, 1864, to Colonel in May, 1865, and Brevet Brigadier- 
General in March. The pitched battles in which he was engaged 
number nearly thirty, besides many skirmishes and minor affairs. 
In a sabre charge at Franklin, in which he displayed courage 
and skill, he was wounded, and in a hand-to-hand encounter in 
the battle of October 7th, 1864, received a sabre cut in the hand. 
He particularly distinguished himself in the raid led by Wilson 
and Kautz, 500 miles inside the enemy's lines, in which three 
battles were fought and thirty miles of the Danville Railroad 
were destroyed, he having the lead in withdrawing in face of 
vastly superior numbers sent out to intercept them. General 
Stratton led his regiment in the final charge made in the Army 
of the Potomac just previous to the surrender of Lee on the 9th 
of April, and throughout his entire service proved himself an 
intelligent and able leader. He was married on the 24th of Feb- 
ruary, 1866, to Mrs. Georgie E. Griffith nee Keeling of Norfolk, 
Virginia. He was soon afterwards appointed Civil Engineer 
in the Navy. 

/£^ eorge Sheldon Gallupe was born at Troy, New York, on 
*%$• the 4th of August, 1832. In early life he followed the 
seas for a period of three years. At the commencement of 
hostilities he was made Captain in the Eighth Reserve regiment, 
in which capacity he served through the Peninsula campaign, 
being severely wounded at Gaines' Mill, and again slightly at 
Charles City Cross Roads. The command of the regiment de. 
volved upon Captain Gallupe in the midst of the hardest fighting 
at Fredericksburg, where he won the thanks of General Reynolds 
in command of the corps. He was shortly after made Inspector- 
General of the Reserves, and promoted to Major. At Spottsyl- 
vania, on the 11th of May, 1864, he was hit, and only preserved 
from death by the pocket-book in which the bullet lodged, and 
on the following day was severely wounded in the face, the flesh 



GEORGE S. GALLUPE.—JOHN A. DANES. 923 

of the chin being carried away. At the close of his service in 
May he commenced recruiting for a new command and soon had 
over three thousand men. He was made Colonel of the Fifth 
artillery (heavy) and was assigned to the command of a brigade 
in the Department of Washington, having some severe skirmish- 
ing in keeping open the Manassas Gap Railroad, his gallantry 
securing him the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. On leaving: 
the volunteer service he was appointed a Captain in the regular 
army and brevetted Major and Colonel. General Gallupe was 
married in 1854 to Miss Sadie Hare of Pittsburg. 



vMT f OHN Anderson Danks was born in Venango county, 
J^i 11th of March, 1826. In early life he was a farn 



on the 
farmer and 

iron-worker. He was married in 1848 to Miss Annie Reese. 
Earnest in his support of the Government he recruited a com- 
pany for the Sixty-third regiment, of which he was commissioned 
Captain. At Fair Oaks he was wounded in the right leg. After 
recovering he returned to his regiment, having in the meantime 
been promoted to Major, and was in time to lead in the battle of 
Fredericksburg. In that engagement he heroically headed a 
charge, in which his own regiment with the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth rescued twelve pieces of artillery, and saved them 
from capture, receiving the thanks of General Stoneman. At 
Chancellorsville he was taken prisoner, and for two weeks 
endured the privations of Libby. Soon after his release he was 
promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. 

At Gettysburg this regiment was thrust out upon the skirmish 
front at the Peach Orchard, where it was subjected to a cross fire 
of artillery and infantry. In the face of the most fearful assaults 
that shook that ever memorable field it held its ground, and until 
the Third corps, shattered and broken, was forced back. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Danks was promoted to Colonel, to date from the 
second day of this battle. He was warmly engaged at Auburn 
Mills on the llth of October, where he led the regiment in a 
charge which resulted fortunately, and won the approval of the 
division commander, the gallant Birney. At the very opening 
of the spring campaign of 18G4 Colonel Danks was severely 
wounded, a Minie ball striking his left fore-arm and passing 



924 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

into his hand. Seven officers besides himself were wounded, 
and General Hays, the father of the Sixty-third regiment, who 
led the brigade, was killed. Colonel Danks was sufficiently 
recovered to participate in the battles before Petersburg. He 
was mustered out at the conclusion of his term, August 5th, 
1864. In 18G6 he was elected a member of the Legislature of 
Pennsylvania. 

iT^?ouis Wagner, son of Ludwig and Christina (Berg) Wagner, 
^^ was born on the 4th of August, 1838, in Giessen, Germany. 
At the age of eleven he came to Philadelphia, where, after re- 
ceiving a fair education, he was apprenticed to learn the business 
of lithograph printing. He entered the service as a First Lieu- 
tenant in the Eighty-eighth regiment, and was engaged at Cedar 
Mountain, Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, and Chancellors- 
ville, rising rapidly through the ranks of Captain, Lieutenant^ 
Colonel, and Colonel, which last he attained in March, 1863. 
At the second battle of Bull Run he received a severe wound, 
which was eighteen months in healing, the tibia of the right leg 
being fractured, and necessitated the insection and removal of 
a considerable portion of it. He fell into the enemy's hands on 
this field, but was paroled shortly after. In June, 1863, in con- 
sequence of his disability from wounds, he was placed in com- 
mand of Camp William Penn, established as a rendezvous for 
colored soldiers, which he kept open until May, 1865, organizing 
in the meantime troops to the number of 12,354. After closing 
the camp he returned to his regiment and was for a time in 
command of a brigade. He was brevetted Brigadier- General in 
March, 1865, " for gallant and meritorious services during the 
war." He has since been a member of the Councils of Philadelphia, 
executive officer of the Sons of Temperance, and Commander of 
the State organization of the Grand Army of the Republic. Gen- 
eral Wagner was married to Miss Hattie Slocum, in 1869. 

tiiOMAS Jefferson Aiil was born on the 2d of April, 1839, 
in York county. His grandfather was a surgeon in the 
Revolutionary army. In February, 1859, with three others he 
went overland with a cattle-team to Pike's Peak, and in 1860 



LOUIS WAGNER.— THOS. J. AHL.— JOSEPH M. KNAP. 925 

was a migratory lumber dealer along the Mississippi River. He 
was in Arkansas when the Rebellion opened, and was offered 
the position of Sergeant in a rebel company ; but declined and 
returning to Pennsylvania, entered the Twenty-eighth regiment 
as Captain. This he led until after the battle of Antietam, when 
he was placed upon the staff of General Williams and subse- 
quently of General Slocum. In August, 1863, he was made 
Provost Marshal of the corps, acting until November, when he 
took command of his regiment, having previously been promoted 
to Colonel, and led it in the stirring actions of Lookout Moun- 
tain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold, succeeding to the command 
of the brigade in the latter. He was honorably discharged on 
the 18th of March, 1864. 

Joseph M. Knap, son of Thomas L. and Mary (Averell) Knap, 
*xz) was born at Ogdensburg, New York, on the 30th of Decem- 
ber, 1837. He was educated at the Rensselaer Institute, at Troy. 
He entered the service as a Lieutenant in the Twenty-eighth regi- 
ment, and was promoted to Captain of a battery formed especially 
for Geary's brigade, which became justly celebrated as Knaps 
Battery. At Cedar Mountain the artillery played a conspicuous 
part, Knap receiving a converging fire ; but, says the Chief of 
artillery, Best, " Officers and men stood firm and unflinching to 
the end. ... I can bear witness to the brave and determined 
manner in which Captain Knap and Lieutenant Cushing worked 
their guns." He was engaged at Rappahannock, Sulphur Springs, 
South Mountain, and Antietam. He was made Chief of artillery 
of the Second division, Twelfth corps, in December, 1862, and at 
Chancellorsville was put upon the front towards Fredericksburg 
where the first conflict occurred, and where, says Captain Best, 
in his report, " The enemy was effectually checked, Knap's bat- 
tery being most engaged and doing its work as usual well." On 
the morning of Saturday, the 2d of May, a fierce artillery duel 
occurred in which Knap's guns did effective service, blowing up 
two of the enemy's caissons and demolishing one of his guns, 
and in the afternoon when Hill pushed a heavy reconnoissance 
in front of the Chancellor House, " Knap," says an eye-witness, 
" had double-shotted twelve of his pieces with canister, and on 



926 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the enemy reaching the point mentioned, blazed away, literally 
mowing down the gray coats, and riddling the woods." He here 
had a horse shot under him. In the early part of the following 
day the action was terrible, and Knap's guns never failed to do 
fearful execution. Best was charged with covering the with- 
drawal of the army with his artillery, and in his report he says, 
" I gave the most important point to Captain Knap's, which 
he protected well." The enemy had earthworks and attacked. ■ 
" For about an hour," says the authority above quoted, " the roar 
of artillery was deafening. Three of the enemy's caissons were 
blown to atoms and their batteries both silenced." Captain 
Knap was active in recruiting other batteries which also became 
renowned. But the Government had duty for him of more vital 
importance than that which he was rendering in the field, and 
in May, 1863, he resigned to take charge of the Government 
Cannon Foundry at Pittsburg, in which he was assiduously em- 
ployed while the war lasted, and where his skill and judgment 
in producing effective weapons were of inestimable value. The 
Councils of Pittsburg in 1864 voted him a service sword suitably 
inscribed, and he was promoted to Major. He married in 1864 
Miss Sophia H. Day. 

X®>7 r iLLiAM Cooper Tallet, son of Rev. Lewis T. Talley, was 
;£/ born in Newcastle county, Delaware, on the 11th of 
December, 1831. He edited the Upland Union in Delaware 
county, and the National Democrat at Norristown, previous to 
the war. Entering the volunteer service in May, 1861, as Cap- 
tain in the First Reserve regiment, in November, 1862, he was 
advanced to Colonel. He was engaged in nearly every battle in 
which the Army of the Potomac had a part, down to the close of 
his term, leading his regiment, and at times a brigade, with great 
steadiness. At Charles City Cross Roads he was wounded, as he 
was also at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. While leading a 
brigade upon the enemy's works at Spottsylvania Court House 
he was taken prisoner. He was rescued by Sheridan when ap- 
proaching the rebel capital, and mounting, fought in the column 
of cavalry until its return to the main body. He was with the 
Reserves in their last battle at Bethesda Church, and earned 



W. C. TALLEY.—J. NAGLE.—M. T. HEINTZELMAN. 927 

the promotion to Brevet Brigadier-General. After the war he 
was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the Seventh 
Pennsylvania District. He was married in 18G0 to Miss Mary 
Jane Webb. He resides in Media. 

f.AMES Nagle, Brigadier-General, was born at Reading, on the 
5th of April, 1822. He served with distinction throughout 
the Mexican war, commanding a company which he had pre- 
viously organized as militia, the Washington artillery, one of the 
first five to reach the Capital in April, 1861. He led the Sixth 
regiment in the three months' campaign, and afterwards the 
Forty-eighth, and was with Burnside in North Carolina; with 
Pope at Bull Run, where he commanded a brigade and won the 
commission of a Brigadier-General ; performed distinguished 
service at South Mountain and Antietam, and in the battle of 
Fredericksburg. He subsequently went to Kentucky with the 
Ninth corps. After a wearying service of some months, on 
account of a painful and alarming disease of the heart, aggravated 
by exposure and care, he resigned. Relieved somewhat by rest, 
he commanded the Thirty-ninth militia in 1803, and in the 
hundred days' service of 1864 the One Hundred and Ninety- 
fourth, and was given a brigade. General Nagle died of the 
disease of which he had long suffered, on the 22d of August, 1866. 

Eish T. Heintzelman was born on the 29th of June, 1830, in 
Schuylkill county. For the short term he served as a 
private in the Tenth regiment. In September, 1861, he became 
Second Lieutenant in the Seventy-sixth, from which he was 
honorably discharged, in August, 1862, on account of disability. 
He reentered the army on the 11th of November, 1862, as a 
Captain in the One Hundred and Seventy-second, in which he 
was promoted to Major. At the end of the nine months for 
which it was called he was mustered out, but returned again 
as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Two Hundred and Eighth, on the 
7th of September, 1864, and was subsequently breve tted Colonel. 
The two most important actions in which he was engaged were 
at Fort Steadman and Fort Sedgwick ; in both of these he led the 
regiment. 




928 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

udley W. Gazzam was born at Allegheny City, on the 7th of 
May, 183C. His maternal great-grandfather was the Baron 
de Beelen, the first Austrian Minister to the United States, whose 
favorable reports secured the interest of the Emperor Joseph. He 
received a liberal and military education at New Haven, Connect- 
icut, and read law. At the breaking out of the war he was com- 
missioned Captain of a company, which, failing of acceptance for 
three months, he took to Wheeling, West Virginia — then just 
organizing a provisional government — at the solicitation of its 
authorities. Not wishing to attract attention, he landed his men 
at various points, but soon had them collected in the city under 
the semblance of a military school. At the instance of General 
Oakes he took possession of guns and ammunition, stored below 
the city, likely to be used against the Union. Preferring to serve 
in a Pennsylvania command he returned to Pittsburg, and was 
elected Major of the One Hundred and Third regiment. Though 
prostrated by sickness he led at Williamsburg, and at Fair Oaks 
was on the forefront, sustaining fearful losses. By reason of dis- 
ability contracted in the line of duty, he was transferred, in 1863, 
to the Veteran Reserve corps, and was stationed at Nashville, 
and subsequently at Indianapolis. At the close of the war he 
resumed the practice of law at Utica, New York, and in 1870 
established in New York city a collection agency. 

obekt E. Winslow, son of Robert and Jane (Cumming) 
^V Winslow, was born on the 1st of January, 1829, in Phila- 
delphia. He learned the trade of a type-founder. Volunteering 
for the Mexican War, he served with fidelity. In 1852 he went 
to California, remaining until near the close of 1856. He served 
in the Twentieth regiment with Patterson in 1861, and entered 
the Sixty-eighth, at its formation, as Captain, in which capacity 
he took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. He was shortly 
after promoted to Major, and was engaged at Chancellorsville 
and Gettysburg. In the latter he received a gunshot wound in 
the head. After two months in hospital he returned with the 
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and not long after received the com- 
mand of the regiment, which he led at Kelly's Ford, Locust 
Grove, and Mine Run. Before the opening of the spring cam- 




A. W. GAZZAM.—R. E. WINSLOW.—J. P. TAYLOR. 929 

paign of 1864 he was ordered for duty with his command to 
the head-quarters of General Meade, and while thus detailed 
was engaged in the actions at Guinea Station, Petersburg, and 
Hatcher's Run. In the final charge on the Petersburg works, 
on the 2d of April, he led an assaulting party. " For faithful 
and meritorious services" he was bre vetted Colonel and Brigadier- 
General. 

P. Taylor, Colonel of First cavalry, and Brevet 
Brigadier-General, was born on the 6th of June, 1827, in 
Kishacoquillas Valley, Mifflin county, where his ancestors for 
three generations had dwelt. He was the son of John and Eliza- 
beth (McMonigle) Taylor. His home was near the spring of 
Logan, the Indian chieftain, who was on friendly terms with the 
family. Planning to go clandestinely with the troops to Mexico, 
he was prevented by his parents. In a cavalry company, formed 
in 1859, he was a Lieutenant, which at a meeting held on the 
29th of January, 1861, pledged its services to the Governor. He 
entered the First cavalry, upon its formation, as a Captain, and 
was promoted in September, 1862, to Lieutenant-Colonel, and to 
Colonel, January 30th, 1863. He was prominent at Dranes- 
ville, charging through the town, and followed Bayard at Har- 
risonburg, Cross Keys, Locust Grove, and Cedar Mountain, his 
horse in the latter battle falling on him, inflicting injury and 
leaving him in the enemy's lines ; but he adroitly managed to 
make his escape. " The coolness of Captain Taylor," says 
General Bayard, " in covering the retreat deserves the thanks of 
the commanding General." In the action at Brandy Station, where 
Colonel Taylor led in a daring sabre charge, and in the midst of 
the battle succeeded to the command of the brigade; at Culpeper, 
where dismounted he led his regiment to complete victory; at 
Mine Bun, where he captured the entire skirmish line of the 
enemy ; at Auburn, where he prudently aroused his brigade before 
dawn and was in readiness to receive a powerful attack intended 
as a surprise ; and in the movement of Sheridan upon the rear of 
the rebel army in the spring of 1864, where the lighting was 
almost continuous for many days, he illustrated the highest 
qualities of the accomplished leader. During the three years of 

59 



930 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

his service he was engaged in over thirty battles and skirmishes 
either as regimental, brigade, or division commander, and received 
frequent complimentary notices from his superior officers. He 
was honorably discharged at the conclusion of his term, General 
D. McM Gregg saying in his farewell order : " To you, Colonel 
Taylor, my thanks are due for the efficient manner in which you 
have always performed your duty." He was promoted to the 
brevet rank of Brigadier-General in August, 18G4. He is in 
person full six feet in height and robust. He was married in 
1863 to Miss Sallie H. Nourse. 

X^7illiam Moore McClure, son of Silas and Margaret 
y^r (Moore) McClure, was born on the 5th of March, 1831, 
in Chester county. In 1854 he emigrated to Kansas and was 
elected a member of its first legal Legislature. Returning in 
1859 he had leased a furnace near Danville, when the war came 
and he served during the short term as Captain in the Eleventh 
regiment, and subsequently in the Second artillery, posted in the 
defences of Washington. To supply the waste in the Wilderness 
campaign this regiment, now numbering nearly 4000 men. was 
organized in two and sent as infantry to the front. Captain 
McClure joined the Potomac army at Cold Harbor, where the 
losses in his regiment were very severe. It was kept on most 
exposed and exhausting duty with the musket and spade. In 
this Captain McClure so acquitted himself as to rise to the rank 
of Colonel and to the command of the reunited regiments. At 
the conclusion of his term, which was near the close of the war, 
he was honorably discharged. 

T®7illiam Rickards was born in Philadelphia on the 18th of 
j£Y November, 1824. He entered the service as a Captain 
in the Twenty-ninth regiment, and was rapidly advanced to 
Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel. At the battle of Winchester, 
under Banks, he was wounded and fell into the enemy's hands. 
He had been a jeweler, and at Libby he transmuted many a 
rough object into beautiful ornaments, thus earning comforts for 
himself and companions in misery. In the battles of Chancellors- 
ville and Getty slung, where he was in command of his regiment 



W. M. McOLUBK—W. JRICKARDS.— W. SIR WELL. 93 1 

and was of the brigade of Kane, he proved himself among the 
most reliable. At Wauhatchie, whither he was sent with the 
Twelfth corps, he was officer of the day, and by his penetration 
and foresight discovered the approach of the foe and prevented a 
midnight surprise of the camp. In the Battle above the Clouds 
he was the foremost in scaling the rugged heights of Lookout 
Mountain; and in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Pea Vine 
Creek, Ringgold, Rocky Face, Resaca, and at Dallas during nine 
consecutive days, he acted with the greatest gallantry. > In the 
battle of Pine Knob, while leading the first line of the brigade in 
a charge upon the enemy's works, he received a wound through 
the body, just below the lungs, which was judged to be mortal. 
General Geary, his division commander, riding up to him as he 
lay bleeding upon the field, and kneeling by his side, said : 
" Colonel, this is unfortunate. We can ill spare such men as you, 
for we have rough work ahead." " Has my conduct as a soldier 
been satisfactory ?" he faintly asked. "Yes," said the General, 
" none have been more faithful. If all were as trustworthy as 
you I should have little trouble." " That," said the Colonel, " is 
a comfort to a dying man." The General then believed that 
he would survive but a few moments. But on being taken to 
the hospital he revived, and by fortunate care recovered, and is 
still a strong man, illustrating the power of the human system to 
withstand terrible mutilation. Colonel Rickards was married in 
1848 to Miss Eliza Tucker, of Baltimore. 

T^7illiam Sirwell, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Graham) 
Jqf Sirwell, both natives of England, was born in Pittsburg 
on the 10th of August, 1820. Of a military turn, he entered the 
militia service in 1839, and commanded in succession the City 
Blues, of Pittsburg, and the Washington Blues, Brady Alpines, 
and Kittaning Yeagers, of Kittaning. He was also for ten years 
Brigade-Inspector of Armstrong county. In person he is six feet 
in height, broad-shouldered, and robust. He was married on the 
Gth of November, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth McCandless. Upon 
the organization of the Seventy-ninth regiment he was commis- 
sioned Colonel, and was sent to the army then stationed in Ken- 
tucky. In the affair at Lavergne — one of the actions for the 



932 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

defence of Nashville — his regiment particularly distinguished 
itself, and its commander was complimented by General Negley, 
and by Andrew Johnson, then military governor of Tennessee. 
At Stone River the regiment captured the White Horse Artillery 
of New Orleans, consisting of four twelve-pounder brass Napoleon 
guns, the regimental colors of the Twenty-sixth rebel Tennessee, 
and the guidon of the Fourth Florida. As a reward of his 
service lure. Colonel Sirwell was made Provost Marshal of Mur- 
t'reesboro and was afterwards placed in command of the Second 
brigade. First division of the Fourteenth corps. In the terrible 
conflicts at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and in the subse- 
quent campaign of Atlanta, he rendered valuable services. At 
New Hope Church, so marked was his gallantry that he was 
commended by General Thomas. When Atlanta finally was 
taken after a campaign of a hundred days, in which the smoke 
of battle scarcely cleared away, it became difficult to keep open 
the base of supplies, stretching away to Chattanooga. Colonel 
Sirwell was assigned to this duty, and preserved unbroken the 
line of transportation, supplies being rapidly brought up. After 
his term of service had expired, at the solicitation of the com- 
mander of the department, Colonel Sirwell remained in the field, 
his regiment, as mounted infantry, being employed in attacking 
and pursuing Forrest's cavalry, through middle and southern 
Tennessee. He was mustered out on the 4th of November, 18G4. 
Colonel Sirwell has held the offices of postmaster and justice of 
the peace, besides several municipal positions. 

,Oi:m:ca G. Willauer, son of Samuel and Hannah (Grubb) 
..N-' Willauer, was born in West Chester, on the 25th of Novem- 
ber, is:',.",. He entered the service as a Lieutenant in the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth regiment. In the battle of Fredericks- 
burg he was wounded by a shell which shattered the right leg, 
carrying away a large portion of the limb. He was promoted to 
Captain on t lit 1 recommendation of General Hancock on the held 
for gallantry in battle, and in March, 18G3, to Lieutenant- 
Colonel, but could not be mustered for lack of men. He was in 
the battle of Chancellorsville, and in the Gettysburg campaign 
commanded the regiment a part of the time, and for nearly a 



SENECA G. WILLA UEB.— ALBERT L. MAJILTON. 933 

year thereafter. His conduct was particularly commended at 
Auburn and Bristoe Station. General Mulholland speaks of him 
as " brave and faithful," and General Hancock says, " I know 
Captain Willauer to be a brave and meritorious officer." He 
suffered severely from his wound at Fredericksburg, and was, in 
January, 18G4, transferred to the Veteran Reserve corps, 'in 
which he was for thirty-six hours on duty before Washington in 
July of that year, holding General Early at bay until the arrival 
of the Sixth corps. At the Old Capital prison, Washington ; at 
Johnson's Island, Lake Erie ; and at Point Lookout, Maryland, 
he was on constant duty with his regiment, in the latter having 
an independent command. He was active in the search for, and 
arrest of Booth and Harrold, the assassins of the President, 
served at Plattsburg, in command of a camp of rendezvous, and 
at Albany on a court-martial. In April, 1866, he was assigned 
to the Freedmen's Bureau and ordered to Alexandria, Louisiana, 
in the Red River region, where he was in command for nearly 
two years, and was successful in organizing a large number of 
colored schools. He was elected Prothonotary of Chester county 
in 1869. In 1872 he was married to Ellen, daughter of Welling- 
ton Hickman. 

lbert L. Majilton was born in New Castle county, Dela- 
ware, on the 8th of July, 1826. His father was Adam 
Majilton, a native of Ireland. His mother, Dorcas (Morton) 
Majilton, was descended from the first Swedish settlers on the 
Delaware River, subjects of that renowned hero-king, Gustavus 
Adolphus. He was educated at the Philadelphia Central High 
School, and at the Military Academy at West Point, where he 
graduated number eighteen in a class of fifty-nine, in 1846. As 
Brevet Second Lieutenant he entered the Fourth artillery, and 
served in Mexico at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Molino 
del Rey, and in the assault and capture of Mexico ; and was 
made Second Lieutenant and Brevet First Lieutenant for gallant 
conduct. In 1848-49 he was in garrison at New Orleans 
barracks, and in 1849-50 was engaged against the Seminole 
Indians in Florida. In 1849 he was promoted to First Lieuten- 
ant, and served until 1857 in Kansas, New Mexico, Michigan, 




934 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and Florida. In June of the latter year he was commissioned 
Captain in his regiment, and in December resigned. He was 
commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Reserve in 1861, 
and in October, Colonel of the Fourth. At Beaver Dam Creek 
his regiment was held in reserve, but in the more general battle 
of the following day at ' Gaines' Mill was hotly engaged and 
.shared the fate of Porter's entire wing, being driven back with 
heavy loss. He was wounded at Charles City Cross Roads. 
Shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg Colonel Majilton 
resigned. For several months he was engaged as professor of 
infantry tactics in the Philadelphia Free Military Academy for 
applicants for commands in colored troops. In November, 1867, 
he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. 

harles Comley McCormick was born in Northumberland 
county. He was educated at Lewisburg, and at the Iron 
City Commercial College. He entered the Seventh cavalry as a 
private, and rose through the successive steps of a non-com- 
missioned and commissioned officer to that of Brigadier-General 
by brevet. In Kentucky and Tennessee he served with Buell 
and Rosecrans, particularly distinguishing himself at Lebanon, in 
May, 1862; at Nashville, in November; at Stone River, at the 
opening of 1863 ; at Chickamauga, in September, where he was 
taken prisoner ; and at Selma. In Sherman's Atlanta campaign 
lie was Inspector-General of cavalry on the staff of General 
Thomas, and was with General Wilson on his exciting ride from 
Eastport, Mississippi, to Macon, Georgia. He was twice wounded, 
by a pistol shot in the breast at Lebanon, on the 5th of May, 
1862, and on the 2d of April, 1865, while storming the works 
at Selma, Alabama, by a gun shot which broke the right leg, the 
missile still remaining in the limb. In person General McCor- 
mick is full six feet in height, erect and of well-rounded frame. 

^P^ex.iamix Chew Tilghman, son of Benjamin and Ann Maria 
Jpp ( McMurtrie) Tilghman, was born in Philadelphia on the 
26th of October, 1821. He was educated at the University of 
Pennsylvania, was admitted to the bar, applied himself to 
chemical and scientific studies, and spent several years in Europe. 



a a McOOrmick.—b. a tilghman.—p. a ellmaker. 935 

He was of the first column which left Philadelphia in April, 
1861, for the defence of the National capital,- and afterwards 
became Captain in the Twenty-sixth regiment and was promoted 
to Lieutenant- Colonel and Colonel. He participated in the 
battles of Williamsburg, Savage Station, Glendale, Malvern Hill, 
Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. In the latter engagement 
he was severely wounded in the right thigh by a rifle ball, by 
which he was for some time disabled. In August, 1863, on 
recovering from his wound he was appointed Colonel of the 
Third colored regiment, with which he served in South Carolina 
and Florida to the close of the war. He was brevetted Brigadier- 
General in 1865. The distinction of commanding the first three 
year regiment and the first colored regiment raised in Pennsyl- 
vania is due to General Tilghman. 

IS^eter C. Ellmaker, son of Jacob C. and Juliana (Seeger) 
•^3 Ellmaker, was born on the 11th of August, 1813, in Lan- 
caster county. At the age of fourteen he removed to Phila- 
delphia, and was employed in a wholesale dry goods house. In 
1834 he enlisted in the Washington Greys, a volunteer artillery 
corps, with which he served for over twenty years, rising to the 
rank of Captain. When the Rebellion came he commanded the 
first regiment raised in the State. In August, 1862, he was com- 
missioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Nineteenth, then just 
organized. At the battle of Fredericksburg by his remarkable 
coolness he inspired his men with the courage of veterans. At 
Salem Church his regiment was subjected to a terrible ordeal, the 
numbers of the enemy being concealed and their lines protected. 
Colonel Ellmaker proceeded from Westminster on the night of the 
1st and day of the 2d of July, 1863, by a forced march to Gettys- 
burg, a distance of nearly forty miles, arriving in time to support 
and strengthen the wasted columns battling on that glorious field. 
In the action at Rappahannock Station he commanded the brigade 
of the Sixth corps which made the memorable charge, fit to rank 
with the most daring exploits. The assault was delivered under 
a terrific fire of artillery and musketry. But, filled with a 
spirit that no danger could appall, that devoted brigade went 
forward where at every step the dead and the dying fell from the 



93G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ranks, and compelled the foe to lay down his arms and surrender 
prisoners of war. The victory was complete, and resulted in the 
capture of tin. 1 strong position, with lour guns, two thousand 
small anus, eight battle-flags, one bridge train, and one thousand 
six hundred prisoners. His gallantry in this action Avon Tor him 
the formal thanks of Generals Meade, Sedgwick, and Russell, and 
the applause of the whole army. After leaving the service he 
returned to the practice of his profession, and was for some time, 
as he had been before the war, a notary public. lie was 
appointed Naval Officer of the Port of Philadelphia in 1848, by 
President Taylor. He was married in 1844 to Miss Sarah Ann 
Wade. In person he is six feet two and one-half inches in height, 
and well-proportioned. 

T^uaxklin Baily Speakman, son of Joshua and Hannah 
,f .-••, (Baily) Speakman, was born in Chester county on the 9th 
of January, 1833. Though nurtured in the tenets of the Quaker 
faith he could not regard with indifference the attempts to dis- 
rupt the government, and recruited a company of which he was 
made Captain, and was subsequently commissioned Colonel of the 
One Hundred and Thirty-third regiment. He was in the division 
of General Humphreys in the battles of Fredericksburg and 
Chancellorsville. In the former he led his command up to within 
forty paces of that fatal stone wall on Marye's Heights where the 
flower of the Union army was cut down, which position for more 
than an hour he held under a terrific (ire. With like heroism 
he aeted in the latter, where Humphreys faced a defiant foe with 
a courage and a resolution which will ever challenge admiration. 
Colonel Speakman's regiment was called but for nine months, 
and at the expiration of that time he was mustered out. He 
was married on the 30th of December, 1S5G, to Miss Annie M. 
Spangler. 

T - okkx BuRRITT was born in Susquehanna county, of New 
4--^ England ancestry, on the 26th of June, 1837. He was 
educated in the Wyoming Seminary and had commenced the 
study of law when the Rebellion came, but enlisted in the Fifty- 
sixth regiment as a private, in which he served in the battles of 



F. B. SrEAKMAN.—LOREN BURRITT.— DANIEL LEASURE. 937 

South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In February, 
18G3, he was promoted to Lieutenant and acting Adjutant, par- 
ticipating in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, 
during a part of which, and subsequently, he was an aid on the 
staff of General Cutler. In November, 18G3, he was appointed 
Major of the Eighth colored regiment, which he accompanied to 
South Carolina. At Olustee it was subjected to a wasting fire, 
such as is rarely recorded, in which half of the officers and three- 
fifths of the men were lost. Major Burritt received two severe 
wounds, disabling him for the rest of the war, and from which he 
still suffers. He rejoined his regiment in September, 1864, 
having been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel ; but his -wounds 
reopening, he was obliged to retire. In November he was 
placed in command of recruiting rendezvous at Newport News, 
and was subsequently on court-martial, and President of a mili- 
tary commission at Norfolk. In May, 18G5, he went with his 
regiment to Texas, and was finally mustered out in December. 
Since the war he has served two terms in the Pennsylvania 
Legislature. 

JT"7\aniel Leasure, Colonel of the One Hundredth (Roundhead) 
(3J; regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in West- 
moreland county, on the 18th of March, 1819. His great-grand* 
father, Abraham Leasure, emigrated to Pennsylvania from the 
borders of Switzerland, near France, whither the ancestors of the 
family had fled after the massacre of St. Bartholomew, they being 
Huguenots of Navarre. He studied medicine and graduated at 
Jefferson Medical College. He was married in September, 1842, 
to Isabel W., eldest daughter of Samuel Hamilton, for several 
years a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. 

He had served in the militia, and at the opening of the Rebel- 
lion raised a company and was made Adjutant, and also acting 
Assistant Adjutant-General of the brigade upon the staff of Gen- 
eral Negley. At the close of the three months' term he was 
authorized to raise a veteran regiment. Lawrence county, where 
he had taken up his residence, had been largely settled by the 
descendants of those who had followed Cromwell in the struggles 
of the English people for liberty, and from among these he drew 



938 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

recruits, appropriately designating it the Roundhead regiment. 
Colonel Leasure was first sent to the Department of the South, 
where his command formed part of the brigade of General Isaac I. 
Stevens. In the attack upon the Tower Fort near Secessionville, 
on the morning of the 16th of June, 18G2, Colonel Leasure led 
the brigade, and won the commendation of General Stevens. In 
the battle of Second Bull Run, Colonel Leasure, while leading 
his brigade, had his horse shot under him, and himself received 
a severe wound. He recovered in time to take part in the battle 
of Fredericksburg, and soon after went with two divisions of the 
Ninth corps, to which he was then attached, to Kentucky, and 
thence to Vicksburg, where, and at Jackson, he participated in 
those triumphant achievements which opened the Mississippi 
and really broke the backbone of Rebellion. 

From Vicksburg he proceeded with his troops to East Ten- 
nessee, and was active in the operations of the Union arms in 
that region and in the siege of Knoxville. At the battle of the 
Wilderness on the 6th of May, where he commanded a brigade, 
he led in a charge which hurled the rebels from works which they 
had captured from Union troops, and reestablished the broken 
and disorganized line, receiving the thanks of General Hancock 
on the field. At Spottsylvania Court House, Colonel Leasure was 
wounded. At the conclusion of his term on the 30th of August, 
1864, he was mustered out of service. He was brevetted Brigadier- 
General in April, I860. Upon his return to civil life he resumed 
the practice of his profession, first at New Castle and subsequently 
in Allegheny. 

harles T. Campbell, son of James and Margaret (Poe) 
©C Campbell, was born in Pennsylvania, on the 10th of 
August, 1823. lie was educated at Marshall College, and served 
in the Mexican war as Lieutenant in the Eighth infantry, and 
Captain in the Eleventh. In May, 1861, he was commissioned 
Colonel of the First Pennsylvania artillery, but finding his com- 
mand scattered in the exigencies of the service he resigned in 
December, and was made Colonel of the Fifty-seventh regiment 
of infantry. At Fair Oaks he had li is horse shot under him, 
and received a severe wound in the right arm, another in the 



C. T. CAMPBELL.— G. P. McLEAN.—C. W. DIVEN. 939 

left groin, and a third in the right leg. That in the arm was 
serious, necessitating a removal of a part of the ulna. At Fred- 
ericksburg he again had his horse shot under him, and received 
two balls in the right arm, and another in the bowels which made 
its exit near the spinal column. For a time he was a prisoner 
with his regiment ; but taking advantage of a favorable turn, 
they released themselves and carried back over two hundred of 
the enemy captives. Again was a portion of the bone of the 
right arm removed, and a tedious and painful confinement in 
hospital ensued. This ended his active service. For his gal- 
lantry he was promoted to Brigadier-General. He was a mem- 
ber of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1852. He was married in 
1850 to Miss Fannie Bruce, daughter of Dr. Bruce of Pittsburg. 
Since the war he has resided in Dakota. 

eorge Potts McLean, son of William and Sarah (Douglass) 
McLean, was born in Philadelphia on the 13th of July, 
1817. He served as Major of the Twenty-second regiment in 
the three months' service in the city of Baltimore, after which 
he became Colonel of the Eighty-eighth, with which he partici- 
pated in the battle of Cedar Mountain and in the preliminary 
operations to the battle of Bull Run. Having been prevented 
by protracted sickness from keeping the field he resigned. He 
recruited and commanded the Fifty-ninth militia in 18G3, and 
subsequently raised a three year regiment, the One Hundred and 
Eighty-third, which he led with gallantry at the Wilderness and 
Spottsylvania. Incapable of the exposures and privations of the 
camp, he resigned soon after. Colonel McLean was a member of 
the City Councils before the war, and in 1870 was appointed store- 
keeper of the United States bonded warehouse in Philadelphia. 

_harles Worth Diven, son of Thomas N. and Evelina (Bar- 
ton) Diven, was born in Huntingdon county on the 27th 
of July, 1831. At sixteen, he went with the army to Mexico 
and served through the entire contest in Geary's regiment. In 
May, 1861, he was commissioned a Lieutenant and soon after 
Captain in the Twelfth Reserve, with which he served with dis- 
tinction in the battles of the Peninsula, at Bull Run, South 



940 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEXSSYLVANIA. 

Mountain, Antictam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Mine Bun. 
In the spring of 18G4 he was promoted to Major, and was en- 
gaged in the hard-fought battles of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, 
Spottsylvania, North Anna, and Bethesda Church, when the 
term of the Reserves expired and he returned home; but im- 
mediately raised a new regiment, the Two Hundredth, of which 
he was made Colonel. On his arrival at the front he was put in 
command of a brigade, which, in the battle of Fort Steadman, 
performed the most distinguished service. At the moment of 
moving, he was struck by an exploding shell and disabled. The 
brevet rank of Brigadier-General was promptly conferred on him. 
He was characterized as " cool and calm in battle." 

f'oiiN Harper, son of Thomas Nicholas and Mary (McNab) 
Harper, was born on the 5th of April, 1840, at Bethnal 
Green, London, whence the family emigrated to this country in 
1848. He served in the Seventeenth regiment for three months 
and entered the Ninety-fifth as a non-commissioned officer, rising 
through all the grades of the company and regiment to that of 
Colonel. He was engaged in the battles of West Point, Gaines' 
Mill, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, 
Salem Church, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, 
Cedar Creek, Second Petersburg, Sailor's Creek — in short in every 
battle in which his regiment participated with the exception of 
the Second Hatcher's Run, and a slight skirmish in front of Peters- 
burg, when he was absent by leave. He was awarded the rank 
of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel both by commission and 
brevet, which is sufficient evidence of his gallantry. 

fiiARLES Kleckner, son of Michael and Susana (Reber) Kleck- 
ner, was born in Union county, on the 10th of December, 
1831. In August, 1861, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in 
the Forty-eighth, in which he was engaged under Burnside in 
North Carolina, at Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, and 
Antietam. In December, 1862, he was made Colonel of the One 
Hundred and Seventy-second, drafted .militia, which he com- 
manded near Yorktown during the period of its service. He 



J. HARPER.— C. KLECKNER.—J. B. KIDDOO. 911 

subsequently became Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Eighty-fourth for veteran service, which he led in two desperate 
assaults at Cold Harbor, where the enemy's shots fell like rain, 
and the dead and dying covered all the field. Its loss was sixty- 
seven killed, and one hundred and thirteen wounded. Colonel 
Kleckner was warmly commended for the dauntless courage dis- 
played on this field, and the unflinching bravery of his -men. He 
continued to lead the regiment in the assaults before Petersburg, 
at Strawberry Plains, Reams' Station, and Deep Bottom, where 
he was severely wounded. He was with his regiment in the final 
attack on Petersburg, and to the end of the war stood with face 
to the foe. He was married in 1851 to Miss Harriet A. Orwig. 
In person he is over six feet in height. 



fosEPH B. Kiddoo, son of John and Mary (Barr) Kiddoo, wa 
born on the 31st of March, 1837, near Pittsburg. He receive* 



r as 
red 

a liberal education and studied law, which he had barely finished 
when the Rebellion opened. He served as a private in the 
Twelfth regiment for the short term, and went to the Peninsula 
in that capacity in the Sixty-third regiment, serving till the close 
of the campaign as a non-commissioned officer. In August, 1862, 
he was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty- 
seventh, and with it participated in the engagements at South 
Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In the spring of 1863 
he was advanced to Colonel, and led in the battle of Chancellors- 
ville. In June he was mustered out at the expiration of his 
term, but took an active part in the exciting chase after John 
Morgan in Ohio. Soon afterward he was appointed Major of the 
Sixth colored, but was not long thereafter made Colonel of the 
Twenty-second colored, which he led in the active operations of 
the Army of the James. For his assault and capture of a strong 
redoubt and six pieces of artillery, on the 15th of June, he was 
brevetted Brigadier-General. In an action on the South Side 
Railroad, on the 27th of October, he was severely wounded 
through the hips„ involving the spine, which confined him to the 
hospital till after the close of the war. For his valor here he 
was brevetted Major-General. He was given command of the 
post at Harrisburg. In the spring of 1866 he had charge of the 



942 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Freedmen'a Bureau for Texas, and while there was appointed 
Lieutenant-Colonel in the Forty-third infantry, and was brevetted 
Colonel and Brigadier-General in the regular army. After two 
years of service in the Department of the Lakes, and a term of 
duty in New York city as superintendent of recruiting, he was 
placed on the retired list of the army with the rank of Brigadier- 
General. . 

#eoege Fairlamb Smith, son of Persifer F. and Thomasine 
(Fairlamb) Smith, was born on the 28th of February, 1840, 
at West Chester. He was educated at Yale College, and was 
reading law when the war broke out. He served as a private in 
the Second regiment ; at the end of its term became Captain in 
the Forty-ninth; and in the spring of 18G2, Major of the Sixty- 
first. At Fair Oaks he was wounded and fell into the enemy's 
hands. On his return after a brief captivity he was promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel. He was conspicuous in storming Marye's 
Heights in the Chancellorsville campaign, and was soon after 
promoted to Colonel. In the action at Spottsylvania Court House 
he was severely and nigh fatally wounded. Of him that intrepid 
soldier, General A. P. Howe, said : " He showed himself at all 
times an efficient, gallant, and competent officer;" and the 
lamented Sedgwick : " He has performed his duty with zeal and 
ability." Colonel Smith married in 1867 Miss Anna Elizabeth 
Hickman. At the conclusion of the war he commenced the 
practice of the law at West Chester. 

T7T\avid B. Morris was born at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, 
-*-— -\ on the 17th of December, 1825. In 1838 the family re- 
moved to Wheeling, and in 1841 to Pittsburg. In December, 
1845, he was married to Miss Margaret Grissell, daughter of 
John Grissell. In 1855 he enlisted in the Washington Infantry, 
in which he rose to be Lieutenant. This company, with the 
Pennsylvania infantry, turned out armed and equipped to resist 
the order of Secretary Floyd to remove heavy guns from Alle- 
gheny Arsenal. Of his company Lieutenant Morris was com- 
missioned Captain in April, 1861, and at the formation of the 
One Hundred and First regiment was made Lieutenant-Colonel, 



G. F. SMITH.— D. B. MORRIS.— H. M. BOSSERT. 943 

and after the death of Colonel Roberts, Colonel. In the battle 
of Fair Oaks he was in Casey's division, the first to be struck. 
Recognizing from the opening his precarious situation, and that 
it behooved him to make every missile tell, Colonel Morris 
hastened along the line as he marshalled his men in arms, and 
spoke words of encouragement. " Fire low, my boys," he said, 
" and aim at the waist-belts of the gray backs !" 

That they might be deliberate, he ordered them to hold their 
fire until the enemy were near enough to count their fingers. 
Right manfully were his orders heeded, and when the crash of 
his musketry opened,.the ranks of the foe Avere swept clean away. 
Overborne by superior numbers the regiment was finally com- 
pelled to retire to the supporting line of General Couch, where it 
fought until the close of the battle. Early in the fray Colonel 
Morris was wounded and borne from the field. 

At the conclusion of the campaign .this regiment was ordered 
to the Department of North Carolina, where upon his recovery 
Colonel Morris rejoined it. He was intrusted with the direction 
of expeditions undertaken into the interior, and was prominent 
in several considerable engagements. At the conclusion of his 
term on the 24th of January, 1865, he was mustered out of 
service and returned to his home in Pittsburg, where he main- 
tains the character of one of the most active business men of 
that eminently business city. 

ENRT M. Bossert, son of Henry Y. and Hannah (Miller) 
Bossert, was born on the 25th of January, 1825, in Mont- 
gomery county. He served in the Eleventh regiment under Pat- 
terson, and participated in the affair at Falling Waters. In the 
summer of 1862 he was commissioned Colonel of the One Hun- 
dred and Thirty-seventh regiment. " We drilled," he says, " by 
company during the day, and by battalion by moonlight." When ■ 
the army retired from the Second Bull Run field, Colonel Bossert 
was ordered to join Hancock's brigade. He acted in support at 
Crampton's Gap, and, when the enemy gave way, was directed to 
take sixteen companies, one from each regiment in the division, 
and establish a line across Pleasant Valley, facing Harper's Ferry, 
which had fallen into the enemy's hands. When the battle of 



944 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Antietam opened he resumed his place at the head of his own 
regiment. He was posted in support of a battery of Hancock's 
command, which he gallantly defended under the immediate eye 
of that heroic General, and received his thanks upon the field. 
When Stuart made his famous raid to the rear of the Union 
army, Colonel Bossert was aroused at midnight to move to inter- 
cept him, but failed to catch the wily rebel leader. 

When the campaign in Maryland was ended the regiment 
was ordered to Washington, and thence to Acquia Creek, where 
Colonel Bossert was placed in command of a brigade of six regi- 
ments, and charged with guarding the landing, and the railroad 
leading to Falmouth. Having been injured by the fall of his 
horse in March, he retired from the service, the time of his regi- 
ment being then about to expire. Previous to the war, Colonel 
Bossert was justice of the peace for a period of fifteen years. 
He was afterwards elected register and recorder, and clerk of 
the courts of Clinton county. 

olS) mvARD Campbell, son of Hugh and Rachel (Lyon) Campbell, 
<c*fe was born on the 24th of July, 1838. He received a liberal 
education and entered the service of the Union as Lieutenant in 
the Eighty-fifth, and in May, 18G2, was promoted to Captain. 
His regiment was in Casey's division at Fair Oaks and sustained 
heavy losses. At the end of the Peninsula campaign he went to 
North Carolina, and subsequently to the army before Charleston, 
where he was engaged in the operations to reduce that strong- 
hold, and in the siege of Fort Wagner. In September, 1862, 
he had been promoted to Major, and after the fall of Wagner 
was advanced to Colonel and commanded the regiment. After 
its transfer to the Army of the James it was engaged in the 
desperate fighting which was in progress here until the 22d of 
November, when at the conclusion of his term he was mustered 
out, and returned tc the practice of his profession at Somerset. 

tiiEOPHiLUS Kepiiart, son of Abraham R. and Mary (Garner) 
Kephart, was born in Bucks county, on the 19th of April, 
1835. He served for the three months' term in the Twenty-fifth 
regiment, and entered the One Hundred and Fourth as a Lieu- 



E. CAMPBELL.— T. KEPHART.—F. 0. ALLEMAN. 945 

tenant, in which capacity he went through the Peninsula cam- 
paign. Soon after its conclusion he was promoted to Captain, 
and with his regiment was transferred to the Department of the 
South. It was finally returned to the Army of the James in the 
spring of 1864, where it served till the close of the war. In 
December, 1864, Captain Kephart was promoted to Major, in the 
March following to Lieutenant-Colonel, and in June to Colonel. 
In the battle of Fair Oaks he received a wound in the foot, and 
again in the breast at Fort Gregg, South Carolina. He was also 
wounded in the finger at the battle on John's Island. Colonel 
Kephart was married to Miss Lottie B. Connor in 1867. 



Frederick 0. Alleman was born August 1st, 1829, in Dauphin 
county. He received a liberal education and graduated at 
the Pennsylvania Medical College in the spring of 1853. At the 
opening of the Rebellion he served as a private in the Fifteenth 
regiment, and at the close of its term was appointed Assistant 
Surgeon of the Eighth Reserve. He was active through the 
entire Peninsula campaign. " On one occasion," says a corre- 
spondent, " while caring for the suffering, two shells burst by his 
side, instantly killing three of his wounded, and tearing to pieces 
the body of one whose leg he was amputating. He had three 
horses shot under him, and for four consecutive days and nights 
got neither food nor sleep, being constantly engaged with the 
knife and in dressing wounds." At the close of the campaign 
he resigned, but was immediately reappointed Assistant Surgeon 
in the Ninth Reserve. He remained with this until after the 
battle of Fredericksburg, when he was detailed to duty in the 
Western Army. He had charge of hospitals at Louisville, Nash- 
ville, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, and Atlanta. From this 
point he marched with Sherman to the Sea. He was stationed 
there as Surgeon-in-chief of Roper Hospital, and was afterwards 
placed in charge of all the hospitals in the city. Here he re- 
mained until after the close of the war, leaving in August, 1865, 
and was soon after mustered out of service, having been in almost 
constant duty from the beginning to the end of the Rebellion. 
He married in 1853 Miss Mary B. Ogelsby, of Harrisburg. 

60 



94G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

T7T\ aniel Nagle was born at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, 
J^C Pennsylvania, in 1828. He' was the son of General James 
Nagle, a native of Reading. He served as a private in Mexico, 
participating in the siege of Vera Cruz, and the battles of Cerro 
Gordo, La Hoya, Huamantla, and the City of Mexico. In the 
late war he served as Captain in the Sixth regiment, in the three 
months' campaign, at the close of which he entered the Forty- 
eighth as Captain, and was soon after promoted to Major. He was 
with Burnside in North Carolina, and after the return of the regi- 
ment to Fortress Monroe, resigned and retired from the service. 
In 18G2 he was Lieutenant>Colonel of the Nineteenth emergency 
regiment. In November, 18G2, he was appointed Colonel of the 
One Hundred and Seventy-third — a regiment of drafted militia — 
and was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. In July he was trans- 
ferred to the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where 
he remained until his muster out, in August, 18G3. 

tRCHiBALD Blakeley, son of Lewis and Jane (McAllister) 
Blakeley, was born on the lGth of July, 1827, in Butler 
county. His great-grandfather, a brother of Commodore Johns- 
ton Blakeley, of the American Navy, was killed in the battle of 
Brandywine. The father dying suddenly when he was but a 
mere youth, Archibald was forced to rely on his own exertions 
for an education. He studied law, was admitted to practice in 
1852, and in the fall of that year was elected District Attorney. 
At the breaking out of the war he was active in recruiting, and 
was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventy-eighth 
regiment, which was sent to the army of Buell in Kentucky- 
lie was engaged in arduous service in defending communications 
while Buell was on the march to Shiloh, and after the fall of 
Corinth, Blakeley was detailed to preside over a court-martial, 
and a military commission for the trial of civil offences, perform- 
ing for a time much of the business of the civil courts. In the 
fall of 18G3 he was prostrated by sickness and was unable to 
return to duty until after the battle of Stone River. At Dug 
Gap, just previous to the battle of Chickamauga, while in 
command of his regiment, he found himself in the presence 
unexpectedly of the rebel army, and only by cool and judicious 



D. NAGLE.—A. BLAKELEY.—J. W. FISHER. 947 

manoeuvres was he able to extricate himself. During the night 
of Friday preceding the battle he was sent to the fords of the 
Chickamauga, with orders to hold them to the last extremity for 
the protection of the flank of McCook's corps, moving into 
position, which was gallantly executed. In. the great battle of 
Saturday and Sunday he led his regiment with marked courage. 
After the series of engagements which drove the enemy from 
before Chattanooga, Colonel Blakeley with his own, the Twenty- 
first Wisconsin, and a battery, was placed in command on Lookout 
Mountain, which he fortified and held securely during the winter. 
Near the close of his term of service, in the spring of 1864, on 
account of severe illness in his family, he resigned. He was 
nominated by President Johnson for Brigadier-General by 
brevet, but the nomination was never acted on by the Senate. 
He was married in 1854 to Miss Susan D. Mechling. Since the 
war he has devoted himself to his profession in Pittsburg. 

jJjposEPH W. Fisher was born in Northumberland county on the 
£J) 16th of October, 1814. Two years after, his father died, 
leaving a widow and several small children, of whom he was 
youngest. His education was consequently the result mainly of 
his own efforts. He married in 1836 Miss Elizabeth R. Shearer, 
and in 1840 removed to Lancaster county, where he studied law 
and was admitted to practice. In 1848 he was elected a member 
of the Pennsylvania Legislature. He entered the service as a 
private in April, 1861, and was subsequently made Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Fifth Reserve regiment. He made a campaign in 
West Virginia in the fall of 1861, and in 1862 was in the Seven 
Days' battle on the Peninsula, commanding the brigade skir- 
mishers at Beaver Dam Creek, was in the hottest of the fight at 
Gaines' Mill, and at Charles City Cross Roads led in the famous 
charge which shattered the enemy and threw him back upon his 
supports. He was soon after promoted to the rank of Colonel. 
On his way to the Bull Run field his horse fell upon him, inflict- 
ing serious injuries, which prevented him from participating in 
that battle. At South Mountain he led his regiment in the 
assault and capture of that stronghold, and with equal gallantry 
fought at Antietam. At Gettysburg he was in command of a 



948 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

brigade, which he led upon Little Round Top at an opportune 
moment, and subsequently, at dark, scaled Round Top itself, 
driving out the enemy, and fortified it. He continued to com- 
mand his brigade in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
Cold Harbor, and Bethesda Church, and was mustered out with 
the corps at the end of its service. In less than a month he was 
in the field again with a regiment for one hundred days, at the 
end of which he raised one for veteran service, and was ordered 
into the Shenandoah Valley, where he was pitted against the 
redoubtable Moseby. Colonel Fisher was brevetted Brigadier- 
General in this his final campaign, and soon after the close of the 
war was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Senate. In Feb- 
ruary, 1871, he was appointed an associate justice of the court in 
Wyoming Territory, and in December was made Chief Justice, 
which office he still holds. 

isAjoAH G. Ruhl, son of John and Catherine (Gerberick) Ruhl, 
> P was born on the 20th of February, 1823, in York county. 
In 1840 he entered the regular army as- a private, and was 
engaged against the Indians in Florida. He served in Mexico 
from Palo Alto to the capture of the City of Mexico, and at the 
conclusion of the war left the army. Reentering the service as a 
Captain in the Eighty-seventh regiment in 1861, he served in 
the Shenandoah Valley until after the close of the Gettysburg 
campaign, having in the meantime been promoted to Major, 
when his regiment was incorporated with the Sixth corps and in 
the campaign of the Wilderness fought with the Army of the 
Potomac. The duty here was unusually severe, and his health 
becoming impaired, he was, on the 30th of August, discharged on 
surgeon's certificate. He had previously been promoted to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, and during a considerable time had commanded 
the regiment. 



f.AMES Carle, son of John and Maria (Suttle) Carle, was 
on the 8th of September, 1835, in Broome county, 



born 
New 

York. He served an apprenticeship to the business of printing, 
and five years in the regular army, and entered the volunteer 
service in April, 1861, as a Captain in the Sixth Reserve regi- 



NOAH G. BUHL.— JAMES CARLE.— JAMES S. NEGLEY. 949 

ment, participating in all the battles in which that noted body 
was engaged. At Antietam he had a part of his left hand 
shot away, but remained with his company until ordered back. 
When the Reserve corps, at the expiration of its term of service, 
was mustered out, the remnants — a few scarred veterans — were 
organized into two new regiments, the One Hundred and Nine- 
tieth and Ninety-first, and Captain Carle was given command of 
the latter. Soon after crossing the James he was directed to 
charge the enemy before Petersburg. This order was gallantly 
executed, and the Thirty-ninth North Carolina regiment was 
captured in a body. On the 18th of August, 1864, in an action 
upon the Weldon Railroad, near the Yellow House, he was 
captured with a large part of his brigade, and was held at Belle 
Isle, Salisbury, and Danville, until near the close of the war. 
"For conspicuous gallantry and meritorious services" he was 
brevetted Brigadier-General by the President. 

f.AMES S. Negley, Major-General of volunteers, was born in 
Allegheny county, on the 26th of December, 1826. In the 
war with Mexico he enlisted as a private in the First Penns}'l- 
vania regiment, in which he fought in the siege of Puebla, the 
battle of Cerro Gordo, and other engagements of the campaign 
which carried the nag in triumph to the City of Mexico. On 
being mustered out he returned home and engaged extensively in 
horticulture. He was for many }~ears connected with the militia, 
and at the opening of the civil war was in command of a brigade. 
He rendered important service in raising and organizing troops 
for the first campaign, and was selected by Governor Curtin to 
command the camp at Lancaster. General Patterson chose him 
to lead one of his brigades in the Shenandoah Valley, he having 
in the meantime been made a Brigadier-General of volunteers. 

After the muster out of his first command he was given a 
brigade in McCook's division of the Army of the Cumberland. 
General Negley was for a time with General Mitchell in northern 
Alabama, but was subsequently given the Eighth division of 
Buell's army, and put in command at Nashville. While Buell was 
upon the campaign northward which culminated in the battle of 
Perry ville, Negley was obliged to tax his best resources to 



950 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

prevent the city from falling into the hands of the enemy. An 
officer of his command says : " While besieged, affairs wore a 
gloomy aspect. Shut out from the world, with no news for months 
from the army or from home, surrounded by a vindictive enemy 
resolutely determined to capture the capital with the executive 
members of the government, compelled to fight for every mouth- 
ful of food we ate, the condition of the garrison became every 
day more critical. Yet no one was discouraged, and all were 
determined to stand by the city, with full faith that under the 
gallant Negley and Palmer it would be successfully held. Our 
expectations were not disappointed, and on the morning of the 
20th of October we saw from our fortifications the victorious 
legions of Rosecrans approaching the city." 

On the very last day of the year 1862 General Rosecrans, 
who had superseded Buell, met the rebel army under Bragg in 
front of Murfreesboro, at Stone River. McCook with the divisions 
of Johnson, Davis, and Sheridan, held the right of the Union 
line ; Thomas with the divisions of Negley and Rosecrans the 
centre; and Crittenden with the divisions of Palmer, Wood and 
Van Cleve, the left. Early on the morning of the 31st of Decem- 
ber, with massed columns, Bragg attacked the Union right, just at 
the moment that Rosecrans was about to attack from the Union 
left. Rosecrans' right wing was crushed and driven before help 
could reach it. Negley stood next with his noble division. He 
made a stubborn fight. " Pushing out," says a writer in the 
Rebellion Record, "to the Cedar Forest, where Negley's gallant 
division was struggling against great odds, trusty Sheridan was 
met, bringing out his division in superb order. During all this 
period Negley's two brigades, under valiant old Stanley and brave 
John F. Miller, were holding their line though fearfully outnum- 
bered. When the right broke, Negley had pushed in ahead of the 
right wing, and was driving the enemy. His troops sustained one , 
of the fiercest assaults of the day, and the enemy was dreadfully 
punished." At nightfall the right and centre had been driven 
back, and many gallant men had perished. But a line more con- 
tracted had been taken up, and the courage of the troops was un- 
broken. On the afternoon of the following day the fighting was 
renewed on the Union left, upon the opposite side of Stone river, 




~~^*h'SBlW4Sl>. 



HEPBESENTATIVE 



JAMES MILLER. 95I 

and the foe was again driving Rosecrans' troops. " The enemy," 
says the writer above quoted, " as usual had massed his army, 
and advanced in great strength. Negley's division, supported by 
that of Davis and St. Clair Morton's pioneer battalion, was 
immediately sent forward to retrieve the disaster. A sanguinary 
conflict ensued, perhaps the most bitter of the whole battle. 
Both sides massed their batteries, and plied them with desperate 
energy. The infantry of either side displayed great valor ; but 
Negley's unconquerable Eighth division resolved to win. The 
fury of the conflict now threatened mutual annihilation, but 
Stanley and Miller charged simultaneously and drove the enemy 
rapidly before them, capturing a battery, and taking the flag of 
the Twenty-sixth Tennessee, the color sergeant being killed with 
the bayonet." By the valor of Rosecrans' army a complete 
triumph was won, Bragg retreating and leaving the field in the 
hands of the victors. For valor displayed in this fight, Negley 
was made Major-General of volunteers. His division was warmly 
engaged at Chickamauga, and with the army retired to Chatta- 
nooga, where it was intrenched. Soon afterwards General Negley 
took leave of his command, and was called to other fields of duty. 
In 1869 he was elected to Congress, and was twice reelected. 

kames Miller, son of Henry and Ann (Shaw) Miller, was 
born on the 15th of April, 1835, in Jefferson county. He 
entered the service as a Sergeant in the One Hundred and Fifth 
regiment in September, 1861. In a skirmish near Auburn, Vir- 
ginia, in October, 1863, he was severely wounded, having in the 
meantime been promoted to Lieutenant. In the battle of the 
Wilderness he was again severely wounded in the left elbow. In 
the battle near Farmville, on the 6th of April, 1865, he had his 
horse shot under him ; but nothing daunted led a daring charge, 
in which sixteen officers and a hundred men were captured. He 
was promoted to First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and Colonel in 
succession. " His reputation," says an officer of his regiment, 
" was that of a sober, upright and fearless man. He had the 
good-will and confidence of the officers and men under him, who 
were always ready to follow where he led, even to a charge on 
works apparently impregnable, and in the face of certain death." 



952 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

n^noMAS Foster Gallagher, Colonel of the Eleventh Reserve 
' \ regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 
17th of January, 1822, in Westmoreland count}'. He served in 
the militia from 184G to the opening of the Rebellion — having 
been Captain and Colonel — when he was commissioned Colonel of 
the Eleventh. lie was with McClellan upon the Peninsula, and 
at the battle of Gaines' Mill was taken prisoner, with the greater 
part of his regiment. Having been exchanged, he returned in 
time to lead at Bull Run; and at South Mountain, while in 
command of a brigade and charging up the steep acclivity, was 
severely wounded, in consequence of which, in December, 18G2, 
he resigned. In 18G3 he was made Colonel of the Fifty-fourth 
militia, which he led in the exciting chase after John Morgan in 
Ohio. He has served two terms in the Pennsylvania Legislature. 
He was married in 1849 to Miss Lizzie Kin McBride. 

f!oHN Rospell Everhart, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, was born 
in West Chester in 1828. Both his grandfathers served in 
the Revolutionary army with Washington, and his father com- 
manded a company in 1812, was afterwards extensively engaged 
in mercantile pursuits, and was finally lost in the ship Albion, 
wrecked off the coast of Ireland. He was educated at Princeton 
College and in the medical department of the University of 
Pennsylvania. Soon after graduating he went to Paris to further 
prosecute his studies. Returning, he commenced practice in his 
native town. At the time of the prevalence of Asiatic cholera 
in the Chester county almshouse, he volunteered his services, 
and was very successful in the treatment of the disease. At the 
opening of the war he was assigned as surgeon of the Ninety- 
seventh regiment. For three and a half 3-ears he remained on 
duty, proving himself in every position a skilful and faithful 
officer. During the prevalence of the yellow fever at Hilton Head, 
South Carolina, in 18G2, his treatment and sanitary regulations 
were efficacious in staying the disease and confining it to the 
limits of his command. He served as a medical examiner of the 
Department of the South, under General Hunter, Brigade and 
Post Surgeon. Returning north with his regiment, he was on 
duty with the Army of the James until active operations of 18G4 




JOHN R EV£ 



T. F. GALLAGHER.— J. R. EVERIIART.—R. PATTERSON. 953 

had closed, when he retired from the service. In the summer of 
1872 he went with General Pennypacker to Europe, travelling 
extensively in Great Britain and upon the continent. 

1 enjamin Meyers Orwig, Lieutenant of Battery E, First artil- 
jy^ lery, son of Samuel and Mary (Meyers) Orwig, was born on 
the 31st of August, 1840, in Union county. He studied his pro- 
fession in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, 
which he left reluctantly to join the battery that an elder 
brother, Thomas G., was organizing, soon rising to the place of 
second in command. He preserved his health during his entire 
army life, having never but once been in hospital as a patient. 
This battery won distinction on many hard-fought fields, and 
had the honor of being the first Union artillery to enter the 
rebel capital at its downfall. He died of a congestive chill on 
the 28th of October, 1867, at Des Moines, Iowa, where he had 
taken up his abode. 

[jF} obert Patterson, Major-General of volunteers, a native of 
^pV Ireland, came to Pennsylvania with his family at the 
age of six and settled in Delaware county. He served as Lieu- 
tenant and Captain in the War of 1812, and after its close 
became attached to the militia, rising to the rank of Major- 
General in 1824, which office he held for a period of over forty 
years. He commanded the troops in the State troubles of 1838, 
and in suppressing the riots of 1844, in Philadelphia. He 
volunteered for the Mexican War and became Major-General, 
and second only to General Scott in command of the army of 
occupation. At Cerro Gordo he was lifted to his saddle from a 
sick-bed, but bore himself gallantly in the fight. When General 
Scott was relieved, the chief command fell to him, and he with- 
drew the army. None seemed so fit, when the Rebellion came, 
to lead and discipline the new levies, and he was appointed by 
Governor Curtin over Pennsylvania troops. Not many days 
after he was given by the General Government the command of 
the Department of Washington, embracing the disputed territory 
over which troops must pass to the Capital. When the main 
avenues were cut off by the mob in Baltimore he seized that by 



954 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Annapolis, and for some days being unable to communicate with 
the national authorities, assumed the responsibility of author- 
izing twenty-five additional regiments from Pennsylvania. His 
action was ignored, but subsequent events showed that his 
judgment was correct. He took possession of Baltimore and 
reopened all the lines of travel. Having organized a column, he 
moved against the enemy, who were holding Harper's Ferry and 
the right bank of the Potomac. When partially across the 
stream, and in prospect of speedily meeting the foe, his artillery 
and some of his best troops were taken from him, obliging him to 
withdraw. He now proposed to fortify Maryland Heights, and 
move his force to Leesburg, where he could be in striking distance 
of the mouth of the Valley, and in case of need could reinforce 
McDowell at Manassas. This sensible plan was rejected and he 
was directed to keep in front of the enemy in the Valley, and 
fight if a reasonable prospect of success offered. He fought 
Stonewall Jackson at Falling Waters and defeated him, advanced 
as far as Bunker Hill and made vigorous demonstrations in front 
of Winchester, where a rebel army under Johnston was in- 
trenched, on the day that General Scott had advised him that the 
battle of Manassas would be fought, and then withdrew to Har- 
per's Ferry. The battle of Manassas was not fought until several 
days later, and Johnston was left free to unite with Beauregard. 
Patterson was blamed for not having detained Johnston, and 
charged with the disaster at Manassas. But the plan of dividing 
the Union army, and allowing the entire rebel force to come 
between Patterson and McDowell, was defective, and the conduct 
of Patterson is now seen to be above reproach. At the conclu- 
sion of the campaign he resigned. He has held numerous civil 
offices of great responsibility, and during a long life, now pro- 
tracted beyond fourscore years, has been a successful merchant 
and manufacturer. 



PART III. 

CIVIL AND MISCELLANEOUS. 



955 



CHAPTER I. 



EMINENT CIVILIANS, 




NDREW GREGG CURTIN, Governor of the Com- 
monwealth from 1861 to 1866 — covering the 
entire period of the war-^— known at the front as 
the Soldiers' Friend, was born at Bellefonte, on 
the 22d of April, 1817. He was the son of Roland 
Curtin, a native of Ireland, a man of intelligence 
and refinement, having been educated in Paris, 
and one of the earliest settlers of Centre county. 
His mother was a daughter of Andrew Gregg, for 
many years a member of both the House and 
Senate of the United States, Secretary of State 
of Pennsylvania, and candidate for Governor in 
1823. He was educated in the celebrated school 
of the Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick at Milton, and in the law school of 
Dickinson College. In 1839 he was admitted to the bar and com- 
menced practice at Bellefonte in partnership with John Blanch- 
ard, subsequently a member of Congress. He took a leading rank 
as an advocate, and soon distinguished himself in debate. As 
early as 1840 he entered the political arena, championing Gen- 
eral Harrison for the Presidency, and aiding by his youthful and 
impassioned eloquence to create a sentiment which carried the 
Farmer of North Bend to the highest place in the gift of the 
American people. At the next Presidential election he labored 
with equal zeal for Henry Clay, and in 1848 was placed upon the 
electoral ticket, giving powerful support to the hero of the Rio 
Grande. He was again upon the electoral ticket in 1852, and 
advocated the cause of General Scott. 

He was now looked upon as one of the most influential young 
men of the State and acknowledged as a leader. In the contest 
for Governor in 1854 he was made Chairman of the State Central 

957 



958 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Committee, which had in nomination James Pollock. The ticket 
was successful and Curtin was selected for Secretary of State, 
which also embraced the duties of Superintendent of Common 
Schools. He came to the office at an important and critical era 
in school legislation and school management. In his report of 
1855 he says : " It is undeniable that the common school system 
had lost the prestige and hopes of its earlier years, and had 
disappointed the expectations of its friends. Its failing energies 
and want of adaptation to the great objects of its creation seemed 
to portend its ultimate decay, unless animated by a thorough re- 
form and an infusion of fresh vitality." To the infusion of the 
needed vitality he addressed himself with that enthusiasm and 
energy which were his most marked characteristics. He rightly 
appreciated the value of public education in a free State. "All the 
principles," he says in his report of 1857, "that tend to the ameli- 
oration of humanity, every step in the progress of civilization, and 
all institutions founded in benevolence, have come from the intel- 
ligence of the common mind. The great principle of universal 
suffrage, which lies at the foundation of our theory of govern- 
ment, can only be protected from abuse by the education of the 
masses, and without it they are insensible to its perfection, and 
can have no just appreciation of the value of its perpetuity." 

Important legislation had been secured in the last year of the 
preceding administration, but for several causes violent opposi- 
tion had arisen and there was imminent danger of the repeal of 
its most important feature, that of a county superintendency 
which secured a due supervision of the qualifications of teachers 
and the expenditures of money. This he labored zealously to 
maintain until the fruits of its maturity should be a sufficient 
guarantee for its preservation, and this he was successful in 
accomplishing. He ably argued in his report the necessity of 
having a corps of trained teachers, and sketched a plan for a 
system of State Normal Schools, which was the basis of the law 
passed at the succeeding session of the Legislature, now working 
such excellent results. While laboring thus for the upbuilding 
of the school system he did not neglect the duties of his office 
proper, exemplifying the principles of sound statesmanship. He 
never lost sisht of the fundamental condition which lie enunci- 



ANDREW G. CURTIN. 959 

ated near the close 'of his report of 1855: "Our preeminence 
amongst the nations of the earth does not result from the fertility 
of our soil, our free form of government, and abundant physical 
resources. These constitute powerful motive forces, but the 
great leading power is the universality of education." 

At the close of Governor Pollock's administration, Curtin 
returned to his home at Bellefonte, and resumed the practice of 
his profession ; but was not suffered long to remain in retirement. 
In 1860 he was nominated and elected Governor of the Common- 
wealth, by a large majority, though in the face of violent 
opposition. The canvass was all the more animated from the 
fact that a presidential election was to occur a month later, and 
this was held as settling which side should triumph. Pennsyl- 
vania has ever been regarded as the keystone of the Federal 
arch, not only from its location midway between the States of the 
North and those of the South, but because of its magnitude and 
power, the observation being current previous to an election, " as 
goes Pennsylvania so goes the Union." Now more than ever 
was it looked upon as the battle-ground ; for as it should range 
itself on the one side or the other in the great sectional contest, 
so would the decision be rendered. Even a lukewarm support of 
the National cause would have made doubtful the issue. 

Of all the public men in the nation no one would have gone 
farther in the path of honor to have preserved j>eace and tran- 
quillity than Governor Curtin. He sincerely deprecated war and 
bloodshed, and when, in response to the resolve of the Virginia 
Legislature, Congress asked that commissioners be appointed 
from the several States to devise a plan of pacification, he 
selected as one of the members of the delegation from Pennsyl- 
vania his old friend Governor Pollock, who he knew would labor 
with a Christian's zeal for an honorable peace. But when he saw 
all hope of reconciliation shut out, and the madness which ruled 
the hour triumphant, he met the danger with no timid hand nor 
trembling front, and hesitated not for a moment to take up the 
red gauntlet of war, and declare : " No part of the people, no 
State, nor combination of States, can voluntarily secede from the 
Union, nor absolve themselves from their obligations to it. To 
permit a State to withdraw at pleasure from the Union, without 



960 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the consent of the rest, is to confess that 'our Government is a 
failure. Pennsylvania can never acquiesce in such a conspiracy, 
nor assent to a doctrine which involves the destruction of the 
Government." 

The exigencies of war precipitated at a time of profound peace, 
with no preparation for, or even expectancy of its coming, im- 
posed great labors and grave responsibilities upon the Executive. 
Everything in the nature of war material was wanting and had 
to be improvised. But never for one moment did he falter. He 
was especially popular with the young men, and to his call they 
rallied with a unanimity and an enthusiasm rarely witnessed. 

The first levy had scarcely been enrolled before the threats of 
invasion were freely uttered, and a hostile flag was flaunting 
almost within hailing distance of the southern border. He keenly 
felt the dangers to which the State was exposed, and called to- 
gether the Legislature in extra session to grant authority for 
raising a corps for home defence. His plan was adopted, and the 
power to act and the means for its accomplishment were placed at 
his disposal. The Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps was the 
result. It consisted of fifteen regiments — thirteen of infantry 
and one each of cavalry and artillery. But while still in camp 
and before its drill was perfected, the disaster at Bull Run caused 
the Government to tremble for its own safety, and to the earnest 
appeals to have this corps sent to the reinforcement of the 
shattered army of the Union a prompt response was accorded, and 
it arrived at a time of dire need, and when few troops from any 
quarter were ready to be thrown into the breach. Once incorpo- 
rated in the National army it never returned to the special duty 
for which it was created, but wherever the Army of the Potomac 
fought, there was the Reserve corps battling with the sternest, 
until the very day on which its full term of three years expired. 

Call after call for troops came, and the population was drained 
of the young and hardy and zealous. Still the industries of the 
State were not suffered to languish, and no abatement of heart or 
hope was felt. Early in 1863, having indicated his disposition 
not to be a candidate for reelection, President Lincoln, recog- 
nizing the great service which Governor Curtin had rendered, 
and being aware that his health was broken by his severe labors 



ANDREW G. CURTIN. 9Q1 

and anxieties, thoughtfully tendered him a foreign mission. But 
his fidelity to his great trust and his personal popularity caused 
him to be nominated for a second term, and he was triumphantly 
reelected. The spring of I860, when the disasters of Fredericks- 
burg and Chancellorsville were bearing with a fearfully depress- 
ing weight, was the most gloomy and hopeless of the whole war. 
But Governor Curtin accepted the nomination, and bore aloft the 
standard of the Union with the same courage and enthusiasm as 
had characterized him in his most sanguine and prosperous hour. 
His own spirit was infused into the people of the entire Common- 
wealth, and as at the beginning the loyal States turned with 
anxious look to the attitude which Pennsylvania should assume 
and were not disappointed in their hopes, so now were they 
gladdened by the voice of its millions proclaiming their devotion 
to the unity of the nation. In closing his annual message of 
1863, he said: " It would be unjust to omit referring again to the 
loyal spirit of our people which has been evinced in every mode 
since the war commenced. Not only have they sent 277,409 
men for the general and special service of the Government, and 
supported with cheerfulness the burdens of taxation, but our 
storehouses and depots have literally overflowed with comforts 
and necessaries spontaneously contributed by them, under the 
active care of thousands of our women — faithful unto death — for 
the sick and wounded prisoners, as well as for our armies in the 
field. Their patriotic benevolence seems to be inexhaustible. 
To every new call the response becomes more and more liberal. 
When intelligence was received of the barbarian starvation of 
our prisoners in Richmond, the garners of the whole State were 
instantly thrown open, and before any similar movement had 
been made elsewhere, I was already employed on behalf of our 
people in efforts to secure the admission through the rebel lines 
of the abundant supplies provided for the relief of our suffering 
brethren. . . . We are fighting the great battle of God, of truth, 
of right, of liberty. The Almighty has no attribute that can 
favor our savage and degenerate enemies. No people can submit 
to territorial dismemberment without becoming contemptible in 
its own eyes, and those of the world. But it is not only against 
territorial dismemberment that we are struggling, but against 

61 



9G2 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the destruction of the very groundwork of our whole political 
system. . . . We have during the past year made mighty strides 
towards such a solution, and to all human appearance we 
approach its completion. But whatever reverses may happen — 
whatever blood and treasure may still be required — whatever 
sacrifices may be necessary — there will remain the inexorable 
determination of our people to light out this thing to the end; to 
preserve and perpetuate this Union. They have sworn that not 
one star shall be reft from the constellation, nor its clustered 
brightness be dimmed by treason and savagery, and they will 
keep their oath." 

The sympathy of Governor Curtin for the distresses occasioned 
by war was unbounded, and prompted him to constant acts of 
personal kindness and executive amelioration. He knew full well 
that war, even when conducted according to the most humane 
and Christian usages, was a source of constant suffering. It was 
not in his nature to repose when there was aught to be done 
which could promote the comfort of the humblest private. The 
midnight hour often found him still hard at work in the Exec- 
utive chamber, and he cheerfully left his bed at night to face the 
winter's blast, that some act of executive duty that could speed 
waiting troops on tfieir way, or a parent hastening to a perishing 
son, might be performed. He was often at the front, and never 
neglected an opportunity to visit the soldiers in their camps or 
bivouac ; and where he could not go in person he sent faithful 
and competent representatives. The hospital and the field were 
thus constantly under his supervision, and if suffering or want 
was to be alleviated, there was the hand of the Commonwealth 
outstretched to administer relief. When the soldier, rendering 
willing obedience to the mandates of the Government, cheerfully 
volunteered, Governor Curtin extended a promise in behalf of 
the State that his family should be protected, and if he fell in 
battle his children should be provided for. That promise was 
not forgotten. His messages abound in recommendations for the 
relief of the needy and those despoiled by the ravages of war ; 
and the statute books through all the years of battle show that 
his suggestions were promptly heeded. 

In the Gettysburg campaign parts of the border overrun by 



ANDREW G. CURTIN. 963 

the two armies were completely ravaged, and many families 
found themselves reduced from competence to beggary. To 
ameliorate their condition, and to secure suitable remuneration 
for their losses, was an object of his care. Nor were his sym- 
pathies alone excited by the needs of his own people. When it 
was announced to him that the loyal inhabitants of East Tennes- 
see were suffering and dying from want, his heart was moved to 
tenderness, and he embodied the following recommendation in 
his message of 1863 : " The condition of the loyal people of East 
Tennessee is represented to be most deplorable, and appeals 
with irresistible force alike to your sympathies and your sense 
of justice. Their whole country has been laid waste by the con- 
tending armies of the Government and the rebels. Four times 
large armies have passed over that district, destroying or carry- 
ing off all that had been gathered for the approaching winter, 
and now the women and children are left in a state of destitution. 
Representations made by gentlemen of the highest respectabil- 
ity, from that State, are of the most heart-rending character. 
Starvation, actual and present, now exists. Can we in the 
midst of affluent abundance for a moment hesitate as to what 
our action shall be towards the people whose only crime has 
been their loyalty to the Government? Even if a portion of our 
charity should reach the starving families of those in sympathy 
with the Rebellion, better it should than that those devoted, 
self-sacrificing people who have so unhesitatingly adhered to 
the Government be left to suffer. Whenever pestilence and 
famine distressed any portion of our country, we have always 
been foremost in relieving it, and the people of Pennsylvania 
have extended their open-handed benevolence and broad charity 
to the starving of foreign countries. Shall it be said that the 
appeals of these people for bread fell upon the heart of Pennsyl- 
vania in vain, and that we who have so recently given thanks 
for our abundance have no relief for them in their extremities?" 
But the subject which was nearest his heart, and upon which 
he was most eloquent and earnest, was that of the care of the 
orphans of soldiers. Through his appeals and personal influence a 
system has been adopted in Pennsylvania to which, for efficiency 
and completeness, no approximation has been made in any other 



964 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

State of the Union. The orphans are clothed, fed and in- 
structed in Homes where they are under the kindest and best 
of influences, and are trained to useful employments. Seven 
thousand three hundred and ninety of these pupils have been the 
children of the State, and the aggregate expense thus far has 
reached the sum of $4,322,298.34. The manner in which 
these schools originated and the system was wrought is of 
peculiar interest, as it strikingly illustrates of what heart and 
spirit Governor Curtin is. In accordance with a time-honored 
custom the chief magistrate had, early in November, 1863, issued 
his proclamation setting apart a day, and recommending its 
observance as one of thanksgiving and praise. On the morning 
of that day there came to the Governor's door two small children, 
scantily clad and apparently pinched with hunger, begging food. 
Upon inquiry he found that their father had been killed in the 
battle of Gettysburg, that their mother had since sickened and 
died, and that they were friendless and alone in the world. He 
called a servant and relieved their immediate wants, and as he 
returned to his cheerful and comfortable apartments he ex- 
claimed, " Great God ! can it be that the people of this Common- 
wealth in the midst of their abundance are this day to feast and 
revel in profusion, while the children of the soldiers who have 
yielded up their lives upon the altar of their country, home- 
less and friendless, are begging bread!" 

With a heavy heart he went at the appointed hour to join in 
the service to Almighty God; but burdened with the feelings 
which the experience of the morning had awakened, his heart 
was not in the worship. For several days he was much 
oppressed, eagerly devising some plan by which he could arouse 
the feelings and conscience of the Commonwealth in behalf of 
these unfortunate orphans. Sooner than he anticipated, and in a 
way he had not discerned, the occasion came. Henry Ward 
Beecher had just returned from his mission to England, where 
he had effectively plead the interests of his country, and he had 
been invited to speak at a public reception which was accorded 
him in the Academy of Music at Philadelphia, to be held in 
behalf of the United States Sanitary Commission, and Gover- 
nor Curtin was invited to preside and introduce the speaker. 



ANDREW G. CURTIN. 965 

When the request was made to his Excellency he exclaimed : 
*' This is my opportunity ! Yes, I will come." A brilliant 
assemblage greeted him as, with the reverend orator, he appeared 
upon the platform, and in his brief address on taking the chair 
said : " We meet amid the comforts of home, and the enjoy- 
ments of civilized and peaceful life, to aid a great association for 
the beneficent object of following the soldier of the Republic, 
sick or dying — of being with him after every battle, to bind his 
wounds, slake his fevered thirst, and pour into his ears as life ebbs 
the consolations of religion ; and, if no other good can be done, 
to bear his lifeless remains back to those to whom in life he had 
been nearest and dearest. ... I fear that we have not clone 
what we ought for the comparatively uncared for, who have been 
left at home by the gallant fellows who have gone forward. I 
assured thousands of them, as I committed to their care the 
sacred charge °of guarding our country's flag and honor, and 
placed in their hands the national ensign, that those of us who 
remained at home would guard, protect, and cherish the house- 
holds they left behind them. I fear that we have not done our 
whole duty in this particular, that out of our abundance we have 
failed to render a just share to the surviving relatives of the 
slain, and to the families of those who, maimed and wounded, 
have become helpless. Indeed, I am certain that the orphan 
and widow have not been cared for as the priceless treasure of 
a life surrendered for the country should have demanded. 
Coming, as these claimants upon our patriotism and benevolence 
usually do, from the humbler walks of life, their modest and 
unpretending wants are hardly recognized amid the clamor and 
excitement of the times, and the soldier's widow turns with a 
natural pride from what might be considered the condition of a 
mendicant or the recipient of charity. My friends, let us no 
longer fail in the performance of our solemn duty, but let us 
make the position of these an honorable one, and not one of 
degradation. Let the widow and her dependent offspring become, 
in fact and in truth, The Children of the State, and let the 
mighty people of this great Commonwealth nurture and maintain 
them. Let this not be a mere spasmodic effort, but let us now at 
once lay the foundation of a systematic and continuous work, 



966 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

which will enable the defender of the Constitution to know, as he 
paces his weary vigil upon the cheerless picket, that living, his 
family at home is cared for, and that dying, the justice, not the 
charity of the country has provided for the helpless survivors." 
In his message delivered soon after he said : " I commend to the 
prompt attention of the Legislature the subject of the relief of the 
pooi orphans of our soldiers who have given or who shall give 
their lives to the country during this crisis. In my opinion their 
maintenance and education should be provided for by the Stale. 
Failing of other natural friends of ability to care for them they 
should be honorably received and fostered as children of the 
Commonwealth." But the Legislature did not at once feel the 
force of the Governor's suggestion, and the Act which he had 
caused to be prepared and offered was defeated. Some time 
previous, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in that spirit of 
independent and manly generosity which has ever characterized 
it, presented to the Governor $50,000 to be expended in raising 
and equipping troops, or in such way as the Legislature should 
direct for the benefit of the soldiers. Seeing his benevolent 
designs in behalf of the orphans about to fail, the Governor be- 
thought himself of this fund, which had not been disposed of, and 
near the close of the session secured the passage of a resolution 
authorizing him to appoint a superintendent and gather the 
orphans into suitable schools. That resolution of a few lines 
served to inaugurate the system, and to found a charity before 
which the most imposing are dwarfed. His end was compassed, 
and his heart was made glad. Hon. Thomas H. Burrowes, a man 
who had devoted his life to education and was peculiarly gifted 
with the power of organizing, was made superintendent. Institu- 
tions in convenient parts of the Commonwealth were selected, 
and intelligent and efficient supervision was provided. The next 
Legislature seemed as little inclined to make appropriations as 
the preceding, and again was the cherished purpose in imminent 
peril. In this extremity the Governor had recourse to a flank 
movement which for tactical skill and overwhelming success 
was never excelled by Grant or Sherman in their palmiest hours. 
He sent out and had the orphans from a few schools summoned 
to Harrisburg, and on an appointed day the offspring of heroes 



ANDREW G. CURTIN. 9(37 

sacrificed on their country's altars came and were quartered 
among the citizens, the Governor himself receiving twenty into 
his own home. With fife and drums and diminutive banners 
they marched to the capitol, and in presence of the assembled 
members they had recitations and sung songs, and one brave 
little fellow told the story of his father's life, and how he had 
fallen on the first day at Gettysburg, how his mother had died 
and he with his young sister was left alone in the world, until 
by the efforts of the Governor and the representatives of the 
people they had been provided for in the orphan school, had 
been furnished with warm clothing and given the care of kind 
teachers. The recital excited profound emotion ; tears rolled 
down cheeks where tears were strangers, and the breasts of 
strong, rough men were bowed with tenderness. Addresses were 
made by the Governor and by members; but they were dull and 
tame in comparison with the simple story of that boy whose lips 
would never more be pressed in parental affection. The bill for 
the support of Soldiers' Orphans was promptly passed, and ample 
appropriations without further question made, all parties uniting, 
and ever after persevering in their support of the measure. 
Thousands were thus gathered and placed under the charge of 
experienced and kind-hearted educators, and were treated as 
children of the State. The policy was wise and just; for it not 
only discharged a debt due the fallen soldier, but it preserved in 
the paths of honor and usefulness a class of children, who failing 
of protection and care would have been ready subjects of tempta- 
tion and vice. The zeal and earnestness which Governor Curtin 
displayed in this enterprise, and the success which crowned his 
efforts, will constitute his strongest claim to gratitude and 
remembrance by future generations. 

A consideration of the perishable nature of the records of troops 
while in the field induced the Governor to recommend the prepara- 
tion of a more permanent account of every soldier who went out 
from the Commonwealth to do battle for his country, that the patri- 
otic and faithful might point to with pride and satisfaction. The 
authority was duly granted, and a compendium from all official 
and available sources was made and published, filling five large 
octavo volumes, in which each has at least one line, embracing 



968 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the chief items in his record, besides a condensed account of the 
part taken by the regiment or organization to which he belonged. 

The winter of 1864— '65 was spent by Governor Curtin in Cuba, 
his physicians enjoining it as the only alternative of Baying his 
life, he having been much reduced by sickness and having in the 
previous year been under the care of an eminent physician in 
New York. He was prominently named near the close of his 
gubernatorial office for the United States Senate, and a large 
number of his political friends in the Legislature were eager to 
place him there. He was also named for Vice-President on the 
ticket with General Grant, and soon after the latter had been 
elevated to the chief office, he appointed Governor Curtin Minis- 
ter to Russia, a compliment no less graceful than merited. His 
residence at St. Petersburg was in an eminent degree pleasant to 
himself and agreeable to the royal family, he being highly 
esteemed for his high public position, but more especially for 
his personal worth, his courtly bearing, and his unsurpassed con- 
versational powers. Early in 1872 he resigned his office and 
returned to this country. Parties were at the time in a state of 
turmoil and mutation. His old political friend and associate, Mr. 
Greeley, was a candidate for the Presidency, in opposition to 
President Grant. It is a striking mark of the hold which Gover- 
nor Curtin had upon the popular heart that he should have been 
strongly urged in the convention of the Liberal Republicans, and 
in that of the Republicans also, for Vice-President in that year. 
In the struggle which ensued he gave his support to Mr. Greeley. 

Allusion has been made above to Governor Curtin's rare con- 
versational power. Those who have been favored with his 
intimacy know how irresistible is its charm. Never monopo- 
lizing the attention of the company with Johnsonian arrogance, 
he yet never suffers conversation for a moment to lose its 
interest, and his sallies of wit, his matchless caricature, the 
display of keen insight into the springs of human nature, his 
itlinity for the lofty and ennobling, his unrivalled power of 
description and delineation, and withal a mind of never-failing 
resource, combine to make him a princely companion. His 
oratorical powers are of a rare order. The political rostrum has 
been the scene of his most frequent triumph. There were his 



SIMOX CAMERON. 969 

earliest attempts to wield that mysterious influence which sways 
the heart, and there, in the full maturity of his powers, with 
master hand, touching that potent instrument, 

" In varying cadence soft or strong 
He swept the sounding chords along." 

A striking example of Governor Curtin's power in binding 
personal attachment occurred in his last election as Governor. 
The soldier, Birney, after having displayed the most exalted 
heroism and courage at the front, was stricken with a mortal 
sickness, and was being brought home to die. On arriving 
in Philadelphia, knowing that it was the day of the guber- 
natorial election, and filled with the fervor of a stern and 
uncompromising patriotism, he insisted on being taken to the 
polls. His friends, knowing his weakened condition, endeavored 
to dissuade him. But with that determined voice so often heard 
in the thick of battle he answered : " I must vote, sir ; I must 
vote ! Governor Curtin may be defeated for lack of my vote." 
So weak was he that he had to be lifted from his carriage, and to 
aggravate his peril his vote was challenged. But not till that 
vote was accepted and recorded would he turn away. 

Governor Curtin is in person kinglike, a head taller than the 
people, and of a dignified and commanding carriage. His head is 
broad and massive, and his face indicative of high resolve and 
kindly emotion. He married Catharine, daughter of William J. 
Wilson, M. D. The issue of this marriage has been one son and 
four daughters. 

imon Cameron, Secretary of War during the early stages of 
the Rebellion, was born in Lancaster county, on the 8th 
of March, 1799. He received a fair English education, and 
early learned the art of printing, working as a journeyman in 
Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Washington, and subsequently editing 
newspapers in Doylestown and Harrisburg. He was largely 
interested in banking and railroad construction in the central 
portion of the State, and was for a time Adjutant-General. In 
1845, he was elected United States Senator, in which capacity he 
served until 1849. In 1857 he was reelected for the full term of 
six years, and was a participant in the stormy sessions of that 



970 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

body preceding the opening of hostilities, advocating peace and 
a fair settlement of questions in dispute with an earnestness 
and pertinacity which seemed almost at variance with his 
support of the principles on which the Republican party was 
built. In the national convention which met at Chicago in 
1860, he was presented as a candidate for President, having 
strong support, and when Mr. Lincoln was nominated, it was 
generally conceded that Pennsylvania should be accorded the 
Vice-President, in the expectation that Mr. Cameron would be 
named ; but the delegation being unable to harmonize, Hannibal 
Hamlin of Maine was selected. 

Recognizing Mr. Cameron's great executive ability, President 
Lincoln designated him as a member of his cabinet, assigning 
him to the Department of War, which necessitated his resigna- 
tion as Senator. When once the alternative of a resort to arms 
was forced upon the Government, Mr. Cameron advocated the 
prosecution of the contest with relentless vigor. When Mr. 
Lincoln decided to call seventy-five thousand men, his voice was 
for a more decided policy. The status of the slave, which was at 
the foundation of the struggle, early claimed the Secretary's 
attention, and when General Butler wrote asking instructions, 
and proposing to treat fugitives as contraband of war, he enunci- 
ated the general principles which should govern throughout the 
entire Union army. " The war," he says, " now prosecuted on 
the part of the Federal .Government is a war for the Union, and 
for the preservation of all the constitutional rights of the States 
and the citizens of the States in the Union. ... In States wholly 
or partially under insurrectionary control, it is obvious that rights 
dependent on the execution of the laws temporarily fail. ... To 
this general rule rights to services can form no exception. . . . 
Under these circumstances it seems quite clear that the substan- 
tial rights of loyal masters will be best protected by receiving 
such fugitives as well as fugitives of disloyal masters into the 
service of the United States, and employing them under such 
organizations and in such occupations as exigencies may suggest 
or require." A record was authorized to be kept of such fugitives 
with a view to compensating loyal masters. But as complications 
multiplied and dangers thickened, to his keen practical sense it 



SIMON CAMERON. 971 

was evident that, if the Government was ever to conquer a peace, 
the fugitive should not only be treated as a contraband, but that 
his services should be actively employed in the national armies. 
On the 13th of November, 1861, Colonel John Cochrane, in 
presence of a large concourse of citizens and officials high in the 
service of the Government, spoke to his regiment, the First 
United States Chasseurs. His words throughout breathed a 
determined spirit, and upon the subject of the slave he said : 
" Suppose the enemy's slaves were arrayed against you, would 
you, from any squeamishness, refrain from pointing against them 
the hostile gun, and prostrating them in death? No, that is 
your object ; and if you would seize their property, open their 
ports, and even destroy their lives, I ask you whether you would 
not use their slaves ? Whether you would not arm their slaves 
and carry them in battalions against their masters ? If necessary 
to save this Government, I would plunge their whole country, 
black and white, into one indiscriminate sea of blood, so that we 
should in the end have a government which should be the viceger- 
ent of God. Let us have no more of this dilettante system, but let 
us work with a will and a purpose that cannot be mistaken. Let us 
not put it aside from too great a delicacy of motives. Soldiers, you 
know no such reasoning as this. You have arms in your hands, 
and those arms are placed there for the purpose of exterminating 
an enemy unless he submits to law, order, and the Constitution. 
If he will not submit, explode everything that comes in your way. 
Set fire to the cotton. Take property wherever you may find it. 
Take the slave and bestow him upon the non-slaveholder if you 
please. Do to them as they would do to us. Kaise up a party 
of interest against the absent slaveholders, distract their counsels, 
and if this should not be sufficient, take the slave by the hand, 
place a musket in it, and in God's name bid him strike for the 
liberty of the human race." In response to this sentiment Mr. 
Cameron said : " The doctrines which he (Colonel Cochrane) has 
laid down, I approve as if they were my own words. They are 
my sentiments — sentiments which will not only lead you to 
victory, but which will in the end reconstruct this our glorious 
Federal Constitution. It is idle to talk about treating with these 
rebels upon their own terms. We must meet them as our 



972 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PEyXSYLVANIA. 

enemies, treat them as enemies, and punish them as enemies, 
until they shall learn to behave themselves. Every means which 
God has placed in our hands it is our duty to use for the purpose 
of protecting ourselves." 

But Mr. Cameron was not a man to be satisfied with proclaim- 
ing his sentiments and allowing them to end in idle vaporing. 
lie was a man rather of few words, and chiefly powerful in deeds. 
General T. W. Sherman was at about this time sent to have 
command in the Department of the South. In preparing his 
instructions the Secretary inserted the following : " As special 
directions, adapted to special circumstances, cannot be given, much 
must be referred to your own discretion as commanding general 
of the expedition. You will, however, in general, avail yourself 
of the services of any persons, whether fugitives from labor or 
not, whc may offer them tc the National Government; 3*011 will 
employ such persons in such services as they may be fitted for, 
either as ordinary employes, or, if special circumstances seem to 
require it, in any other capacity, with such organization in 
squads, companies, or otherwise, as you deem most beneficial to 
the service. This, however, not to mean a general arming of 
them for military service." Mr. Greeley, in his "History of the 
Rebellion," in a note relative to the concluding sentence of the 
above extract, says : " It is well understood that this was 
inserted by the President in revising the order." But Mr. 
Cameron was not content with issuing the instructions. He 
caused to be prepared a quantity of gay uniforms in which the 
bright colors suited to please the susceptible and imaginative 
negroes predominated, and sent them to General Sherman, well 
knowing that the commander would understand for whom they 
were intended. 

In his annual report, submitted to Congress in December, 
1861, as he originally prepared it, the Secretary argued the right 
tc seize and arm the slave as undisputed, but by direction of the 
Government it was materially modified. In his first draft he 
had said : " War, even between independent nations, is made to 
subdue the enemy, and all that belongs to that enemy, by occupy- 
ing the hostile country, and exercising dominion over all the men 
and things within its territory. . . . Why should this (slave) 



SI3I0N CAMERON. 973 

property be exempt from the hazards and consequences of a 
rebellious war? . . . While the loyal States have all their 
property and possessions at stake, are the insurgent rebels to 
carry on warfare against the Government in peace and security 
to their own property ? Reason, and justice, and self-preservation 
forbid that such be the policy of this Government, but demand, 
on the contrary, that being forced by traitors and rebels to the 
extremity of war, all the rights and powers of war should be 
exercised to bring it to a speedy end. . . . The Government has 
no power to hold slaves, none to restrain a slave of his liberty, 
or to exact his service. It has a right, however, to use the vol- 
untary service of slaves liberated by war from their rebel masters, 
like any other property of the rebels, in whatever mode may be 
most efficient for the defence of the Government, the prosecution 
of the war, and the suppression of the Rebellion. It is as clearly 
a right of the Government to arm slaves when it may become 
necessary, as it is to take gunpowder from the enemy and use it 
against them. . . . If it shall be found that the men who have been 
held by the rebels as slaves are capable of bearing arms and per- 
forming efficient military service, it is the right, and may become 
the duty of this Government to arm and equip* them and employ 
their services against the rebels, under proper regulations, dis- 
cipline and command. But in whatever manner they may be 
used by the Government, it is plain that once liberated by the 
rebellious acts of their masters, they should never again be 
restored to bondage. By the master's treason and rebellion he 
forfeits all right to labor and service of his slave ; and the slave 
of the rebellious master, by his service to the Government, 
becomes justly entitled to freedom and protection." This, at the 
very outset of the war, was considered bold doctrine, and appar- 
ently not entirely in harmony with the declarations of the 
President in his messages, as to the purposes of the Government, 
though the course here pointed out was at a later period actually 
adopted without incurring any imputation of inconsistency, the 
necessity for preserving the life of the government overriding 
every other consideration, and might from the first have been 
adopted had public sentiment been prepared for it. At the sug- 
gestion of the Government, however, Mr. Cameron's argument was 



974 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVAXIA. 

so modified as simply to say : " Their labor may be useful to us ; 
withheld from the enemy it lessens his military resources, and 
withholding them has no tendency to induce the horrors of 
insurrection, even in the rebel communities. They constitute a 
military resource, and being such, that they should not be turned 
over to the enemy is too plain to discuss. Why deprive him 
of supplies by a blockade, and voluntarily give him men to 
produce them ?" The publication of the original draft subserved 
the important purpose, at the time, of familiarizing the loyal 
people of the course which the Government might be compelled 
to adopt, and at the same time gave the disloyal a strong hint of 
what they might eventually reasonably expect. 

On the 11th of January, 1862, Mr. Cameron resigned his 
position as Secretary of War, and was immediately tendered by 
the President and accepted the place of Minister to Russia. He 
undertook this important mission at a critical period in the 
national history. Complications with foreign nations were then 
hourly thickening. Several first-class powers were earnestly 
discussing the question of recognizing the Southern Confederacy. 
Napoleon was maturing his schemes for the occupation of Mexico. 
Southern emissaries were laboring at every European court to 
gain favor for their newly formed government, and seeking to 
create a sentiment at variance with that of the United States. 
In the midst of these portents of evil, to preserve and cement 
the friendship of so powerful a nation as Russia was of the first 
moment. To Mr. Cameron was committed this all important 
duty. How well he executed his high trust the sequel of events 
proved. As the winter of 1863 drew on apace, and the prospect 
of ultimate triumph seemed more and more remote — the western 
nations of Europe supporting the rebels not only with their 
sympathy but with material aid — there suddenly appeared, one 
bright morning, in New York harbor a fleet of the most powerful 
war vessels in the Russian navy, and there they remained during 
the entire season. No word was spoken as to their destination 
or purpose, and ostensibly they were seeking a safe haven. 
But European nations, hostile to the government of the United 
States, were not slow in reading the import of the act. In tones 
which echoed across the Atlantic, it uttered the condemnation of 



SIMON CAMERON. 975 

intervention, and proclaimed: "Gentlemen, in this struggle of the 
American nation, hands off!" It was a call to keep the peace 
which the nations of Europe chose to respect. 

On the 30th of April, 1862, the United States House of Repre- 
sentatives passed a resolution censuring the conduct of Mr. 
Cameron, while Secretary of "War, in investing Alexander Cum- 
mings with public money without taking security therefor, and 
in other ways involving the Government in large outlays. This 
resolution had no sooner met the eye of President Lincoln than 
he prepared a message to Congress, in which he stated that at 
the crisis in April, 1861, when communication with the North 
had been cut off, and the Government itself was in imminent 
clanger of immediate overthrow, he sent orders to the command- 
ants of the navy yards at Boston, New York, and Philadelphia 
to purchase each five war vessels for defence, had empowered 
Governor Morgan and Alexander Cummings of New York to 
provide for the transportation of troops, no security being 
required, and had directed the Secretary of the Treasury to 
advance $2,000,000 to Messrs. Dix, Opdyke, and Blatchford to 
meet necessary expenditures. " I believe," the President con- 
tinues, " that by these and other similar measures taken in that 
crisis, some of which were without any authority of law, the 
Government was saved from overthrow. . . . Congress will see 
that I should be wanting equally in candor and justice if I should 
leave the censure expressed in this resolution to rest exclusively 
or chiefly upon Mr. Cameron. The same sentiment is unani- 
mously entertained by the heads of departments who partici- 
pated in the proceedings which the House of Representatives has 
censured. It is due to Mr. Cameron to say that, although he 
fully approved the proceedings, they were not moved nor sug- 
gested by himself, and that not only the President but all the 
other heads of departments were at least equally responsible with 
him for whatever error, wrong, or fault was committed in the 
oremises." 

After accomplishing the purposes of his mission to the court of 
the Czar, Mr. Cameron resigned and returned to his home in 
Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1867, when he was again 
elected to the United States Senate, and was reelected in 1873, 



976 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and should he serve out this term he will have been twenty 
years a member of that body. Upon the retirement of Mr. Sum- 
ner from the chairmanship of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, 
a place of great dignity and responsibility, Mr. Cameron was 
selected for the position thus made vacant. He has always held a 
place upon some of the most important committees, in which he 
has ever been attentive, and swayed a controlling influence. In 
debate he expresses himself clearly, forcibly and cogently, but with 
no attempt at display. In a deliberative body and in a popular 
canvass he is never failing in resource and remarkably success- 
ful. Few men have been more so, and much of the antagonism 
which he has encountered has arisen from this cause. In person 
he is over six feet in height, broad-shouldered, and though now 
in his seventy-sixth year is as erect and lithe as a youth of 
twenty. Mr. Cameron married Miss Margaret Brua, who died 
in 1873. Both were of Scotch descent. The issue of this 
marriage was three sons and three daughters. 

M. Stanton, Secretary of War during the greater 
part of the Rebellion, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on 
the 19th of December, 1815. His great-grandfather was a 
Quaker, who settled early in the history of Massachusetts colony 
on Nantucket Island. His grandfather moved to North Carolina, 
where he married a Miss Norman from Virginia, and whence he 
afterwards moved to Steubenville, where Edwin M. was born. 
He entered Kenyon College, but, on account of the straitened 
circumstances of the father, only remained a few months, and 
then went to Columbus, where he was engaged in a bookstore. 
During his leisure moments he applied himself to the study of 
law, and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He commenced 
practice at Cadiz, and was for one term District Attorney for 
Harrison county ; but at its expiration removed to Steubenville. 
In 1839 he was elected by the Legislature of Ohio, reporter of 
the Supreme Court, which position he held for three years. In 
1842 he defended Mr. McNulty, Clerk of the House of Repre- 
sentatives, charged with defalcation, winning a national reputa- 
tion by the ability displayed. In 1848 he removed to Pittsburg 
and entered into a law partnership with Charles Shaler and 





VSiAaj^vvv \\k qXouX; 



vrw 



EDWIN 31. STANTON. 977 

Theodore Umbstratter, at once taking a leading rank, his practice 
extending beyond the limits of the State. He had some time 
before been called to the Supreme Court, and here some of his 
most important and lucrative practice was found. The case of 
the Wheeling Bridge Company in which he was engaged involved 
large amounts and attracted wide attention, as did also the 
defence of Sickles for the killing of Key. In 1858 he was 
appointed by Attorney -General Black to represent the United 
States in the celebrated California land cases. He accordingly 
proceeded thither, and after a protracted and determined contest 
succeeded in overthrowing the titles under the Mexican grants 
and established those of the rightful claimants. 

With this exception he had held no public office until Decem- 
ber, 1860, when, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the transfer of 
Mr. Black to Secretary of State, he was appointed to a cabinet 
office under Mr. Buchanan. He advocated a determined and 
vigorous policy ; but Mr. Buchanan's ear was heavy, and he only 
sought to retire without a conflict. When Mr. Lincoln was 
installed, Mr. Stanton resumed the practice of his profession, 
but civil life was now overshadowed by military, and he did 
not remain long in retirement ; for when Mr. Cameron was sent 
to Russia, Mr. Stanton was nominated to the place left vacant in 
the cabinet. Some surprise was manifested by the leaders of 
the Republican party, that he, a pronounced Democrat, fresh 
from the cabinet of Buchanan, should receive this signal mark 
of honor, the War Office — in view of the magnitude of military 
operations to be carried on, the most important in the Govern- 
ment. With so firm a hand and with such relentless vigor did 
he execute the trust that he was justly styled the American 
Carnot. An editorial of the New York Herald, in an appreciative 
estimate of his character, says of him at this period : "An honest, 
earnest, active, firm, resolute, decisive and efficient man Avas 
Stanton in the War Office — the man of all men for the part he 
had to play. It may be said that he was rough, imperious, 
despotic, cruel, and offensive in many things. Measured, how- 
ever, by the hatred of the implacable adherents of the Rebellion, 
in his services to the Union, he stands first in the list of the 
great champions of the cause." Better than any description or 

62 



978 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

analysis of his character are incidents which show him to the 
life. In an article contributed to Harpers Magazine by Mr. T. 
B. Thorpe is the following: "Mr. Stanton, with an amanuensis, 
made his appearance punctually at eleven o'clock. His approach 
was heralded by the noise of the rapidly disappearing feet of 
messengers and idlers, who were by some fascination hanging 
about the War Office. . . . Instantly a tall gentleman supported 
by a bundle of papers, fawning and gushing, but with very weak 
knees and a stereotyped smile, would approach, and with a 
vulgar salute of presumed familiarity would hurriedly utter, 
' Good-morning, Mr. Secretary ; fine morning, sir.' Mr. Stanton 
would give a nervous twitch, as the familiar voice met his ear, 
and turning abruptly to the speaker would growl between his 
teeth : ' Sit down, sir ; I'll attend to you by-and-by,' and Mr. 
Senator Mealy mouth, with papers about some 'job,' would sud- 
denly disappear. Next in presumed importance, a gentleman with 
a brand-new suit of military clothing, glistening like an ignited 
pin wheel, with stars and stripes : ' My card, Mr. Secretary — 
Major-General Brassbuttons.' Mr. Stanton would turn on the 
new speaker like a tiger at bay, would examine the caricature of 
Mars from head to foot, would thunder out : ' Come, sir, what are 
you doing in Washington ? If you are not needed at the front I'll 
see about mustering you out.' General Brassbuttons would gasp 
for breath, and his capacious boots, less sensitive than the man, 
would carry the discomfited officer out of the room. Consterna- 
tion would now reign in the audience room. Even the widows 
and wounded soldiers would grow pale. When they beheld such 
great men as Senators and Generals in good health suddenly 
squelched out, they naturally asked themselves, 'What is to 
become of us?' By this time Mr. Stanton literally had his 
audience in hand ; no one was now venturesome enough to 
obtrude especially himself or wants upon his notice ; so at his 
leisure he would glance around the room, then suddenly stopping 
to examine a sick or wounded soldier, the poor fellow would 
attempt to rise from his seat in acknowledgment of the honor, 
when Mr. Stanton would mildly, musically say, * Keep your seat, 
my good man," and the iron Secretary would leave his place, 
would walk over to the silent but eloquent applicant for relief, 



EDWIN M. STANTON. 979 

and taking liim kindly by the hand, would ask, ' What brings 
you here?' The story was the same so often told. Soldier in 
one of the Washington hospitals, suffering from a severe wound ; 
cannot identify himself, as his regiment is on the move, and 
no descriptive list can be obtained. Can get no pay, draw no 
clothing ; wants a furlough to go home. The hospital regulations 
keep him with the strictest severity in the narrow whitewashed 
walls, now worse than a prison. Order from Mr. Stanton : 
'Advance of two months' pay, transportation home, and thirty 
days' furlough.' Soldier retires, his face beaming with satisfac- 
tion, and realizing keenly, for the first time, that he has a 
country worth fighting for and men in the Government who care 
for its defenders." 

General Sedgwick, the gallant commander of the Sixth corps, 
having gone immediately to the front on coming to Washington 
from the frontier in 1861, had never met Mr. Stanton till late in 
1863, when he was summoned to the capital to testify before the 
Committee on the Conduct of the War. On his arrival as was his 
duty he went immediately to the War Office to pay his respects 
to the Secretary. Though entering early, Mr. Stanton studiously 
ignored his presence until every one in the room had been 
received. " The two alone," says Thorpe, " Mr. Stanton turned 
toward his imperturbable visitor, and, looking him full in the 
face, ejaculated, 'Well, sir?' To which came the reply: 'Mr. 
Secretary, I am General Sedgwick ; I have called to pay my 
respects to you as the head of this department. I have neglected 
this dut}^ up to this time, because I have not been here since I 
came from the frontier in 1861, and,' Sedgwick added, with some 
emotion, 'I shouldn't have been here now, sir, if I had not been 
ordered to do so by a committee of Congress.' The Secretary's 
face instantly changed. The harsh voice that put the equivocal 
'Well, sir?' softened into a cheerful greeting. 'Give me your 
hand, General,' said Mr. Stanton, his face beaming with pleasure. 
' I am glad to see you — I would be glad to see more soldiers like 
} t ou. Come into my private room ; I don't see you very often.' ' 

Mr. Stanton saw many dark and wearisome days when dis- 
aster followed disaster, and when for a long time the result of the 
contest hung trembling in the balance. A friend visited him 



080 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

when upon his dying bed, after the triumph had come, and he 
was about to }ield up his life. It was thus described in Wilkes' 
Spirit of the Times: "The day was tempestuous and gloomy, and 
the wind howled violently around the angles of the building. 
After some conversation, we noticed this by saying, that doubt- 
less such dismal noises had the effect of making him feel 
unusually sad. ' Oh, no,' he answered, ' not at all ; on the con- 
tra ry, I derive a peculiar pleasure now in listening to the howling 
of the winds. There was a time when it would make me dread- 
fully nervous, and keep me awake for hours in the night. Then 
there were thousands of our boys afloat on the Atlantic coast ; 
others were on the treacherous bosom of the Gulf; others were 
exposed on the surface of the Mississippi, and thousands upon 
thousands lay drenched in camp, or shivering upon picket duty ; 
but' — and here the speaker's eyes exhibited reviving light, and 
his voice strengthened into joyful volume — ' but the boys are all 
home now ; all home now ; out of the reach of the storm ! ' It is 
impossible to describe the exquisite tenderness with which this 
was said, or to explain the emotion which we felt when, as he 
concluded, we saw a tear break from each lid and quietly roll 
down his cheeks." 

Mr. Stanton was retained in the War Office under President 
Johnson, and for a time the immense business of bringing home 
the armies and returning them to the pursuits of peace went 
smoothly on. But when the subject of reconstruction of the 
revolted States came to be settled, the President enunciated 
views which were at variance with those entertained by Mr. 
Stanton, and the party which had placed him in power. The 
Tenure of Office Act rendered it possible for him to remain in 
office in spite of the will of the President. The Republican party, 
being in the ascendency and responsible for the government of 
the country, was desirous of shaping its own polic}^. At the 
urgent entreaty of the leaders of that party he was induced to 
hold the position after his successor had been named by the 
President, barricading and making his office a citadel. When the 
impeachment of the President failed — regarding that as decisive 
of his party's authority — he quietly retired. The great strain 
upon his nerves had left his system weakened and shattered; but 



THADDEUS STEVENS. 981 

he resumed the practice of his profession with the zeal of youth, 
appearing in several important cases before the Supreme Court. 
His labors, however, were of short duration, and on the 22d of 
December, 1865, after a short illness, the great Secretary quietly 
breathed his last. A short time before his death he was nomi- 
nated and confirmed an associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 
but he lived not to take his seat in that grave place of honor and 
renown. The writer above quoted from the Herald, in closing 
his summing, says : " Eminently distinguished in the character of 
Carnot, he has left the additional fame of a lawyer fully qualified 
for the high position to which he was but the other day 
appointed and confirmed, as a Judge of the Supreme Court. His 
name will live, and his memory will be revered, while the 
enduring principles of the Union, liberty, equal rights and law 
survive in the minds of men. His friends, in view of his services 
as a public man, are millions in number, while the enemies he 
leaves behind him with a few exceptions are the unhappy 
mourners over the * lost cause.'" 

fHADDEUS Stevens, "The Great Commoner," was born in 
Peacham, Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 4th of April, 
1793. He was a sickly child and club-footed, and his parents 
being extremely poor he had small prospect of eminence. His 
father appears to have been what is commonly termed a "good- 
for-nothing," but his mother having strong native sense and great 
tenderness for her unfortunate boy labored assiduously to gratify 
his desire to learn, in providing decent clothing and keeping him 
in the rural district school which for a few months in each 
year was in operation. An old lady who was a schoolmate in 
this humble situation says: "I remember him as it was yesterday. 
Folks never supposed they would ever be able to raise him; but 
they did. He was still and quiet like, different from the rest of 
the boys, and they'd laugh at him, boy-like, and mimic his 
limping walk. They didn't mean any harm ; but Thaddeus was 
a sensitive little fellow, and it rankled him. I've always thought 
that's the reason, perhaps, he has never been back to the old 
homestead." By close application he prepared for college, eking 
Qut the necessary means by teaching school in the intervals of 



982 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

study, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1814. Soon after he 
removed to York, Pennsylvania, which State became his perma- 
nent home, where he taught school and studied law. Known 
only as a school teacher, when at the end of two years he was 
about to seek admission to the bar, the members of the profession 
actuated by pride and prejudice refused to recognize Stevens as a 
law student, and actually passed a resolution providing that no 
person who pursued any other avocation than that of the regular 
study of the law should be eligible to membership. Stevens was 
not a man to be foiled in a way like this, and changing his 
residence for a month or two to a neighboring county of Mary- 
land he was admitted, when returning to Pennsylvania he had 
the satisfaction of coming to the bar in spite of the narrow- 
minded policy by which he had been met, and soon rose to the 
front rank as a practitioner. He eschewed politics for a time ; 
but in the exciting campaigns following the advent of John 
Quincy Adams to the Presidency he could not remain a quiet 
spectator, espousing the cause of Adams and subsequently of the 
Whigs. In 1833 he was elected to the Legislature, and was 
returned in '34, '35, '37 and '41. 

It was during his membership of this body that Mr. Stevens 
made his noted speeches on the Common School System and the 
act for establishing a School of Art. From 1809 to 1834 a 
system of educating the poor gratis had been in operation in the 
State, a system which had become odious, as it could only benefit 
those abject enough to have themselves recorded as paupers. 
After long efforts a bill was drawn in that year, during the 
administration of Governor Wolf, providing for the establishing 
of a complete system. " It was believed," said Mr. Stevens, in a 
conference upon this subject with the writer, " that the best way 
to pass it was not to have any public discussion, but to canvass 
the members individually. So successful was it that it passed the 
House of Representatives with but one vote against — Mr. Grimm's, 
of Lehigh. When the law was published and sent out for execu- 
tion, it caused an excitement throughout the State which I have 
never known equalled in any political contest. The members 
were denounced as usurpers, and the people were warned that 
their liberties and rights were in danger. Very few of the old 







\ 






THADDEUS STEVENS. 983 

members were returned at the next election except such as 
recanted and promised to vote for the repeal. At the meeting of 
the Legislature petitions for the repeal poured in until the signa- 
tures amounted to about fifty thousand. Very few remonstrances 
could be got up, though considerable effort was made. The 
Democratic party held a caucus and advised Governor Wolf to 
yield to the storm and not oppose the repeal, as it would not be 
possible to reelect him if he vetoed the bill, which was sure to 
pass. This was the condition of things when I went to Phila- 
delphia on a committee of investigation and was absent, I 
think, about two weeks. When I returned, my colleague, Mr. 
McSherry, a most estimable man and a great friend of the law, 
called and informed me that a bill had passed the Senate repeal- 
ing the school law, with but eight dissenting votes; that a vote of 
reference, which was made a test vote, showed that there was a 
majority in the House for the repeal of over thirty ; that the 
friends of the law had consulted and agreed that it was useless to 
oppose the repeal. He said that he thought that we were bound 
to vote for it, as he had ascertained that three-fourths of our con- 
stituents had petitioned for the repeal. I inquired and learned 
that the Governor, a fast friend of education, had answered the 
committee that he would veto the bill if he did not get a vote in 
the State. I informed my colleague that whilst I would not ask 
him to vote against his judgment, I would make an effort to save 
the original law. The Senate bill to repeal it came up on April 
10th and 11th, and I moved an amendment to strike out the 
whole of the bill but the enacting clause, and insert a supplement 
to the Act to Establish a General System of Education by Com- 
mon Schools." 

Upon this motion Mr. Stevens made his noted speech. Great 
expectation had been aroused, and most of the members of the 
State Government and the Senate were present. He was then 
in the prime of manhood and in the full strength of his great 
intellect, and its effect was electrical. Mr. M. B. Lowry, who 
was then a member of that body, describes the attitude and 
bearing of Mr. Stevens as he appeared in the fervor of debate as 
that of a descended god. The vote was taken immediately after 
its close, and, says Mr. Stevens, "I was both surprised and grati- 



984 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

fied to find, I think, for I speak from memory, about fourteen 
majority for it, and on the vote to agree to the bill as amended 
it carried by over thirty. It was sent to the Senate and at once 
concurred in." It is not often that a speech in a deliberative 
body influences many votes ; but this undoubtedly had the effect 
to sway both branches of the Legislature from strong opposition 
backed by an excited and almost unanimous population, to the 
support of his bill. He was throughout severe but lofty in his 
sentiment. In speaking of the old law for educating the poor 
gratis, he said : " Sir, hereditary distinctions of rank are suf- 
ficiently odious ; but that which is founded on poverty is 
infinitely more so. Such a law should be entitled 'An act for 
branding and marking the poor, so that they may be known 
from the rich and proud.' " In the progress of his argument upon 
the great boon in the Common School he said : " Sir, when I 
reflect how apt hereditary wealth, hereditary influence, and 
perhaps, as a consequence, hereditary pride are to close the 
avenues and steel the heart against the wants and rights of the 
poor, I am induced to thank my Creator for having from early life 
bestowed upon me the blessing of poverty. Sir, it is a blessing ; 
for if there be any human sensation more ethereal and divine than 
all others, it is that which feelingly sympathizes with misfortune. 
. . . What renders the name of Socrates immortal but his love of 
the human family, exhibited under all circumstances and in con- 
tempt of every danger ? " 

" Pennsylvania's sons," he continues, " possess as high native 
talents as any other nation of ancient or modern time ! Many 
of the poorest of her children possess as bright intellectual gems, 
if they were as highly polished, as did the proudest scholars of 
Greece or Rome. But too long, too disgracefully long, has 
coward, trembling, procrastinating legislation permitted them to 
lie buried in 'dark unfathomed caves.'" But the passage of this 
speech which made the greatest impression, and which is even 
now recalled with a feeling of delight, was that in which he 
referred to Governor Wolf. The Governor was opposed to 
him in politics, and sharp passages in public matters had 
passed between them. But upon the subject of education they 
were at one, and upon this he said : " I have seen the present 



THADDEUS STEVENS. 985 

chief magistrate of this Commonwealth violently assailed as the 
projector and father of this law. I am not the eulogist of that 
gentleman ; he has been guilty of many political sins, but he 
deserves the undying gratitude of the people for the steady, 
untiring zeal which he has manifested in favor of common 
schools. I will not say that his exertions in that cause have 
covered all, but they have atoned for many of his errors. I 
trust that the people of this State will never be called on to 
choose between a supporter and an opposer of free schools. But if 
it should come to that — if that should be made the turning point 
on which we are to cast our suffrages — if the opponent of educa- 
tion were my most intimate personal and political friend, and 
the free school candidate my most obnoxious enemy — I should 
deem it my duty as a patriot, at this moment of our intellectual 
crisis, to forget all other considerations, and I should place myself 
unhesitatingly and cordially in the ranks of HIM whose banners 

STREAM IN LIGHT." 

In 1836 he was a member of the convention to revise the 
State constitution, and took an active part. Previous to this the 
constitution recognized the right of suffrage without distinction 
of color; but a majority favored restricting it to white male 
citizens above a certain age. This he opposed with great vigor, 
and when the labors were concluded he refused to sign the instru- 
ment. In 1838 he was appointed Canal Commissioner, then one 
of the most important offices in the Government on account of 
the vast expenditures being made for internal improvements. At 
the succeeding election for Governor a fierce struggle ensued for 
the supremacy, and parties being pretty evenly balanced, both can- 
didates claimed to be elected. The military were called out, the 
President was applied to for aid, and from the fact that a Govern- 
ment storekeeper in Philadelphia sent to Harrisburg an immense 
amount of buck-shot, it was called the Buck-shot War, though it 
ended in compromise without bloodshed. Mr. Stevens cham- 
pioned Governor Ritner's cause, which was the losing one. 

In 1842 he removed to Lancaster, where he pursued his profes- 
sion, and engaged largely in the manufacture of iron. In 1848 he 
was elected to Congress and was reelected in 1850, serving 
through that exciting period when the admission of California, 



986 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the Kansas-Nebraska 
embroglio were debated by the giants of the American forum. In 
1858 he was again elected, and remained a member till the day 
of his death. He was among the earliest to declare the aboli- 
tion of slavery the only alternative of the Government, and pre- 
sented the Indemnity Act, the Thirteenth Amendment to the 
Constitution, and advocated the arming and disciplining one 
hundred and fifty thousand colored soldiers. In the Thirty-ninth 
Congress he was chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, 
and a member of the Committee on Reconstruction, giving him- 
self unreservedly to the preparation and advocacy of all those 
measures adopted to settle the affairs of the distracted country. 
He assisted in drafting the articles of impeachment against 
President Johnson, and was chairman of the committee of seven 
who managed the case on the part of the House, preparing an 
argument justly regarded as a masterpiece for cogency and power. 

One of the most striking characteristics of Mr. Stevens' oratory 
was his allusions to the Bible and to the classics of antiquity. In 
answer to the argument that the negro was a different order of 
being from the white man he said : " I have listened to the 
golden-mouthed gentleman from New York, Mr. Brooks, in his 
attempt to prove the Bible a lie. That book says God created of 
one blood all the nations of the earth. The gentleman, however, 
contends that there were several different varieties, and that all 
nations were not created of one blood. The question at issue 
between the gentleman from New York and the Author of that 
sacred volume I shall not attempt to decide — it is too high for 
me." When Mr. Johnson, then President, on one occasion, while 
the Fourteenth Amendment was under consideration, came into 
the capitol and told a member that the amendment was not 
needed, and then had the conversation published, Mr. Stevens 
said, in alluding to it, " This authorized utterance was made in 
such a way that centuries ago, had it been made to Parliament 
by a British king, it would have cost him his head. But, sir, we 
pass that by : we are tolerant of usurpation in this tolerant Gov- 
ernment of ours." 

Mr. Stevens' mind held out in all its early strength and vigor 
long after his poor feeble body was exhausted. One of his last 



THADDEUS STEVENS. 987 

speeches is thus described by an eye-witness : " He spoke for 
about ten minutes, at first with noticeable difficulty. Nearly the 
entire house gathered into the aisles and areas within twenty- 
five feet of him. Of the first half of his remarks not a word was 
heard in the galleries. Then like a candle dying in its socket he 
flamed up with an energy that carried his utterances to the 
listener in the remotest corner of the chamber. It was a wonder- 
ful exhibition of will and determination. It could not last. The 
physical forces of the old body have gone away, and three or 
four minutes completely exhausted it and dropped Mr. Stevens 
back into his chair paler and more emaciated, seemingly, than 
ever before." He conversed freely about his approaching end and 
seemed to welcome it. He refused to be buried in the beautiful 
cemetery at Lancaster, because its managers would not allow 
people of color to be interred in it. He desired only a simple 
tablet laid over his grave, and remarked in relation to it, " I 
suppose, like the rest of the fools, we shall have to get something 
stuck up in the air ; let it be plain." He died at midnight of 
Tuesday, August 11th, 1868. 




CHAPTER II. 




LD JOHN BURNS, the Civilian Hero of Gettys- 
burg, without official title, but with renown 
which shall be lasting when brass and marble 
moulder, was born at Burlington, New Jersey, on 
the 5th of September, 1793. His father, Joseph 
Burns, was a Scotchman from the banks of the 
Dee, and a relative of the poet ; his mother, Polly 
Dobson, of English descent. Fearless by nature, 
provocation served but to whet the edge of his 
resolve, and when, after long-suffering outrage 
and wrong, the United States declared war 
against Great Britain in 1812, young Burns was 
among the first in the ranks. The recollections 
of those eighteen months of service were never effaced nor 
dimmed, and when, a short time before his death — then at the 
verge of eighty — the subject was broached, the fire of his eye and 
the compression of his lips, as he recounted their eventful course, 
revealed his fearless and heroic nature. He was of the company 
of Captain Barton, of the Tenth regiment, and marched to New 
York, thence to Albany by boat, proceeded to Greenbush where 
he joined the army of General Scott, with it moved to Sackett's 
Harbor, crossed to Canada, and was at Plattsburg and Queens- 
town. In the battle of Lundy's Lane, when the conflict was at 
its height, and the event still doubtful, General Brown, who com- 
manded the American force, came dashing up to Major Miller, 
who was leading Burns' regiment, his horse foaming with excite- 
ment, and, pointing to a powerful six gun battery of the enemy 
posted upon an eminence and doing fearful execution, exclaimed : 
" Major Miller, can you take that battery ? " Miller was a man 
of few words, and he simply responded, " I can try." " We all 
knew what that meant," says Burns ; " for while one of his men 

988 




e/o-l^^L d^/t/ji 



ci/rii ./ 



JOHN BURNS. 989 

should live we knew that Miller would never rest till that 
battery was his." The order to fix bayonets and charge was 
promptly given, and Miller, placing himself at the head of the 
column, led on. Darkness overshadowed all — as the battle was 
fought from sundown to midnight — except as the blaze of the 
guns lit up the field. The slaughter was fearful ; but that 
coveted eminence was scaled, the guns captured, and turned on 
the foe. That heroic exploit was the turning point in the battle, 
and at midnight the British retired, leaving the Americans 
masters of the field. Tears would fill the eyes of Burns, and his 
brawny figure heave with emotion, as he told the words of his 
brave old leader, and described the fiery ardor of his General. 

Burns remained upon the frontier through two winters, and 
until peace was declared. He enlisted with the first for the war 
with Mexico, and after drilling and patiently awaiting orders, 
was in the end sorely disappointed to receive notice that his com- 
pany could not be accepted. He was a member of the militia 
in Newtown, commanded by Weanausel, John and Jonathan 
Wynkoop. When the Hon. Edward McPherson, then member 
of Congress from the Gettysburg district, and since Clerk of the 
House, formed his company for three months' service, Burns shoul- 
dered his musket and putting himself in the ranks marched to 
the camp at West Chester ; but when it came to be mustered into 
the service of the United States, he was rejected on account of his 
age and sent home. The quiet little town of Gettysburg was too 
small for a man like Burns, and he travelled on foot to Hagers- 
town, joining the wagon train. Near the close of May, he 
was sent to Frederick with a fresh supply of animals, and 
soon after, his fidelity being appreciated, he was made police 
officer of the wagon camp. He was at the battle of Falling 
Waters ; and when the booming of the cannon and the rattle of 
musketry were borne to his ears, he gave his whip to another, 
exclaiming, " They may want me over there," and started for 
the field ; but before he reached it Jackson had been routed. He 
remained in the column of Banks after the departure of Patterson, 
until winter set in, a period of seven months, when he was again 
sent home. 

His fellow-townsmen, reverencing his patriotic impulses, and 



990 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

thinking that by giving him employment in which he should feel 
responsibility he might be kept from the field, at the borough 
election in the spring of 1862, chose him constable. This had 
the desired effect, and until the invasion of the State he devoted 
himself diligently to his official duties. At one period of his life 
Burns had been given to dissipation ; but in later years he was 
not only a disciple of temperance, but of strict total abstinence, 
and never was a man more earnest and consistent in his profes- 
sions. The unlawful sale of alcoholic liquors found in him an 
uncompromising foe. 

On Sunday, June the 21st, preceding the great battle, Captain 
John Scott, with fourteen men, among whom was Burns, went 
out fourteen miles into the mountains, on the Chambersburg road, 
for the purpose of bushwhacking the enemy; but met Union 
scouts and were turned back. On Friday, the 26th, Early came 
with his division to Gettysburg, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, 
and Burns, perhaps showing himself a little too officious, was 
taken prisoner and held in custody until Sunday, when the rebel 
leader departed on his way to York. The fiery spirit of Burns 
could illy brook this vile durance and insult to his authority as a 
civil officer, and we may imagine him ready to answer in the 
language of the resolute constable in a village of the old Bay 
State, when a bully threatened to shake him, "You may shake; 
but remember, if you shake me you shake the whole State of 
Massachusetts." Towards evening of that same Sunday, Burns 
caught a rebel chaplain, George Gwin, riding with messages from 
Ewell to Early, and a trooper, and locked them up in the Gettys- 
burg jail. On the following day he seized one of White's guerillas, 
who gave the name of Talbut, and him, also, he held fast in 
jail. Buford with his cavalry came on Tuesday, and after resting 
an hour in the streets, moved out to McPherson's farm and 
encamped. The appearance of the old flag and the veterans of 
Buford brought joy to the old man's heart. Hitherto he had 
been single-handed in facing the whole rebel army. He hailed 
with satisfaction the van of the Army of the Potomac, coming to 
his support. On the following morning came Reynolds leading 
the First corps. Burns was on the alert; yet he was a man 
who never meddled with any business except his own and kept 



JOHN BURNS. 991 

aloof from the General's cavalcade; but when hailed by Reynolds 
on his return from his interview with Buford, and asked to point 
out a near way to get through the outskirts of the town to meet 
the head of his column, Burns joyfully performed the office. 
When the leading division came on, and the pioneers, obedient to 
the order of Reynolds, were levelling the fences through the 
fields to open a way to Seminary Ridge, Burns was at hand, and 
the flashing of their bright axes in the morning sunlight made 
an indelible impression upon him. Burns could never restrain his 
enthusiasm in describing this scene ; but would spring to his 
feet and swing his arms as though handling one of those shining 
implements and laying low the fences before him. 

Going back towards his own home he met two wounded soldiers 
of Buford's command returning to town. "Ah, my lads," says 
Burns, " your guns are needed over yonder ; but you are bleed- 
ing, and are too weak to carry them ; give one of them to me." 
This the soldier addressed resolutely refused. The other, more 
accurately discerning the old man's spirit, said to his companion, 
" Give it to him. You can't use it." " What do you want to do 

with it?" asked the soldier. " Shoot the d d rebels," was the 

old man's curt reply. It was given, and filling his pockets with 
cartridges, he hurried forward and came upon the Union line 
where Stone's brigade was hotly engaged. He was first accosted 
by Major Chamberlain of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Penn- 
sylvania, with, " Old man, where are you going ? " "I want a, 
chance," said Burns. "A chance for what?" "To shoot," replied 
the old man, his eye fired with excitement and his whole frame 
swayed with emotion. Chamberlain referred him to Colonel 
Wister. To the question if he could be allowed to fight, Wister 
replied, " Yes, and I wish there were many more like you. But 
you have no ammunition." " Yes, I have," said Burns, slapping 
his pockets. "Do you know how to shoot?" "Give me a 
chance," cried Burns, " and I will show you whether I can shoot 
or not." " You may have a chance," said the Colonel, " but this 
open ground is no place for an old man like you. Go over to the 
woods with the Iron Brigade, where you can have some shelter." 
He went as directed, and joining the Seventh Wisconsin, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Callis, opened upon the rebels. But the wood did 



992 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

not suit him. He wanted a fair unobstructed view, and went to 
a fence in the open ground. Among his acquaintances he had 
always been known as a dead shot. He was now in no haste to 
create smoke ; but awaiting his opportunity, he fired only when 
he saw something that he could hit. He watched especially for. 
men mounted, and many a saddle was emptied. His unerring aim 
attracted the attention of the soldiers and officers of the Seventh, 
and Colonel Callis sent him a fine silver-mounted rifle that had 
been captured from the enemy in the battle of Antietam. Away 
across Willoughby Run was seen an officer riding a beautiful gray 
horse. He came on, leading his men with the utmost gallantry. 
He was pointed out to Burns, and that beautiful charger was soon 
seen galloping riderless over the field, and the old hero was saluted 
by three cheers from the soldiers who were watching him. At 
one o'clock there was a lull in the battle and he lay down upon 
the grass to rest. On looking about he was startled by seeing a 
hand lying on the ground that had been torn from the body by- 
some terrible missile ; but the body whose pulsations had warmed 
it was nowhere to be seen. When the battle was renewed he went 
again earnestly to work. The enemy, strong and well supported, 
pushed forward fearlessly, while the Union force had but one 
thin line, and that now fearfully decimated. Burns took little 
care of his person, and he was finally struck in the side by two 
musket shots that eventually produced a rupture ; but still he 
would not yield. Again he w r as struck, now on the buckle of his 
belt, the shock bending him nearly double, and for a few moments 
he could not speak ; but he recovered himself, and might then 
have retired with honor and safety, the brigade with which he 
had been fighting having already gone. But now the enemy 
were coming nearer, and his chances for shooting were rapidly 
improving, and he stood at his post firing away until the rebel 
line was close upon him, when he received a severe wound in the 
arm, an artery being severed, from which the hemorrhage came 
near proving fatal, and another in his leg, the limb being com- 
pletely paralyzed, and he could do no more — neither retire nor 
even stand. His first thought was to divest himself of every 
appearance of a combatant, well knowing that he could not hope 
for mercy with the evidences of having participated in the fight 



JOHN BURNS. 993 

found upon him. He accordingly threw away his gun, and the 
four cartridges which still remained in his pocket he buried, 
digging for the purpose with his pocket-knife. Weakened by the 
loss of blood he soon became oblivious, and when the final charge 
of the enemy was made he was insensible, and was passed for 
dead. At about six o'clock in the evening a sergeant and six 
men engaged in gathering the wounded, attracted by the strange 
sight of an old gray-headed man in his ordinary dress, bleeding 
from numerous ghastly wounds, approached and stood spell-bound 
before him. After a moment's silence they turned him upon his 
side, and seeing that he was still alive, inquired, " How came 
you here?" " My wife," answered Burns, " was taken suddenly 
sick this morning, and I started off from the town to cross this 
field in search of a girl who lives out beyond here to come and 
take care of her and was caught between the two lines, and as 
you see am badly wounded." " I believe he is an old liar," said 
the sergeant; "but he will never harm us any more," and passed 
on, leaving him in his misery. He then dragged himself along 
on the grass to where two dead rebels and a Union man with 
thigh all crushed by a cannon shot were lying.. Not long.after 
burying parties came and covered his three dead companions 
with earth where they lay, to whom he repeated the story of 
hunting a girl ; but they were alike incredulous. He finally fell 
asleep and rested till eleven, when he was awakened by the 
tramping of a sergeant posting his guards. . It had been raining 
and he was chilled. He called to the guard for a drink of water, 
which was given him, and a blanket in which he wrapped 
himself. 

At dawn he heard the cocks crowing, and saw a guard not far off, 
towards whom he began to roll and pull himself along. An officer 
approached and told him to get to a hospital. By great exertions 
and with excruciating pain — for his clothing was stiff and rasped 
the lips of the undressed wounds — he reached a little log-house 
and pulled himself upon the cellar door, when his strength failed 
him and he fainted, and it was some time before he recovered. 
He was taken up and carried into the loft of the house, which 
was full of wounded. Seeing his exhausted condition he was 
offered some blackberry wine by the good woman, but he stub- 

63 



994 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

b >rnly refused it from a rigid sense of his duty in view of his 
pledge to total abstinence. He sent a message to an old friend 
who lived near to come and take him back to the town ; but 
before he arrived, a neighbor, Anthony Sullivan, was returning 
with his family, and laying Burns gently in the wagon carried him 
to his own home, arriving at about two o'clock on the afternoon 
of the 2d of July. The report had spread that he was killed, he 
having been last seen badly wounded, and it was with a thrill of 
joy and relief to a heart burdened with anxiety and grief that 
he was met at the cottage door by his wife. But his home was 
now a hospital crowded with mutilated soldiers. A place was 
made for him in an upper room, and his wounds were dressed by 
the surgeon in charge, a Major of the Confederate army from 
North Carolina. As General Ewell was passing his window the 
doctor asked Burns if he had ever seen the General, and kindly 
raised him up to look out. Burns gazed an instant, and then, as 
though not impressed with the General's appearance, exclaimed : 
" Humph ! the old booger has only one leg, and has to be 
strapped on his horse." On Friday a Captain and a Lieutenant 
visited the house and approaching him inquired, "Well, old man, 
how did you come wounded?" Again he had recourse to the 
story of the sick wife. " But who shot you ? your own men or 
ours ? " "I can't tell that," said Burns, " I could get no farther 
than the Union line, and when I was wounded I sat down and 
could not get back until brought in by my neighbor." But this 
did not satisfy his questioner, Avho, as appears, had been enlight- 
ened respecting Burns' case by some of the townspeople, and 
-ni Illy responded, "Look here, old man, didn't you take a gun 
from a soldier out on the street here, Wednesday morning?" 

• Yes, I did." "Well, what did you say when you took it?" 

• Why, I said a heap of things. Folks say a heap of things in 
these times." " Didn't you say that you was going out to shoot 

some of the d d rebels?" Burns was helpless, and in the 

power of his enemies, but his spirit was undaunted, and he 
promptly and resolutely responded, "Yes, I did say just that 
thing." His questioners had but one argument remaining. They 
silently left the house, and procured two riflemen, who, going 
into a chamber on the opposite side of the street, took deliberate 



JOHN BURNS. 995 

aim at the old man as lie lay helpless upon his couch. The 
missiles penetrated the bed under him, just missing his body. 
Realizing that their purpose was to kill him he rolled upon the 
floor and crawled into the next room. Supposing that he was 
under the bed they fired several shots, and hearing nothing- 
concluded they had effected their design. But now the last 
charge had been delivered and the clay had gone hopelessl}* 
against the foe. At three o'clock on Saturday morning guards 
came and aroused all — quietly removing the wounded — the trains 
being already in full retreat. 

The story of Old John Burns, his courage in the battle, his 
almost miraculous escape from death by wounds and the assas- 
sin's bullets, soon spread through the whole land, and he was 
hailed as the Hero of Gettysburg. Not the Generals who had 
conducted the battle were regarded with greater interest, nor was 
there a stronger desire felt to behold them. He was brought 
upon the platform at great public gatherings in Philadelphia, and 
other large cities, and he was made to pass in triumph like the 
heroes of old. On one occasion in Philadelphia as he was being 
conducted through the crowd, an aged woman rushed forward, 
and grasping his coat, exclaimed : " Troth, mon, if I caan't shake 
you by the hand I'll shake your old coat." None felt a greater 
interest in the veteran than Mr. Lincoln, and no sooner had he 
arrived in Gettysburg on the day of the consecration of the 
National Cemetery, than he inquired for Burns and expressed a 
desire to see him. Citizens immediately went to bring him. They 
found him at his home, and when told that Mr. Lincoln had sent 
for him, he was apparently incredulous as to the regularity of 
the call, and replied, " If anybody wants to see me let him 
come here." But he was finally convinced and was taken along. 
After a pleasant interview, in which the President showed him 
very marked attention, the whole company started for the church, 
where there was to be a public reception. As the procession was 
ready to move, Mr. Lincoln sought Mr. Burns and walked with 
him arm in arm through the streets. Burns visited Washing- 
ton, and was received by the President, the Secretary of War, 
and other officials of the Government with special honor; 
Congress and the Legislature of Pennsylvania voted him pen- 



99G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

sions, and the Senate of the latter made him one of its officers, a 
position which he held for several years. He was mentioned with 
admiration by the press of other countries, and poetry has woven 
for him an enduring chaplet. 

As age came upon him, and the furrows deepened on his face, 
his body indeed gave token of yielding ; but the spirit was still 
fresh. He delighted in the society of children, and danced gayly 
with them as he hummed the air which in the days long ago had 
guided the feet of the maiden whom he led in sportive measure. 
Nor could age temper his love of martial glory. He was never 
quite satisfied with the fight at Gettysburg, especially on that first 
day, when the Union forces were obliged to yield their position. 
He never mentioned the subject without expressing the wish that 
the rebels would come once more, believing that if the battle was 
to be fought over again he could do better. He manifested great 
reluctance to speak of his wounds, and only after repeated impor- 
tunities could he be induced to show his scars, which disclose 
how horrible must have been his mutilation. After the death of 
his wife, which occurred in 1SG8, he was very lonely, had no 
regular home, and was much cast about. While in Harrisburg, in 
the winter of 1870, he had a paralytic stroke, and was carried to 
his lodgings. An Irishman, a stranger, was employed to take 
care of him. During the night Burns got the impression — 
whether well or ill founded — that the Irishman was trying to rob 
him. He attempted to draw up his right hand, but that would 
not obey the impulse. The left, however, was still free, with 
which he hit the fellow such a powerful blow over the eyes as to 
send him sprawling upon the floor. 

With all his heroism, Burns was not without a spark of super- 
stition. It may have been a relic of family or national tradition, 
or a constitutional trace of morbid religious sentiment, with 
which he was thoroughly imbued. He believed in apparitions. 
IIC was on one occasion passing through the woods, where in the 
battle he had fought. It was summer, and the foliage was upon 
the forest as then. He was alone, no human being within call, 
when suddenly there appeared before him a Confederate soldier, 
dressed in gray, with slouched hat, gun and accoutrements, 

A figure 
Armed at point, exactly, eap-a-pie. 



JOHN BURNS. 997 

"He was," says Burns, "a man of immense proportions and the 
very image of the one whom I had seen there on the day of the 
battle, at the very spot, and in the exact attitude." " Did you 
speak to it?" we asked. " No, sir, I did not. It beckoned me to 
come towards him, but I turned and left the ground as rapidly as 
I could, and have never been on that field since. I could face 
them alive and respond to their challenge, but when the dead 
men come back, 'I am not in for that style of warfare." " But, 
Mr. Burns, you do not really believe that it was a ghost, do 
you?" Shaking his head as if still in awe of the apparition, 
and with solemn and mysterious mien, he exclaimed, "Ah, ha! 
You tell if you can." 

Burns was a man of strict fidelity, one in whom unlimited 
trust could be placed, who looked with utter abhorrence upon 
corruption in political as in private life. He was full of the milk 
of human kindness, of tenderness and compassion, quickly moved 
to tears at the recital of suffering and distress. He was not only 
strictly devoted to his professions of temperance, and his pledges 
as a Good Templar, but was a devout Christian — an honest man. 
He died on the 4th of February, 1872, and was buried in Ever- 
green Cemetery, near the resting-place of the dead in that great 
battle in which he acted so heroic a part. Time may bring other 
men to stand in future emergencies; but none will come with a 
truer heart than that which beat in the bosom of John L. Burns, 
the Hero of Gettysburg. 

Our artist has admirably produced the rugged features of the 
old hero, and Bret Harte, in his characteristic way, has thus 
vividly portrayed him in song: 

Have you heard the story that gossips tell 

Of Burns of Gettysburg ?— No ? Ah, well! 

Brief is the glory that hero earns, 

Briefer the story of poor John Burns : 

He was the fellow who won renown, — 

The only man who didn't back down 

When the rebels rode through his native town ; 

But held his own in the fight next day. . . . 

I might tell how, but the day before, 
John Burns stood at his cottage door, 

Looking down the village street, 
Where in the shade of his peaceful vine, 
He heard the low of his gathered kine, 

And felt their breath with incense sweet ; 



998 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Or, I might say, when the sunset burned 

The old farm gable, he thought it turned 

The milk, that fell in a babbling flood 

Into the milk-pail, red as blood : 

Or how he fancied the hum of bees 

Were bullets buzzing among the trees. 

But all such fanciful thoughts as these 

"Wore strange to a practical man like Burns, 

"Who minded only his own concerns, 

Troubled no more by fancies fine 

Than one of his calm-eyed, long-tailed kine, — 

Quite old-fashioned and matter of fact, 

Slow to argue, but quick to act. 

That was the reason, as some folks say, 

He fought so well on that terrible day. . . . 

Just where the tide of battle turns, 

Erect and lonely stood Old John Burns. — 

How do you think the man was dressed ? 
He wore an ancient long buff vest, 
Yellow as saffron, — but his best ; 

And, buttoned over his manly breast 
Was a bright blue coat, with a rolling collar, 
And large gilt buttons, — size of a dollar, — 
With tails that country-folk called "swaller." 
He wore a broad-brimmed, bell-crowned hat, 
White as the locks on which it sat. 
Never had such a sight been seen 
For forty years on the village green, 
Since Old John Burns was a country beau, 
And went to the " quilting " long ago. 
Close at his elbows all that day, 

Veterans of the Peninsula, 
Sunburnt and bearded, charged away ; 
And striplings downy of lip and chin, — 
Clerks that the Home Guard mustered in, — 
Glanced, as they passed, at the hat he wore, 
Then at the rifle his right hand bore ; 
And hailed him from out their youthful lore 
With scraps of a slangy repertoire; 
" How are you, White Hat ? " " Put her through ! " 
" Your head's level," and " Bully for you ! " 
Called him " Daddy," begged he'd disclose 
The name of the tailor who made his clothes, 
And what was the value he set on those ; 
While Burns, unmindful of jeer and scoff, 
Stood there picking the rebels off', — 
With his long brown rifle, and bell-crowned hat, 
And the swallow-tails they were laughing at. 

'Twas but a moment, for that respect 
Which clothes all courage their voices checked; 
And something the wildest could understand 
Spake in the old man's strong right hand ; 



FRANCIS JORDAN. 999 

And his corded throat, and lurking frown 
Of his eye-brows under his old bell-crown ; 
Until, as they gazed, there crept an awe 
Through the ranks in whispers, and some men saw, 
In the antique vestments and long white hair, 
The Past of the Nation in battle there ; 

And some of the soldiers since declare 
That the gleam of his old white hat afar, 
Like the crested plume of the brave Navarre, 

That day was their oriflamme of war. 

So raged the battle. You know the rest ; 
How the rebels, beaten and backward pressed, 
Broke at the final charge, and ran : 
At which John Burns — a practical man — 
Shouldered his rifle, unbent his brows, 
And then went back to his bees and cows. 

That is the story of Old John Burns ; 
This is the moral the reader learns : 
In fighting the battle, the question's whether 
You'll show a hat that's white, or a feather. 



'rancis Jordan, son of John and Jane Jordan, was born on 
the 5th of February, 1820, in Bedford county. His father 
was of English and his mother of Irish parentage, both highly 
esteemed for their intelligence and Christian virtues. In his 
nineteenth year a maternal uncle — a wealthy Mississippi planter 
— took charge of his education and placed him in Augusta 
College, Kentucky, where he remained two years, and subse- 
quently in Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania, where 
he finished his collegiate course. Returning to his native place, 
he commenced the study of law, teaching, meanwhile, to defray 
his expenses, and was admitted to practice. He had not been 
long at the bar before he was appointed, by the Attorney-General, 
District Attorney of Bedford county, and subsequently, when the 
office was made elective, was chosen to that position. At the 
outset his official conduct was able, his indictments being so 
accurately drawn that not one of them was quashed for infor- 
mality. In 1850, he entered into partnership with Alexander 
King, subsequently President Judge, which continued until the 
opening of the Rebellion. 

In 1855 he commenced his public political career, having 
been elected to the State Senate for a term of three years. A 
leading question of that period was the sale of the public works, 



1000 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and he was the champion of the bill authorizing it. He was 
chairman of the committee charged with drawing a bill for the 
readjustment of legislative districts, under a new apportionment, 
and was successful in carrying through the act, which was sub- 
stantially just to both political parties. These measures were 
chiefly instrumental in wresting the control of the State from 
the party which for a long period had been dominant. In 
a body which contained some of the best legal talent of the 
Commonwealth he was made chairman of the Judiciary Com- 
mittee. At the close of his term he declined a reelection, and 
was not long after appointed one of a commission of three to 
revise the Civil Code, which duty was postponed on account of 
the opening of hostilities, and finally passed to other hands. 

A pressing exigency called for a sudden concentration of troops 
upon the central border, and at Cumberland, Maryland, in the 
fall of 1861. A portion of the noted Reserve corps was sent, and 
at the request of the Governor, Mr. Jordan accompanied the 
column as Assistant Quartermaster. Unexpectedly called, and 
but indifferently organized, the duties of this officer were trouble- 
some and onerous. AVhile thus employed, without solicitation 
or even knowledge he was appointed by the President a Pay- 
master in the army and was promptly confirmed. Recogniz- 
ing the right of the Government to his services, he promptly 
dissolved his law partnership, resigned his civil trusts, and entered 
upon his new duties. In the two and a half years succeeding, 
he served in Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missis- 
sippi and Louisiana, during the last four months of this period 
being chief paymaster in the Army of the Mississippi, and dis- 
bursing during his entire term over $4,000,000, under a bond of 
only $20,000, rendering a satisfactory account of all his trans- 
actions. 

In the fall of 1863, being at liome on a short leave of absence, 
lie was tendered by Governor Curtin the position of military 
agent of the State at Washington. The duties required legal and 
military knowledge, capacity for, and willingness to work, and a 
character for integrity beyond the reach of suspicion. The 
earnestness with which the Governor urged the acceptance 
induced Colonel Jordan to resign the office of paymaster for that 



FBANCIS JORDAN. 1001 

purpose. In his annual messages of 1864-'65-'66, the Governor 
said : " A reference to the reports of Colonel Jordan of Washing- 
ton, and Colonel Chamberlain, agent for the Southwest, will 
show the magnitude and usefulness of this branch of the service." 
" The report of the State agent at Washington shows that under 
his management the claims of our soldiers are promptly examined 
and paid." " This agency has proved very useful in all respects, 
and especially to our volunteers and their families. There have 
passed through the agency during the past year 4690 claims, and 
$311,703 have been collected from the Government free of 
charge." The aggregate of the sums paid to soldiers or their 
families exceeded a half million dollars, and so great was the con- 
fidence reposed in the agent that no bond whatever was required. 
The Legislature, recognizing his service, passed an act conferring 
upon him the rank and pay of a Colonel of infantry. 

In 1866, the Republican State Central Committee elected 
Colonel Jordan its chairman. The canvass was conducted with 
great ability and discretion, and resulted in the election of 
General Geary, who, having been thus brought into intimate 
relations with, and observing the eminent qualifications of Colonel 
Jordan, made him Secretar}^ of the Commonwealth. This office 
he held throughout the two terms of Governor Geary's adminis- 
tration, a period of six years, discharging its duties with marked 
ability. 

During the latter part of Colonel Jordan's second term the 
subject of a revision of the State Constitution was generally 
agitated and discussed in the columns of the press, and among 
leading citizens. The respect entertained for the character and 
legal acquirements of the Secretary induced a number of promi- 
nent citizens of Philadelphia, irrespective of party, to address 
him a letter asking his views. In response he wrote and pub- 
lished a paper, on the 18th of September, 1871, advocating a 
revision, and detailing his reasons. This was well received and 
had a strong influence in carrying the State in its favor. After 
the convention had been called, the Social Science Association of 
Philadelphia invited him to deliver an address upon the needed 
amendments. This he did on the 19th of February, 1872, and 
repeated his discourse in Pittsburg shortly after. The Secretary 



1002 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ably advocated thirteen amendments, covering the most vital 
defects of the old instrument. It is sufficient to say of the sound- 
ness of view displayed, that the convention, composed of the best 
ability of the State, adopted twelve of the thirteen changes 
advocated. Both the letter and address were published and 
widely disseminated, operating powerfully upon the popular 
mind and paving the way for the ultimate adoption of the 
amended constitution. These papers served to establish the 
reputation of Colonel Jordan as a sound lawyer, and elicited 
strong commendation from intelligent men both within and with- 
out the Commonwealth. That noted jurist, Jeremiah S. Black, 
who was a member of the Convention, on one occasion said of it: 
" Mr. Jordan's speech and letter, which will be found in the Con- 
vention Manual, is the best, bravest, and most effective blow that 
legislative corruption has received at the hands of any man in 
this Commonwealth ; and I think has done more service to the 
cause of good government. His analysis of the Statute Book of 
Pennsylvania, and his exposure of its absurdities, are masterly 
in the best sense. His means of knowledge being undisputed 
and his veracity undoubted, what he says upon the subject may 
be taken as of the highest authority." Charles J. Faulkner of 
Martinsburg, whc was then a member of the Constitutional Con- 
vention of West Virginia, wrote on the 28th of December, 1871 : 
" I had the honor of receiving to-day your interesting and able 
letter upon constitutional reform *in your State. I have read it 
with great profit and instruction and consider your argument on 
the evils of special legislation overwhelming." 

The subject of a successor to Governor Geary early engrossed 
public attention, and Colonel Jordan was prominently pre- 
sented. In one of the most influential counties of the State his 
name was submitted on the Crawford county system, whereby 
every voter indicates his preference on his ticket. Five candi- 
dates were presented and the result was a majority for Colonel 
Jordan over all others combined. In the nominating convention, 
however, his name was withdrawn before a vote was taken, 
in the hope of thereby harmonizing conflicting interests. The 
same convention selected a candidate for Judge of the Su- 
preme Court, and although he was not before the convention 



GEORGE H. STUART. 1003 

for the office, such was the appreciation of his character, and 
desire to have his name upon the ticket, that on the last ballot 
his vote was the next to that of the successful candidate. In 
January, 1873, Colonel Jordan returned to private life, having 
adopted the city of Harrisburg as his residence, and in partner- 
ship with his brother-in-law, Lewis W. Hall, resumed the prac- 
tice of his profession. Few men in the Commonwealth are more 
esteemed for talent, professional attainment, moral virtues, 
administrative skill, and official integrity, and he mayr with pride 
be referred to as a guide for the young who aspire to a career of 
honor regulated by strict rectitude. 

/^ eorge Hay Stuart, Chairman of the United States Christian 
^j*~r Commission, and one of its most active and efficient 
members, was born on the 2d of April, 1816, at Rosehall, County 
Down, Ireland. After receiving a good business education he 
came to this country in 1831, whither members of his family had 
preceded him, and settled in Philadelphia. He not long after 
became a member of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church, 
and in 1842 was ordained a ruling elder, which office he still 
holds. Few were more zealous or consistent, and none more 
liberal in advancing the interests of Christianity. For twenty- 
five years he was Superintendent of the Sabbath School of his 
church, Treasurer of the Theological School, and an earnest 
advocate and worker in various missionary societies. During the 
years of famine in Ireland, he aided powerfully in sending succor. 
He presided in the Presbyterian National Convention which sat 
in Philadelphia in 1867, in which the preliminary arrangements 
were made for uniting the broken and disjointed elements of that 
sect. From the first he was an active member of the Young 
Men's Christian Association, and was President of the conven- 
tions which met in 1861 and 1863. The Bible and Tract So- 
cieties, and the Sunday School Union, are all greatly indebted to 
him for personal efforts for their efficiency and material aid. In 
the year 1868, the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian 
Church suspended him from his position as ruling elder and mem- 
ber in his church, for singing hymns and communing with Chris- 
tians of other evangelical denominations. The action was taken 



1004 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

in his absence on account of severe illness. It was repudiated by 
the church of which he was a member, and the regulation which 
incited to the determination of the Synod has called forth severe 
denunciation. 

Mr. Stuart early won a higli reputation in mercantile circles 
by the vigorous and successful management of his business, no 
less than by his probity and honor. He was associated with four 
brothers, John, James, Joseph* and David, and in addition 
to their chief establishment in Philadelphia they had other 
houses in New York, Manchester, and Liverpool. Success in 
business pursuits has given him the means to be eminently 
useful in every humane and Christian enterprise which he could 
conveniently and consistently reach. The rallying of men to the 
National standard in the spring of 18G1 could not fail to excite 
the interest of a man so endowed as Mr. Stuart, and the thunders 
of the First Bull Run battle had scarcely died away when he 
began to meditate measures for reaching the soldier in camp, on 
the battle-field, in the hospital, and at the lonely picket post. On 
the 28th of October, 18G1, the Executive Committee of the Young 
Men's Christian Associations of which he was chairman issued 
a call for a general meeting of delegates in extra session to devise 
means for reaching the soldier with Christian and brotherly 
influence and care. The meeting was held in New York on the 
14th of November, and resulted in the constitution of the United 
States Christian Commission, as follows : Rollin H. Neale and 
Charles Demond, Boston; John D. Hill, Buffalo; John V. Far- 
well, Chicago; M. L. R. P. Thompson and H. Thane Miller, 
Cincinnati ; S. H. Tyng, Benjamin F. Manierre, and Edmund S. 
Janes, New York ; George H. Stuart and John P. Crozier, Phila- 
delphia ; and Mitchell II. Miller, Washington. At the first 
meeting of this Commission Mr. Stuart was made Chairman, 
a position which he held to the close of its operations at the 
end of the war, and never was trust more faithfully performed 
or more signally successful. He was a moving spirit, and his 
great efficiency, sound judgment, and more than all his indomit- 
able energy were everywhere recognized. 

When it became known that inhuman barbarities were prac- 

* Died November 18th, 1874. 




C^^CCr^ /-j-o. {>nk^/is£c^ ^o-zryL^/d 




?*-, 




GEORGE H. STUART. 1005 

tised upon Union prisoners confined at Andersonville and other 
rebel prisons, Mr. Stuart made vigorous exertions to have men, 
to whose honor and integrity the rebel authorities could take 
no exception, appointed to go among the prisoners to distribute 
comforts and labor to ameliorate their condition, offering the 
like privilege to the rebels. The Government promptly adopted 
the proposition, and sent forward the agents with the requisite 
official certificates and means of access ; but it was rejected, and 
the agents turned back by the Richmond authorities. 

In 1866 Mr. Stuart was in Europe, and at the anniversary 
meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, held at Exeter 
Hall on the 2d of May, the Earl of Shaftesbury, President of the 
society, presiding, Mr. Stuart spoke, and in the course of his 
remarks gave a summary of the operations of the Christian 
Commission, and incidents illustrating its workings. "When 
the war commenced," he said, "we had an army of 16,000 men, 
scattered from Maine to California, but in the course of the war 
there were called into the field 2,000,000 of men — young men 
from schools and seminaries, young men unused to the hardships 
of the battle-field ; and the Christian people of the land felt that 
we ought not only to follow these young men with our prayers, 
but that we ought above all to furnish them with the bread of 
life, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During the four years 
of the struggle there were distributed, among the army and navy 
alone, over 2,000,000 copies of God's Word, in whole or in part. 
The principal agency for that distribution was the United States 
Christian Commission, which distributed 1,466,748 copies, all of 
which were received gratuitously from the American Bible Soci- 
ety, with the exception of 15,000 copies forwarded to us from your 
own depository; and I am here to-day to return to you our grate- 
ful thanks for that contribution." Mr. Stuart here exhibited a 
£5 note of the Bank of England, sent by a poor woman living in 
Derbyshire, to President Lincoln, " with which to buy Bibles for 
the poor wounded soldiers of the North." " Fifty or a hundred 
guineas," said Mr. Stuart, " would not buy it (holding it up), for 
it has incited to many gifts, and brought ' much money ' to our 
treasury ; and if you have any difficulty, my lord, with regard to 
your building fund, it might perhaps be well for you to borrow it." 



1006 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

" The United States Christian Commission was simply the 
Church of Christ, in all her branches, in an organized form, 
going forth in time of war, as our blessed Master went through 
the streets of Jerusalem and along the shores of Galilee. Some 
might ask, Where did these men get their commission to go forth 
to the army, carrying bread for the body in one hand, and the 
Bread of Life in the other? I believe they got it from the 
example of our Saviour Himself. We sent forth the Bible and 
other books, by the hands of men of burning zeal, not mere 
perfunctory agents. There were ministers who came to us and 
offered themselves for the work; but we said: 'No; you have not 
succeeded at home, and you are not likely to succeed in the army.' 
We wanted only men who were willing to put off the black coat 
and the white cravat, and would put on the army attire, and if 
need be, would undertake to make with their own hands gruel 
for the soldiers. I will tell you what happened on one occasion. 
A reverend Doctor of Divinity was engaged in making gruel for 
the soldiers, and was putting into the gruel something that 
would make it more palatable. Some of the soldiers were busily 
watching his movements, and one of them exclaimed : ' Go it, 
Doctor ; put some more of that stuff in, and it will be the real 
Calvinistic gruel!' In another case, a man saw a reverend 
Doctor engaged in washing bloody shirts in a brook, and he 
called out to him : ' Doctor, what are you doing ? ' The Doctor 
replied : 'The shirts supplied to the army are exhausted and also 
those of our own Commission. The wounded are suffering from 
their stiffened and clotted shirts, and I thought I might under- 
take to wash a few of them in the brook. Do you think I am 
wrong ? ' * Wrong ! ' said the other, ' oh, no. I never saw you 
walking so closely in the footsteps of your Divine Master before.' 
These men have not only ministered to the bodily wants of the 
soldiers, but to their moral and chiefly to their spiritual neces- 
sities. They circulated upwards of 8,000,000 of copies of knapsack 
books, including such works as Newman Hall's 'Come to Jesus,' 
and Mr. Reid's ' Blood of Jesus.' The history of these books will 
never be written. They came back to the families of the soldiers 
in America, many of them stained with their former owners' 
blood. They have become heir-looms of tliose families, and they 



GEORGE H. STUAET. 1007 

will never be parted with. Besides these there were 18,000,000 
copies of our best religious newspapers issued to the army, fresh 
as they appeared from the press. The total receipts of the Com- 
mission were $6,250,000. The books were distributed by about 
5000 unpaid agents. How did we get these agents? They got 
nothing for their labors. We would not employ agents who 
wanted pay for their work, except a few permanent ones to 
superintend. . . . But these men got pay — pay far richer than 
was ever coined in any mint : it was the ' God bless you ' of the 
dying soldier." 

Mr. Stuart declared that in all his labors in distributing the 
Scriptures he never found but one man who refused to take 
a copy, and that was a German from Philadelphia. To the 
representations that it was Cromwell's Bible, the one which old 
Ironsides read and from which they received such inspiration, he 
still turned a deaf ear, as he did to his being a fellow-townsman. 
Mr. Stuart knows no such word as fail. He tried a flank move- 
ment. He told the soldier that on the following Sunday he 
would speak to a large audience in Philadelphia. " ' Well,' he 
inquired, ' and what will you say ? ' 'I shall tell that I have 
been engaged so long a time in distributing Bibles among our 
soldiers ; that I never met with but one refusal, and that he was 
a soldier from our own city.' ' Well, and what more will you 
say?' 'Why, I shall tell them that I began to distribute Bibles 
this morning, at the White House,' a place somewhat like your 
Buckingham Palace, only not so fine. 'And who was the first 
man to whom I offered a copy? Why, it was to President 
Abraham Lincoln. When I went to see the President he was 
writing, and when I handed him a copy of Cromwell's Bible he 
stood up — and you know he was a very tall man and took a 
Ions; time to straighten. He received the Bible and made me 
a low bow, and thanked me ; and now I shall have to go back 
and tell him that one of his soldiers, who was fighting his battles, 
refused to take the book which he had accepted so gladly.' The 
German softened at once. He said: 'Did the President take the 
book? — well, then, I guess I may take one too.' " 

An agent of the Commission in Tennessee came upon four 
soldiers playing cards. He proposed to buy the cards with a 



1008 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

copy of the Scriptures for each, which they accepted. They 
desired his autograph in their books ; but when he in turn asked 
for theirs they refused to indorse the cards, disclaiming an 
approval of the game, but resorting to it for lack of anything to 
read, by which their leisure hours could be filled. "At the bloody 
battle of Stone River," Mr. Stuart continued, "during a lull of 
the fight, the cries of a wounded soldier Avere heard asking for 
assistance ; but soon his voice was drowned in the renewed roar 
of the artillery. When the conflict was over, there came the 
ghastly work of sorting the dead from the living. When the 
men who were despatched for this service reached the spot from 
whence these cries proceeded, they found a lad of nineteen, dead, 
and leaning against the stump of a tree. His eyes were open, 
though fixed in death ; a celestial smile was on his countenance ; 
his well-worn Bible was open, with his finger, cold and stiff, 
pointing to that passage which has cheered the heart of many a 
dying Christian : ' Though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me ; Thy 
rod and Thy staff they comfort me.' Oh, mother, wife, sister ! 
if that had been your son, husband or brother, who had died 
under such circumstances, what would you not give for the 
possession of that blessed copy of the Word of God?" 

It has often been a matter of wonder whence came the bound- 
less resources placed at the disposal of the Commission. In 
answering this, in response to the inquiry of a friend, Mr. Stuart 
said : " We relied on the voluntary contributions of the people — 
and how nobly they responded ! After the battle of Gettysburg, 
when tens of thousands of Avounded and dying men Avere thrown 
upon our hands, I telegraphed in all directions. To Boston I 
telegraphed : 'Can I draw on you for $10,000 at sight?' It Avas 
stuck up in the exchange. The merchants at once formed in line 
to put clown their subscriptions, and the answer came: 'DraAV for 
$60,000.' And the little children helped us too. They made tens 
of thousands of little houseAA'ives, comfort-bags, as the soldiers 
called them, Avith buttons, needles and thread, comb, cake of 
soap, and, above all, a little tract or Testament, and sent them 
on through the Commission to the needy soldiers, and they did 
them a Avorld of good." 



MRS. JOHN HARRIS. 1009 

When delegations from the Commission visited Mr. Lincoln 
he always seemed gratified to have a few moments spent in 
prayer. After Mr. Johnson came to be inaugurated, misgivings 
were felt about proposing it. But Mr. Stuart never failed in 
resource, and on the very first visit to the President, as they 
were leaving, Mr. Stuart said : " Mr. Johnson, you have been 
called to the head of the nation at a very critical time." " Yes, 
yes," he said. "After a man who was the idol of the people." 
" Yes." " No man has been raised to a position where he stands 

more in need of divine help." " It is true." " Dr. will 

perhaps ask the Divine blessing and guidance for you before 
we go." The President made no objection and they all mixed 
in prayer. 

In all of the above Mr. Stuart has spoken for himself, and from 
the spirit with which his words are filled, it is not difficult to 
infer what manner of man he is. To him congenial work is rest. 
He has been a great sufferer from asthma, by which he has been 
prevented from reclining in bed for weeks together. Aside from 
this he is strong and well preserved, having ever practised strict 
temperance. He was married on the 11th of May, 1837, to Miss 
Martha K. Dennison. The issue has been nine children, only 
five of whom survive. He is nearly six feet in height, broad- 
shouldered, and is possessed of an exceedingly kind and benignant 
countenance. He has been offered a place in President Grant's 
cabinet, but has steadily declined. When the Commission was 
formed for securing the amelioration of the Indians, he was 
named as a member and has labored earnestly in carrying out its 
beneficent desiims. 



*Ci J 



%$( rs. John Harris, of Philadelphia, who was with the 
wounded at the front during nearly the whole war, and 



Jjii'c 



moved by her pen in a remarkable degree the people of the North 
to deeds of charity, has won by her devotion and zeal the love 
and affection of the mutilated and perishing of both armies, 
and the lasting gratitude of the whole American people. " If," 
says Frank Moore, in his Women of the War, " there were any 
such vain decorations of human approbation as a crown, or a 
wreath, or a star, for her who in the late war has done the 

64 



1010 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

most and labored the longest, who visited the greatest number of 
hospitals, prayed with the greatest number of suffering and 
dying soldiers, penetrated nearest to the front, and underwent 
the greatest amount of fatigue and exposure — that crown, or 
that star, would be rightfully given to Mrs. John Harris, of 
Philadelphia." 

On Sunday, the 21st of April, 1861, a notice was read in the 
several churches of Philadelphia calling a general meeting to per- 
fect plans for establishing a hospital for the reception of the sick 
and wounded soldiers, and prepare bedding, bandages, and lint. 
Tli at notice was drawn by the hand of Mrs. Harris. It called 
out an immediate and hearty response. Dr. Taylor, of the Third 
Reformed Dutch Church, says: "I shall never forget the impres- 
sion made upon the audience by the simple reading of this notice. 
Pastor and people burst into tears together. It was absolutely 
overpowering. No blood had yet been shed. After the service 
some even doubted whether there would be any fighting. I was 
told by two or three persons that it was a premature notice, and 
calculated to produce needless alarm and anxiety among the 
people. But it was the first foreshadowing in our church of the 
actual preparation at home for the awful carnage that attended 
the great Rebellion. Out of this and other movements among 
the churches of Philadelphia grew the Ladies' Aid Societies of 
the city — noble heralds and aids of the Christian and Sanitary 
Commissions." 

The smoke had scarcely cleared away from the first battle-ground 
of the war when Mrs. Harris started for Washington, where 
during the weeks which followed she was unceasingly employed 
in ministering at the bedside of the suffering, whispering words 
of consolation to the dying, and receiving their last messages of 
affection. From the first she adopted the habit of writing regu- 
larly and fully to the officers of the society which she represented, 
and their reports abound in extracts from her correspondence. 
" Visiting the military hospitals of Washington, Georgetown, and 
Alexandria, two days after the Battle of Bull Run (Tuesday, 
July 23d), the value of our holy religion and its power to soothe 
were felt as never before. In the different hospitals about 500 
wounded youth, with every variety and degree of injury, were 



MRS. JOHN HARRIS. 1011 

found. Passing from cot to cot with almost bursting heart, 
' Words of Jesus ' were whispered into the ears of many of the 
sufferers. As the poor fellows caught the sound they looked up 
with cheerful countenances, and even glad surprise. ... I was 
about to pass on when the position of his arm arrested me. 'You 
are wounded in the arm ?' i Yes.' * I hope not seriously.' * Yes ; 
it was amputated at the elbow before I left the field.' Wholly 
unprepared for such an announcement my feelings overpowered 
me. He soothingly said : 'It is only my left arm. That is not much 
to give to my country. It might have been my life.' Another, 
a lovely youth, whose bright, restless eye and flushed cheek told 
of suffering, grasped my hand and gently pulled me towards him, 
as I knelt beside him, and said : ' My dear boy, what can I do for 
you? Shall I talk to you of Jesus?' 'Oh, yes,' he said, 'I am used 
to that. I have loved Him, but not near enough, for two years ; 
and now He is going to take me home.' ' You are very young. 
Have you a mother ? ' ' Oh, yes !' Tears filled his eyes. ' It must 
have been a great trial to give you to your country.' 'Yes, it was. 
When I first mentioned it she would not hear me, but we both 
prayed over it, and at last she consented, saying, " My country 
deserves this sacrifice. I gave you to God, at your birth, and 
this is his cause." : As I fanned the dear boy, brushing back the 
hair from his beautiful forehead, he fell into a sleep. When I 
withdrew my hand he started and exclaimed : ' Oh ! I dreamed 
that that was Annie's hand. Won't you put it on my head 
again ? ' ' Who is Annie ? ' ' My twin-sister. We were seven- 
teen since I left home.' This dear youth is now with the Saviour. 
He died from his wounds the next day." 

After the first battle of Bull Run there was little fighting in 
the Army of the Potomac until it reached the Peninsula in the 
spring of 1862. But the change from civil life to the camp 
brought many to the sick couch, and before the army moved 
Mrs. Harris had visited over a hundred hospitals and distributed 
the contributions of the Aid Societies, speaking words of comfort 
and Christian consolation and directing the minds of the dying. 
The malarial airs about York town brought down men faster than 
the bullets of the enemy, and the hospitals were crowded. Soon 
after the battle of Williamsburg she wrote: "No language can give 



1012 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the faintest idea of the scenes of suffering and deadly anguish 
through which we are passing. . . . Could you have visited with 
me, on Saturday, the largest ward of the Hygeia Hospital, your 
whole being would have thrilled with anguish. Friend and foe 
are crowded together without distinction — all suffering. The 
first one approached had been wounded in the thigh and arm. 
The leg had been amputated, and an extraction made of the 
broken bones in the arm. Surgeons had been probing the 
diseased portions, not heeding the shrieks of the sufferer, whom 
I found covered with cold sweat, and nearing the dark valley ; 
indeed, the mists of the valley were settling over him. When 
the gracious words, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,' were spoken, the 
suffering one looked up, and exclaimed: 'Rest, rest! Oh, where, 
where ? ' * In the bosom of Jesus, if you will but lay your sins. 
on him, and your suffering, throbbing heart close to his, you will 
be fdled with rest in all the fulness of its meaning.' He tried to 
stay his faith on ' the Rock,' but very soon the unseen closed him 
in, and left us vainly endeavoring to follow the departing soul." 
In the same ward was a boy only nineteen, mortally wounded. 
'• He begged me," she says, " to write to his mother ' a very long 
letter, sending a lock of my hair ; but you needn't take the hair 
now ; say everything to comfort her ; but,' he added, ' I want her 
to know how her poor boy suffers ; yes, I do that ; she would feel so 
for me.' He lingered till Monday ; and, after a painful operation, 
sank away most unexpectedly, and when I got there was in the 
dead-house. So I went into that dismal place, full of corpses, 
and cut a lock from the dead boy's head, and enclosed it to the 
mother, adding some words of comfort for the sorrow-stricken. 
He had received a religious training and told me to tell his 
mother he would meet her in heaven." 

After the battle of Fair Oaks the wounded were sent in ships 
to the hospitals below. From the Louisiana she writes : " The 
whole day had been spent in operating. In one pile lay seven- 
teen arms, hands, feet and legs. A large proportion of the 
wounded had undergone mutilation in some important member. 
Many must die. Four lay with their faces covered, dying 
or dead. Many had not had their wounds dressed since the 



MRS. JOHN HARRIS. 1013 

battle, and were in a sad state already. One brave fellow from 
Maine had lost both legs, but bore up with wonderful firmness. 
Upon my saying to him, ' You have suffered much for your 
country ; we cannot thank you enough,' he replied : ' Oh, well, 
you hadn't ought to thank me. I went of my own accord, in a 
glorious cause.' . . . When I left the boat, at eleven o'clock at 
night, I was obliged to wash all my skirts, they having been 
draggled in the mingled blood of Federal and Confederate soldiers, 
which covered many portions of the floor. I was obliged to kneel 
between them to wash their faces. This is war." 

When a conflict was imminent she was with the moving 
column, and was brought, not unfrequently, under fire. From 
the Antietam field she wrote : " Night was closing in upon us — 
the rain falling fast ; the sharpshooters were threatening all who 
ventured near our wounded and dying on the battle-ground ; a 
line of battle in view, artillery in motion, litters and ambulances 
going in all directions ; wounded picking their way, now lying 
down to rest, some before they were out of the range of the 
enemy's guns, not a few of whom received their severest wounds 
in these places of imagined safety ; add to this, marching and 
counter-marching of troops ; bearers of despatches hurrying to 
and fro; eager, anxious inquirers after the killed and wounded; 
and the groans of the poor sufferers under the surgeons' hands, — 
and you may form some faint idea of our position on that eventful 
evening. Reaching a hospital hut but a few removes from the 
corn-field in which the deadliest of the strife was waged, I found 
the ground literally covered with the dead and wounded — barns, 
hayricks, outhouses of every description, all full. Here and there 
a knot of men, with a dim light near, told of amputations ; whilst 
the shrieks and groans of the poor fellows, lying all around, made 
our hearts almost to stand still. . . . We were called to pray 
with a dying Christian ; and I feel the grasp of his hand yet, 
as we knelt, in the rain, in the dark night, with only the glim- 
mering lights around the operating tables, and looked up to the 
Father of our Lord and Saviour for his mercy and grace to 
fall upon the dying man, and all his comrades clustering round 
us needing dying grace. Then we sang, ' There is rest for the 
weary,' Miss G.'s loud clear voice leading. The sounds stopped 



1014 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the shrieks and groans of the brave men. They listened. They 
all seemed comforted. It was then midnight, or near it. Before 
the next sun threw its rays in upon these twelve hundred 
wounded soldiers, the darkness of death had settled upon eleven 
— sons, husbands and fathers — whose hearts had throbbed health- 
fully with loving thoughts of home and country but a few hours 
before. We had slept a few hours on the straw upon which 
our soldiers had lain and upon which their life-blood had been 
poured out. We prepared tea, bread and butter, milk-punch and 
egg-nog ; furnished rags, lint and bandages as needed, and then 
came on to French's division hospital, where were one thousand 
of our wounded, and a number of Confederates. The first night 
we slept in our ambulance ; no room in the small house, the only 
dwelling near, could be procured. The next day was the Sabbath. 
The sun shone brightly ; the bees and the birds were joyous and 
busy ; a beautiful landscape spread out before us, and we knew 
the Lord of the Sabbath looked down upon us. But with 
all these above and around, we could see only our suffering, 
uncomplaining soldiers, mutilated, bleeding, dying. Almost 
every hour I witnessed the going out of some young life." 

Her picture of the field as it presented itself to her after 
the battle was over is vivid, and has the merit of truthfulness, 
the narrative being written from amid the scenes described: 
• Stretched out in every direction, as far as the eye could reach, 
were the dead and dying. Much the larger proportion must have 
died instantly — their positions, some with ramrod in hand to 
load, others with gun in hand as if about to aim, others still 
having just discharged their murderous fire. Some were struck 
in the act of eating. One poor fellow still held a potato in his 
-rasp. Another clutched a piece of tobacco ; others held their 
canteens as if to drink; one grasped a letter. Two were strangely 
poised upon a fence, having been killed in the act of leaping it. 
flow my heart sickens at the recollection of the appearance of 
these men who had left their homes in all the pride of manly 
beauty." 

A kind of nourishment which she compounded of corn-meal, 
ground ginger, wine, and crackers, for the pickets as they came 
in from their vigils where they had buffeted the storm in wintry 



MBS. JOHN HABBIS. 1015 

nights, was remarkably popular. She called it hot ginger panada, 
and without doubt it saved many a soldier from painful sickness 
and even death. After Chancellorsville, in May, 1863, she says, 
writing on the 18th : " We filled two ambulances with bread and 
butter, prepared stewed fruit, egg-nog, lemons, oranges, cheese, 
shirts, drawers, stockings, and handkerchiefs, and went out to 
meet a train of ambulances bearing the wounded from United 
States Ford." The wounded had been left in the enemy's hands 
and were now being brought in. Their wounds had reached 
that stage when the slightest motion is agony. The ways were 
rough, and the jars and jolts brought excruciating torment. "No 
pen," she says, " can describe the scene. Amputations and dress- 
ings had been hurriedly gone over, and then much neglected; for 
the rebel surgeons had more than enough to occupy them in the 
care of their own wounded. By day and by night I see their 
poor mutilated limbs red with inflammation, bones protruding, 
worms rioting, as they were held over the sides of the ambulance 
to catch the cooling breeze. . . . For six mornings we have pre- 
pared five gallons of custard, using six dozen eggs, and about 
eight gallons of puddings." 

With a supply of chloroform and stimulants she left Baltimore 
on the 4th of July for Gettysburg, ministering to the wounded as 
they came in car-loads from the front. From the field she wrote: 
"Am full of work and sorrow. The appearance of things here 
beggars all description. Our dead lie unburied, and our wounded 
neglected. Numbers have been drowned by the sudden rise in 
the waters of the creek bottoms, and thousands of them are still 
naked and starving. God pity us ! — pity us ! " Seeing sufficient 
aid hourly arriving to care for the wounded here, she pushed on 
with supplies after the army, which was in expectation of fight- 
ing another great battle, continuing with the moving columns. 

Early in October the Aid Society in Philadelphia decided to 
send her to the armies in Tennessee. At Nashville she met 
numbers of the Union refugees, who had come in from the moun- 
tains to escape the iron grasp of rebel rule, whose unfortunate 
condition challenged pity. " It is a very dark picture," she says, 
" made up of miserable-looking women and old men, with naked 
children of all ages. Many came here to die, no provision being 



1016 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

made for them, other than the food and shelter afforded by 
Government. After herding together indiscriminately in some 
dirty wareroom, or unfinished, unfurnished tenement, in ill-venti- 
lated apartments, they become an easy prey to that foe of all 
ill-clad and ill-fed — typhus fever. It comes in the form of a chill 
followed by fever, and this is succeeded by jabbering idiocy, with 
no great suffering, except to sympathizers. The mind is filled 
with old home-scenes; ghastly smiles, more saddening by far than 
tears, play over wan and haggard faces ; the patient sinks, in a 
few days fills a Government coffin, and is carried to a nameless 
grave." 

The labors of Mrs. Harris were directed to collecting supplies 
and money from the States to the northward, returning to Louis- 
ville for this purpose, and then going forward to Chattanooga, 
where the Union armies were assembled. Referring to the 
Battle Above the Clouds, at Lookout Mountain, she says : "As I 
write, an ambulance passes, bearing the remains of four heroes of 
the late battles ; all of them full of hope when I came here, and 
though wounded, talking only of victory ; one telling how vexed 
he felt when the bullet struck him, half w r ay up the hill ; 
another rejoicing that he got to the top ; another that he grasped 
the flag, and held it aloft nearly at the top — is sure the old 
' Stars and Stripes ' saw the top if he didn't. And so they 
talked for days, only of their country's triumph. But a change 
passed over them. Gangrene was commencing its ravages, and 
they were carried from their comrades and put in tents lest the 
poison might be communicated to their wounded fellow-sufferers. 
There, in the ' gangrene ward,' the glory of battle and victory 
faded away, as the fatal disease bore them nearer and nearer to 
the great eternity that shuts out all sounds of war. Then the 
fearful misgivings that took the place of the hopes of earthly 
glory were deeply engraven on their poor wan faces, and began to 
be whispered in the ears of Christian sympathy." 

But she who was abounding in sympathy and love for suffer- 
ing humanity, whether friend or foe, the mutilated from the field 
or the wanderer from his home, and who was willing to wear her 
own life out that she might raise others to health, herself at 
length fell a victim to disease. For many days life hung trem- 



MBS. HANNAH MOOBE. 1017 

bling in the balance ; but she was mercifully restored, and char- 
acteristically wrote : " I feel almost ashamed to consume your 
time with any account of it, the suffering all around me is of 
such an intense character." She resumed her labors, when 
recovered, in the great hospitals about Chattanooga, and during 
the early part of 1864 was never more active, and writes: 
" My experiences since I reached Chattanooga have been the 
most painful of the three past eventful years. In looking back, 
amazement seizes me, and the attempt to rehearse them seems 
futile. War, famine, and pestilence have made up the warp and 
woof of our soldier life." 

Thus to the end of the war was she devoted to the care of the 
suffering and disconsolate, reviving their drooping spirits not 
only by relieving their physical wants, but in breaking to 
them the bread of life, and preparing them for entrance to the 
spirit world. By the blessing of God hundreds of lives were 
saved by her tender and assiduous care, and many more 
were comforted and consoled in their dying hour. For her 
angelic ministrations she has won the lasting gratitude of the 
whole American people. After the close of hostilities Mrs. Harris 
returned to that quiet, unobtrusive way of life which she had 
quitted on going to the field, and shrinking from notoriety 
appears only solicitous for the plaudit of the Master, " Well 
done, good and faithful servant." 

r rs. Hannah Moore, a martyr to her zeal and industry in 




behalf of sick and wounded soldiers, was born in the 
State of New York, on the 16th of April, 1816. She first visited 
Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and a few years afterwards 
took up her abode there permanently. Of a delicate and sen- 
sitive organization, her feelings were always easily touched by 
scenes of suffering, and she was quick to respond to calls of 
charity and mercy. When war, with its train of wretchedness 
and misery came, in 1861, Mrs. Moore was not slow to discern 
the need of systematic effort in laboring to stimulate benevolence, 
in collecting stores, and in providing measures for their dis- 
tribution. Without the incitement of the spectacle of pain and 
sorrow to move her, she devoted herself unceasingly, as President 



1018 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the Meadville Relief Association, in arousing the active 
interest of those throughout the entire county who might other- 
wise have been lukewarm or indifferent, in conducting the daily 
duties of her office, receiving material in every variety of form 
and condition, preparing and packing for transportation, and con- 
ducting a correspondence with other societies and with agents at 
distant points. Her friend, Miss E. G. Huidekoper, says of her : 
" Thoroughness was one of Mrs. Moore's characteristics. What- 
ever she undertook, she endeavored to do in the best way, at 
whatever cost of toil and energy to herself. Her labors were not 
confined to the Relief Rooms. Almost the whole of her strength 
and time were devoted to the work before going to the Rooms, 
and after her return, frequently till late at night, though very 
weary with the duties at the society meeting. She wrote many 
letters to neighboring societies and to individuals whom she 
thought would contribute, encouraging them to continue their 
donations, or giving needed information, and promptly acknowl- 
edging contributions." 

During the year 1863 there were shipped from the Rooms 
eighty-six boxes, twenty-one barrels, and sixteen firkins, to the fol- 
lowing points : Fortress Monroe, Frederick, Baltimore, Washing- 
ton, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Cleveland. The material 
usually came in crude form, and everything needed to be assorted 
and prepared for transportation. All this received her constant 
personal supervision. There were made up at the Rooms of the 
Central Society in Meadville, 3536 yards of cotton, and 600 
yards of flannel. The parties to whom these packages were 
addressed are unanimous in their acknowledgment of their great 
value and excellent condition. In a letter from the Central 
Office for Northern Ohio, at Cleveland, the Manager says: "As 
always, they were extremely valuable. You have accomplished 
wonders in your society, and especially have you in your own 
person." Again on the 18th and 20th of July, 1863, Miss Mahan 
writes : " We have received from your society, twelve boxes and 
one keg of hospital stores. I will not attempt to repeat, what Miss 
Brayton has so often expressed to you, our cordial, hearty admi- 
ration of your noble society." Again, on the 31st, the same hand 
acknowledges the receipt, " July 22d, of one keg, July 24th, of 



MRS. HANNAH MOORE. 1019 

six boxes and one keg, and July 28th, of five boxes (Nos. 70 to 82, 
inclusive). For them all you have our renewed thanks. Your 
first shipment of last week of twelve boxes and one keg was 
sent on the 24th to Louisville, for Vicksburg and Port Hudson. 
The remainder will be forwarded next week to Nashville." 
We thus see how the patient labors of this devoted woman, far 
removed from danger or the excitement of arriving and departing 
troops, resulted in scattering comforts and relief at the great 
centres of conflict at a time when urgently needed. From Fred- 
erick, Maryland, on the 27th of August, Miss Bantz writes: "The 
boxes were received, after some delay, in good condition ; for 
which please accept our thanks, as also for the kind interest 
you manifest toward us. If all in charge had their hearts in the 
work, it would add greatly to the comfort of our brave boys, who 
have so nobly left their homes and loved ones for the cause." 

From St. Louis, the Rev. W. G. Eliot, D. D., writes : " We 
acknowledge with much pleasure the receipt of two admirably 
well-filled boxes, which arrived yesterday in excellent order. As 
there are now nearly 2000 in hospital here, and 500 more 
expected from the interior camps, or with the returning army, 
your kindness will not have been in vain." 

Mr. Joseph Shippen, an agent of the Sanitary Commission, 
who was employed on the Gettysburg field soon after the close 
of the battle, writes on the 30th of July : "A pleasing feature of 
the hospital was that our men bore so heroically, almost jubi- 
lantly, their sufferings. A soldier would tell you first what 
regiment he belonged to, and where he was hit, and then, ' Oh, 
but didn't we make them skedaddle ! They thought they were 
going to fight nothing but militia, and found here the old Army 
of the Potomac' Whatever the individual loss, whether one leg 
or two, every man rejoiced in the battle gained. A second 
redeeming feature was the grand manifestation of the patriotism, 
humanity, and Christianity of our land through the voluntary 
relief afforded to the sufferers. Surrounded by a pile of boxes, 
on one of which she was seated, a lady with an intelligent face, 
in very plain attire, was pointed out to me as Miss Dix. Mrs. 
Harris of Philadelphia was also on the ground with stores. The 
Baltimore firemen had a depot from which were distributed many 



1020 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

supplies to our wounded. The Adams' Express Company also 
had stores which were devoted to the same good object. The 
Christian Commission was largely represented by some two 
hundred delegates, for the most part preachers and divinity 
students from all parts of the country. On this emergency the 
same promptness and liberality was shown by the Sanitary Com- 
mission that has marked its course on all the great battle-fields 
of the war. With Meade's advancing columns several army 
wagon-loads of supplies were pushed forward and afforded great 
relief on the second and third days of the fight. While the 
cannon were dealing out death and destruction, these gifts of the 
people possessed a life-saving power. Some of the surgeons were 
ready to exclaim, " In the name of heaven, where did the Sani- 
tary Commission come from ! " . . . Among the many articles 
dealt out with liberal hand to the hospitals were ten thousand 
pounds of fresh soft bread, ten thousand pounds of fresh poultry 
packed in ice, five tons of fresh vegetables, ten thousand dozen 
of fresh eggs, five thousand shirts and drawers, three hundred 
boxes of lemons and oranges, one ton of tamarinds, ten thousand 
pounds of condensed milk, and a like amount of concentrated 
beef, together with large quantities of sheets, towels, slippers, 
gowns, bandages, fans, etc. These rude estimates of quantities 
were made of what had been distributed during the first two 
weeks after the battle. . . . Coming through the regular channels 
of supply, the wounded are generally ignorant that they are the 
free-will offering of the people. I asked a wounded man from 
Crawford county where he had got his clean white shirt and 
drawers, and he did not know until I showed and explained to 
him the mark of the ' U. S. San. Com.' . . . The Commission 
dealt out generously to the wounded rebels, and many were the 
expressions of appreciation and thanks made by surgeons, officers, 
and men. . . . The Commission did a grand work of special relief 
in feeding, sheltering, and assisting the wounded at the railroad 
station before starting for Baltimore. . . . Each day hundreds 
would find their way to the town from the woods and fields with 
heads bound up or arm in a sling, or with wound in the foot or 
leg, not so severe as to prevent their limping along or hobbling 
with the help of a fence-rail or pole cut in the woods. Poor 



3IBS. HANNAH MO ORE. 1021 

fellows ! it made one's heart bleed to see them tottering along, so 
weak and so suffering. At the depot we had six large tents, 
where they could lie and rest on clean hay, have their wounds 
dressed, receive food and such articles of clothing as they needed. 
. . . Hot soup and hot coffee were always kept ready, and fresh 
bread, soft crackers, and cold water were at hand in abundance. 
Thus from six to twelve hundred wounded were fed each day 
for a fortnight." 

A letter addressed to Mrs. Moore by Miss Brayton, of the 11th 
of August, thus acknowledges the value and extent of her labors : 
" Miss Mahan tells me that the receipts from your society are 
* perfectly astonishing.' I can well believe it, when I remember 
that you are charged with the whole duty of arousing the county, 
gathering in donations, packing and shipping. The task you 
have imposed upon yourself is a heavy one. I hope your health 
will not fail under it. We are always glad to hear that a Mead- 
ville Box is on the way, knowing its contents will rejoice many a 
poor sufferer's heart." The solicitude expressed in the above 
extract for the health of Mrs. Moore proved to have been reason- 
ably excited. It was impossible that the most firm and enduring 
constitution could long withstand the strain which she volun- 
tarily took upon herself. Wearing labors by day, and anxiety by 
night, made such inroads upon her strength that she was finally 
obliged to resign her office of President, Secretary and Treasurer 
of the Association, being succeeded by Mrs. William Thorpe, 
and after a short illness sank to the grave, as really a martyr to 
the cause of her country as he who pours out his lifeblood upon 
the field of battle. In personal appearance she was rather 
above the medium height, of fine figure, with dark and expres- 
sive eyes, easy and graceful in her manners. She had that 
kindness of heart which prompts to generous action, and 
which lies at the foundation of politeness and attractiveness in 
social life. Gifted by nature with more than ordinary mental 
endowments, persons of high culture enjoyed her society for the 
vivacity of her spirit, for her quickness of appreciation, and that 
subtle refinement of thought which is more of a gift than an 
acquisition, betokening the finest mould of humanity. On the 
other hand she won the hearts of those in humble life by the 



1022 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

abandon with which she placed herself in communion and sym- 
pathy with their condition, their trials or their sufferings. She 
had a wonderful faculty of animating others with her own zeal 
and enthusiasm, and her magnetic power made those about her 
esteem it a privilege, instead of a drudgery, to be permitted to 
cooperate with her in her labors. 

Her good taste, her love of order, and her kindness of heart all 
came into play in her efforts in behalf of the sick and wounded 
soldiers during the war, and she remained at her post of duty 
until failing health drove her away from it. The following 
stanzas formed part of an obituary notice, and the prediction in 
the concluding lines finds its fulfilment in the memorial wreath 
annually placed upon her grave on Decoration Day, by the Boys 
in Blue, who hold her services and sacrifices in their behalf in 
grateful remembrance : 

" The poor, whose humble homes ye oft have sought, 
With blessings breathed thy name ; 
And the sick soldier on his lonely cot, 
To whom thy offerings came — 

" Genial alike unto the old and young, 
E'en childhood at thy knee, 
Spell-bound, with radiant visage, hung, 
Charmed with thy sympathy. 

" Farewell ! thy cheerful voice which banish'd gloom 
Is lost to social ring ; 
Yet loving hands shall ofttimes strew thy tomb 
With the fresh flowers of spring." 




CHAPTER III. 




HE UNION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT 
SALOON of Philadelphia, a name dear to many 
a soldier in the late war, originated in an humble 
but generous impulse of humanity and patriotism. 
As the troops began to move towards the National 
Capital, in response to the call of the President, it 
was seen that by the time they had reached Phila- 
delphia, journeying from New England, New York, 
and States from the West, and even from parts 
nearer, they needed some rest, nutritious food, 
warm drink, and a spark of the humanizing influ- 
ence which comes from a generous deed. The 
Sixth Massachusetts, which had been quartered at 
the Girard House, was joined by Colonel Small's regiment, and 
these, in Baltimore, were attacked by the mob, some killed, several 
wounded, and the road destroyed, cutting off further travel by 
that route. After this, troops were compelled to go by Annap- 
olis. As there was delay in moving, at first they were fed upon 
the street, or taken into the houses of people living in the neigh- 
borhood of the Baltimore Depot, on Broad street. The offering- 
was from the heart, many bestowing from their own scanty 
stores, one poor woman giving away all her customers' milk. 
Seeing that the calls were becoming frequent, and recognizing the 
pressing necessity of allowing none to pass uncared for, Mr. 
Bazilla S. Brown gave notice that he would receive contribu- 
tions of material for this purpose, and with eleven pounds of 
coffee, he commenced the work of dispensing from a table 
improvised from boards wrenched from a neighboring fence. 
Thus humble were the beginnings of this noble charity. 

Those who were active in the work were laboring men and 
could ill afford to lose time and sleep in waiting and watching. 

1023 



1024 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Accordingly, by an arrangement with the railroad companies, the 
coming of troops was telegraphed, so that preparations could be 
duly timed. The first notice was of the Eighth New York, 800 
strong, to arrive at three o'clock on the morning of the 28th 
of May, 18G1. On the back of this telegram Mr. Paul I. Field 
wrote to Mr. Arad Barrows : "The bearer of this, Mr. B. S. 
Brown, is in every way responsible. If you will lend him the 
kettle he wants I will guarantee its safe return." The kettle was 
duly delivered from the establishment of Messrs. Savery & Co., 
and the regiment, which was that of Colonel Blenker, received 
refreshment on Washington Avenue, possession being taken of a 
vacant boat-house in the neighborhood for making the necessary 
preparations. This building on the 1st of June was leased, 
and appropriately fitted. The lease stood in the name of Mr. B. 
S. Brown, and an organization was effected, known as the Volun- 
teer Refreshment Saloon, subsequently changed to the Union 
Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. A few days later another huge 
boiler was procured, and the two connected and ingeniously com- 
bined with ovens, so that a moving column of large proportions 
could be quickly supplied. That every soldier might enjoy the 
luxury of a free ablution, the Fairmount water was led into the 
building, and a long line of bowls provided where soap and snowy 
napkins were plentifully supplied. With every body of troops, 
whether going to or from the field, were always some languish- 
ing, often too sick to pursue their journey. To accommodate such, 
a hospital — the very first to be established in any part of the 
country — was opened, over which Dr. Eliab Ward presided, giving 
his services through the entire war without reward other than that 
which follows a good deed incited by a pure motive. This was 
provided with drugs and medicines gratuitously contributed, and 
furnished with comfortable cots. Books, periodicals, and papers 
were supplied, and noble, kind-hearted women volunteered their 
services, leaving comfortable homes by day and by night, to minis- 
ter to the weary and war-worn soldiers. Nearly eleven thousand 
sick and wounded in the progress of the war were nursed, and 
received medical attendance, nearly twice that number had their 
wounds dressed, and over forty thousand had a night's lodging. 







^SVGeoEPe., 



^7t^z*^^cS3tfa/^y 



. 



UNION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1025 

" The Soldier here, upon his wistful way 

From Peace to War (sad contrast), paused an hour; 
Just near enough to death to own his sway — 
Just far enough from home to feel its power: 

" This nicely-balanced moment found the word 

And work of solace ready for his heart ; 

A thousand cups rose reeking on the board 

As by the touch of the magician's art. 

" The care-worn matron, at the signal's call, 
Gave her own breakfast to that mother's son 
Who'd left behind a thousand miles his all, 

While she who bore him bravely urged him on." 

The charities of this institution were not confined to soldiers 
actually in the service of the Union Army, but were extended to 
more than fifteen thousand Southern refugees, deserters from 
the rebel army, and freedmen. For many of the latter employ- 
ment was found. The necessities of the association soon outgrew 
the building first taken, and additions were made until a space 
95 by 150 feet was covered, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and 
Baltimore Railway leasing the ground and refusing any compen- 
sation. In its enlarged dimensions 1200 men could be supplied 
at once, and 15,000 have been received in a single day. Deaths 
occurred among its guests, and a ground was secured where about 
fifty of the number lie buried. An accurate record was kept of 
all its operations, and the books show that over 800,000 soldiers 
were received and 1,025,000 meals were furnished — figures the 
significance of which we can scarcely comprehend. What a 
charity was this ! How prompt in its inception ! How broad in 
its bounty ! How self-sacrificing and tireless in its execution ! 

In summing up its results we are led to consider the great ex- 
pense which must have attended operations on so grand a scale, 
and to inquire whence came the funds. The cost, in consequence 
of the judicious management of its finances, was very moderate, 
the entire amount of money expended being but $98,204.34, 
and material estimated at $30,000 — an aggregate of $128,204.34; 
and of this sum nothing came from any public treasury. When 
it was seen that a great work was being done, the city govern- 
ment signified its willingness to appropriate ; but the managers 
decline the proffer, preferring to depend upon the free-will offer- 
ings of the people. It was only necessary to make known that 

(55 



1026 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYZVA&IA. 

money or material was wanting, and they flowed in abundance 
into its coffers. Festivals were given for which contributions 
came from the city and the rich champaign contiguous, extending 
to New Jersey and Delaware, and from which the receipts were 
generous. On the occasion of the Strawberry Festival held in 
June, 1862, bountiful supplies of flowers, cakes, bread, butter, 
fruit and meats were received; released prisoners from the steam- 
ship Union brought a flag made in the jail at Salisbury ; and 
thirty-four ladies from New Jersey, headed by ex-Senator Savery, 
came bringing a grand bouquet in acknowledgment of the care 
of wounded Jerseymen. There were 36,000 ticket-holders, an 
evidence of the hearty cooperation which the citizens of Phila- 
delphia accorded to this enterprise. Entertainments of various 
kinds were given at places of amusement in its aid, and the direct 
subscriptions of wealthy citizens were frequent. But the most 
generous and princely gift was that of the time, and even the 
life-current, of the attendants. Many of them, after laboring at 
their regular occupations the whole day, would spend a part of 
the night, often rising at the dead hour at the call of the signal 
gun, and, ministering to the tired, worn soldier, send him on 
his way with a glad heart. Women who had already passed the 
limit of an ordinary life were found daily at their posts lending a 
strong, willing hand to the good work. 

The method of conducting the Saloon is a matter of interest. 
A correspondent of the Boston Journal, of November 19th, 1861, 
thus writes : " It is a spacious building and divided into a dining- 
room, store-room, and a large apartment for cooking. The walls 
of the main apartment are hung with very pretty paintings, 
engravings, and cards neatly designed, having inscriptions : 
'Welcome to the brave Volunteers.' 'The city of Philadelphia 
invites you to her hospitality, and bids you God-speed on your 
way to the Union army.' ' Be brave; your deeds for liberty will 
never die.' 'You have the prayers of all honest, \oya\ hearts for 
your success in arms, and a safe return to your friends, crowned 
with honor and glory.' . . . The rooms are open at all hours, 
with dishes on the tables and fuel under the boilers. When a 
regiment leaves Jersey City a telegram is sent to Philadelphia, 
and a cannon is immediately fired to inform the citizens that the 



UNION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1027 

soldiers are on the way. When the men are within a few miles 
of the city another gun is fired, which brings out those who wait 
upon the tables. The ladies who attend to the soldiers are true 
women in every sense of the word. Their constant endeavor is 
to show the soldier that they love the great principles of our 
government, and that they also love every brave volunteer who 
goes forth to defend them. When they see a soldier who appears 
homesick or low-spirited, no false dignity prevents them from 
going up to him and cheering him with kind and loving words. 
Let no cold-hearted critic say that this is a wrong method of pro- 
cedure. We must respect our soldiers, and the more we impress 
upon their miuds the idea that we love them, the higher will be 
their standard of action, and the braver their deeds upon the 
field of battle. ... In the hospital room of the main building 
there is a lanre table covered with writing materials, where the 
soldiers can prepare letters while the trains to convey them away 
are being made up. These letters are given to the attendants of 
the Saloon, who stamp and send them to their destination free of 
charge. In one corner of the room is a desk where large bundles 
of the city papers are deposited, in readiness for gratuitous dis- 
tribution. The food furnished the men is better by considerable 
than the average fare at our city hotels. The bill embraces beef 
of all kinds, ham, pickles, sweet and common potatoes, excellent 
white bread, tea and coffee, and often cakes and pies. The coffee- 
boilers hold 180 gallons, which is reduced, on account of its 
strength, to 360 gallons. Each regiment upon an average uses 
seven barrels of coffee, besides many gallons of tea. The average 
cost of a soldier's meal varies from nine to ten cents." Later in 
the war the cost was about doubled. 

The gun mentioned, which was fired to notify the attend an is 
when troops left a far off station and again upon their arrival at 
the city, has an interesting history. It was manufactured at 
Springfield, Massachusetts. In the war with Mexico it fell into 
the hands of the enemy, was put on board a Mexican privateer 
called the Wasp, — which was overhauled by an American gun-boat 
and sent to Philadelphia, — was placed upon the receiving ship at 
the Navy Yard, — which was sunk by an ice-jam, was raised, — and 
was finally loaned to the Union Saloon. A curious autobiography 



1028 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was written of this gun in which the old piece was made to say: 
" I am housed up on Washington Avenue, and it is only on par- 
ticular occasions, or when I am in a filthy condition — owing to 
the black food they ram down my throat, and against which I 
hick tremendously — that they let me see the bright sun, or the 
twinkling stars; and then I must be gazed at as an object of 
curiosity, or slushed with water, and rubbed and scoured until I 
can flash back the rays of old Sol, who, in another climate, often 
heated me so that my friends were heartily glad to keep their 
hands off. I was in Mexico, and I often astonished the greasers 
on the Rio Grande with my iron compliments. ... I make as 
much noise as possible whenever I know our noble volunteers 
are coming to our Saloon. I do this to welcome them and call 
our committee from home to wait on them, for they deserve good 
treatment. . . . I often hear them say :' Bully for Philadelphia ! ' 
' They do things up; don't they?' 'That's the best meal I have 
had since I left home.' I once heard a sick soldier who had 
been in the hospital say to his comrade whom he had brought 
down to see me : ' They could not have taken better care of me if 
I had belonged to them.' I sometimes think that all this talk of 
the volunteers induces the gunner that feeds me to cram too 
much clown my throat, for often after a large number have been 
at the Saloon, and the excitement runs high, and everybody is 
overflowing with good humor, and other troops are expected 
soon, he gives me a big dose, or greases my mouth, and when he 
fires me off, the glass rattles from the windows around. It makes 
no difference to me, for I have brass sufficient about me to break 
anybody's windows." The flag-staff which stood in front of the 
Saloon also had a story. It was the mainmast of the revenue 
cutter J. C. Dobbin, which was for a while in the hands of the 
enemy in the Savannah River bearing the rebel flag, but was 
rescued, and when condemned at the Navy Yard, this staff was 
loaned to the Union Saloon. 

The Substantial and palatable character of the entertainment 
furnished, its abundance, and the hearty good-will and even love 
with which it was given, arrested the attention of all, and called 
forth their thanks and gratitude. Mr. L. P. Brockett, of Brook- 
lyn, New York, under date of June 8th, 18G3, writes to Samuel 



UNION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1029 

B. Fales, the Corresponding Secretary and financial agent of the 
association : " I was conversing a few weeks since with an officer 
of one of the Eastern regiments. . . . We were speaking of the 
demoralizing influences of camp life, and he remarked that while 
at east New York, his regiment, composed in large part of far- 
mers' sons and lads who had had a considerable amount of moral 
training at home, became sadly demoralized. The camp was 
surrounded by grog-shops, and the rations were of the poorest — 
filthy, insufficient, and not half cooked — and all the associations 
of the camp were evil ; the men had become dispirited, feeling 
that no one cared for them, except as food for powder; and 
though he and some of the other officers endeavored to cheer 
them, they were sullen, and seemed about ready for mutiny and 
desertion. 'But,' said he, 'orders came for the regiment to march. 
and the men went on board the steamer much as if they were 
going to the gallows. We reached Philadelphia, and were 
marched to the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, and the warm 
welcome, the hearty shake of the hand, and the ample and 
delicious fare served up for us, put a new spirit into the men. 
They had landed in a mutinous mood ; they left Philadelphia 
feeling that they were the cherished soldiers of the nation, loved 
for the cause in which they were to fight. Over and over again, 
during our passage from Philadelphia, I heard remarks like this 
from one and another of the men : ' Well, they showed that they 
did care for us after all.' — ' Weren't those nice, handsome ladies 
that helped us there?' This influence did not leave them after 
they went to the field ; often was that night's supper at the Re- 
freshment Saloon spoken of, and its influence in preventing 
demoralization, and rousing the ambition and self-respect of the 
men, was wonderful. When, on Thanksgiving Day, the towns- 
men of the soldiers had provided a bounteous dinner, more than 
one of the soldiers said to me : ' This seems like that supper in 
Philadelphia, only we haven't the ladies to wait on us.' " 

The testimony of the officials in the several States from 
which soldiers passed through Philadelphia was unreserved 
and appreciative of the great work done by the Union organiza- 
tion. Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, writes : "Gratefully 
acknowledging the comfort, encouragement, and consolation 



1030 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

a Horded to many thousands of our New England soldiers, to 
whom, in their hunger, thirst, weariness, and sickness, our devoted 
friends in Philadelphia have administered with unfailing gener- 
osity, kindness and solicitude." Governor Holbrook, of Vermont : 
" Over G000 of the volunteer soldiers of Vermont, on their way 
to the seat of war, have been refreshed and comforted at your 
Saloon, and ' Our Green Mountain Boys' remember the kind 
attentions of the citizens of Philadelphia with lively gratitude. 
On behalf of the State of Vermont, I return hearty thanks for the 
kindness shown to our soldiers on their passage through your 
city." Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut : " Such disin- 
terested and self-sacrificing benevolence will be gratefully re- 
membered, not only by the soldiers, but by their many friends 
in this State." Secretary Seward: "The disinterested patriotism 
and benevolence of those who manage that institution have for 
some time past attracted my attention and admiration." The 
Hon. Edward Everett : " No one circumstance, I am sure, has 
contributed more to the comfort and health of our patriotic 
fellow-citizens who have obeyed their country's call. It has 
given your city a new and most commanding title to her beauti- 
ful name." 

Nor were the efforts of this association confined to the refresh- 
ment of soldiers at its own rooms. Stores were shipped to St. 
Louis, to Kentucky, and other points, in response to earnest calls 
for help from similar institutions. Many young men who 
had received leave of absence, as a reward for good conduct, 
to attend military schools in the city in preparation to command 
colored troops, were allowed to take their meals and lodge at the 
Saloon. On the homeward march soldiers often came with con- 
siderable sums of money, and were fit subjects for the wiles of 
the sharper, having been not unfrequently drugged and robbed. 
Large numbers were induced to send this to their families, mem- 
bers of the committee often laboring until midnight in writing 
letters and despatching them. Sums were also sent by express. 
( her $50,000 were thus forwarded, $15,000 having been sent at 
one time. After the battle of Bull Run, 290 sick and wounded 
soldiers from that disastrous field, who could not find a place in 
the United States hospitals, were taken in charge by the Union 



UNION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1031 

committee, and 260 of them were permanently provided for, 
many of them taken to the homes of its members, some remaining 
a period of three months. After the battle of Gettysburg, over 
700 patients were received, the utmost energies being taxed for a 
time in burying the dead, dressing the wounded, attending the 
surgeons in their ghastly work, and in ministering to their daily 
wants. Divine services were held for the benefit of soldiers in 
the hospitals in January, 1864, at which clergymen from the 
various denominations officiated. 

The following were the officers of this great charity : 
Cltairman, Arad Barrows; Recording Secretary, J. B. Wade; 
Treasurer, B. S. Brown ; Steward, J. T. Williams ; Physician, 
E. Ward ; Corresponding Secretary and General Financial Agent, 
Samuel B. Fales. 

Committee of Gentlemen: Arad Barrows, Bazilla S. Brown, 
Joseph B. Wade, Isaac B. Smith, Sr., Erasmus W. Cooper, Job 
T. Williams, John W. Hicks, George Flomerfelt, John Krider, 
Sr., Isaac B. Smith, Jr., Charles B. Grieves, James McGlathery, 
John B. Smith, Curtis Myers, Dr. Eliab Ward, Christian Powell, 
W. S. Mason, Charles S. Clampitt, D. L. Flanigan, Richard Sharp, 
James Cassel, Samuel B. Fales, Robert R. Corson, and John T. 
Wilson. 

Committee of Ladies : Mrs. Mary Grover, Hannah Smith, Pris- 
cilla Grover, Margaret Boyer, Eliza J. Smith, Anna Elkinton, 
Ellen B. Barrows, Mary L. Field, Ellen J. Lowry, Mary D. Wade, 
Eliza Plummer, Mary A. Cassedy, Mary Lee, Emily Mason, Mary 
Green, Eliza Helmbold, Elizabeth Horton, Sarah Femington, 
Kate B. Anderson, and Hannah F. Bailey, and Misses Sarah 
Holland, Catherine Bailey, Amanda Lee, Anna Grover, Martha B. 
Krider, Annie Field, and Mary Grover. 

With the exception of the Steward, who was constantly em- 
ployed and who had responsible and laborious duties to perform, 
none of the officers or agents of the association received any com- 
pensation. Mr. Fales, who was a man of large means, of exten- 
sive acquirements and scholarly tastes, gave his almost exclusive 
attention for over four and a half years to this work, often 
laboring till late at night though his life had passed the bounds 
of half a century. He was a native of Boston and allied by birth 



1032 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

to the families of Governor Bradford and James Otis ; was edu- 
cated at Harvard College, and previous to the war was engaged 
in making a collection of paintings and other fine art works, 
which he suspended entirely to engage in the labors of the Union 
Saloon. His influence, during the whole period, among wealthy 
citizens was very great in procuring the necessary funds, and 
from the fact that the association was not incorporated he was 
individually liable, as were his associates, for any debts incurred 
in its management. Since the war he has been made a Com- 
panion of the Military Order of the " Loyal Legion of the United 
States," — an association which admitted to companionship but one 
civilian to fifty officers, — a high mark of approval, by military 
men, of his great services in behalf of soldiers during the war, and 
in the engrossed resolutions of the Committee of the Union Volun- 
teer Refreshment Saloon, he was designated the Soldiers' Friend. 

Mrs. Eliza G. Plummer, born in 1812, had been for twenty-five 
years a widow. Though in humble circumstances, she had been 
long known as the friend of the sick and needy, and when the 
Saloon and the Hospital were opened, was among the most un- 
tiring in her attentions, and was made principal of the latter. 
When, in 1862, the accommodations were insufficient for the 
numbers of the sick and wounded, she took some of the worst 
cases of virulent typhoid fever to her own home, and nursed them 
with a mother's tenderness. At the fair held in 1863, and in 
caring for the Gettysburg wounded who came almost simultane- 
ously with that event, she was debilitated by excessive labor, 
and soon after sank to the grave, widely lamented and mourned. 
Mrs. Mary B. Wade, past seventy, known among the soldiers as 
Mother Wade; Mrs. Ellen J. Lowry, past fifty, a native of Balti- 
more ; and Mrs. Margaret Boyer, of Philadelphia, also advanced 
in years, were among the active and untiring. 

On the 1st of January, 1863, a beautiful eagle, the National 
emblem, measuring fourteen feet from tip to tip, and standing 
nearly six feet in height, artistically carved and gilded, the 
work of employes of the Navy Yard, was presented to the Saloon, 
and was placed upon the roof over the main entrance. Mr. 
T. Buchanan Read subsequently read at the Academy of Music 
the following poem, suggested by its sunlit appearance, appropri- 



UNION VOLUNTEER BEFRESHMEN1 SALOON. 1033 

ately dedicated to Mr. Samuel B. Fales, in recognition of his 
tireless labors : 

I saw in a vision with glory o'errun, 

A great golden Eagle flash out of the sun ; 

His wide wings of splendor were lit like the morn, 

Ablaze with the hue of the place he was born. 

He had heard the first shell that at Sumter was hurled, 

And at once his broad pinions of light were unfurled ; 

His eyes flashing anger — his talons beneath, 

Holding the bolts threatening treason with death — 

The bolts that in lightning and thunder were poured 

In defence of the right—in the name of the Lord ! 

He heard the great North call loudly to arms — 

Saw the West pouring legions from cities and farms — 

The Excelsior State give her patriot sons, 

And the solid old Keystone, a-glitter with guns ! 

Just think, if you can, as he drop't down the sky, 

What a wonderful picture lay under his eye : 

There were long lines of dust with the bayonet's quiver, 

Moving southward unchecked, like a storm-swollen river, 

That at last breaks its banks and pours over the plain 

A terrible deluge that naught can restrain : 

And the cavalry, swift as the shades of a cloud, 

Swept the field, where the foe like a harvest was bowed, 

And where those brave champions were sheltered and fed, 

He perched with his guardian wings wide overhead. 

How the soldier's eye glistened, as gazing aloof, 

He saw the great emblem that brightened the roof. 

There many a blue-coat, with dust almost gray, 

Breathed a blessing and prayer as he went on his way, 

And the poor wounded veteran, borne up from the fight, 

Smiled a smile of relief as that bird flashed in sight, 

For he knew that beneath, in that hospital ward, 

Great patriot hearts kept their tireless guard : 

Kind men and kind women, whom toil could not tame, 

Who wrought not for pay, and who dreamed not of fame : 

They sought no promotion, their labor was love — 

But their crowns and their stars surely wait them above, 

Where the angel of freedom her gratitude sings, 

And stands like that Eagle with welcoming wings." 

When, in 1868, the Republican National Convention for the 
nomination cf a candidate for President and Vice-President 
assembled in Philadelphia, there came from near and far large 
numbers of soldiers, members of an organization known as the Boys 
in Blue. When the patrons of the Old Union Saloon learned 
that soldiers were coming, former recollections were revived. 
A meeting of the former committee, and those who had shown 
such disinterested charity and philanthropy during the years of 



1034 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

peril, was called, and it was proposed, as of old, to buckle on the 
armor and again take them by the hand in glad welcome. 
The objection was raised that these were men of one particular 
party and the Saloon would be committed by such an act to 
a political organization. But to this it was answered that, as 
during the war the party or creed of the applicant for bounty 
was never asked, but the refugee, the contraband, and even rebel 
deserter, was received and fed, so now it was enough to know 
that they had been the country's defenders. This view prevailed, 
and once more the committee and their assistants gathered in 
their stores. Again was the old gun brought into requisition, 
and its voice echoed across the Delaware, and along the waters 
of the Schuylkill. National Hall was taken possession of, and 
transformed into a saloon, and in the space of forty-eight hours 
29,000 meals were furnished. The entire force of the former 
society, from highest to lowest, even to Mother Wade, now past 
eighty, was out. Old associations were joyfully recalled, and the 
heart of the donor and the recipient of bounty were together 
made glad. 

Jiie Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, of Phila- 
*@, delphia, which, like the Union Saloon, with which it was in- 
timately associated, has attained a reputation broad as the national 
domain by its open-handed charity, took its name from the build- 
ing where it was located, which previous to the war had been 
used for the "manufacture of shooks for the West India trade. 
This building, 32 by 150 feet, stands upon Otsego street, a few 
rods south of Washington Avenue, near the line of march of 
soldiers passing through the city on their way to or from the 
front. When the tide of troops, early in 1861, began to set 
towards the national capital, and the weary and travel-stained 
soldiers paused for refreshments which kind-hearted women of 
the neighborhood prepared for them in the open street, Messrs. 
William M. Cooper and H. W. Pearce, who in company carried 
on the business in this building, suggested that it be taken for a 
Saloon. Boilers were accordingly obtained and set in the great 
fire-place, tables were extemporized and thus the work was begun. 
Those interested first brought provisions from their own homes ; 



COOPER SHOP VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1035 

but as the troops came in great numbers they appealed for help 
to butchers, grocers, milkmen, and even farmers, in a wide circuit. 
Mrs. Thomas D. Grover rendered efficient aid in collecting pro- 
visions, and her example was emulated by others. Their call 
was promptly responded to, and their humble enterprise grew 
into a large and well-managed institution, doing well and faith- 
fully its self-appointed work. A hospital was also established 
over which Andrew Nebinger, M. D., presided, giving freely his 
services and attention. A committee of ladies, at the head of 
which was Miss Anna M. Ross, devoted itself to the care of the 
suffering. The wash-boilers in the old fire-place were eventually 
succeeded by a mammoth range, where hourly a hundred gallons 
of coffee could be made. 

The Cooper Shop and the Union Saloons worked harmoniously 
side by side, the only rivalry being in the strife to see which 
should do the most good, and ample opportunity was found for 
their united labors. That there might be no clashing in the 
practical working of their organizations a committee of three 
from each was appointed to arrange the details of receiving- 
soldiers, afterwards reduced to one from each, and finally 
increased to three in May, 1863, and consisted of Messrs. Sharp, 
Mason, and Brown from the Union, with Messrs. Plant, Coward, 
and Mellen from the Cooper Shop. By these it was agreed that 
each should alternately entertain the officers and an equal 
division of enlisted men. When the arrivals were less than two 
hundred in number, each in turn was to receive all who came 
within a space of twenty-four hours. In a brief address at Con- 
cert Hall on the occasion of a benefit to the Saloon, on the 22d 
of November, 1864, Miss Cordelia Cappell said: "When the care- 
worn soldier, his Avounds still bleeding, comes from the battle- 
field, he finds at the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon 
a solution of the problem of what constitutes true patriotism and 
philanthropy. The extended hand not empty — the cheerful wel- 
come not an empty sound — a place at a table never bare — give 
him the sweet assurance that the welcome is like the great sea's 
ebb, which only retires when laden with inestimable blessings. 
. . . Not only to the returned soldier are its doors open, but to 
the gallant boys passing to the field of battle, their martial spirit 



1036 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

beaming from their sparkling eyes, does this oasis present itself. 
The cooling streams in the deserts of Arabia are not more wel- 
come to the weary, wandering traveller than is the Cooper Shop 
Volunteer Refreshment Saloon to our returned volunteers ! It 
remained for this war to elicit and bring forth all the noble qual- 
ities of men and women, to sustain a country that has no parallel 
in history." Miss Anna M. Ross, the Lady Principal of the 
hospital, in closing an appeal for aid, dated March 1st, 1862, 
said : " Since the opening of the hospital, on the 29th of October 
last, there have been received in it 130 patients; of these 113 
have left the hospital either cured or relieved ; three have died 
and fourteen are now in the ward — a large number of patients, 
certainly, to be treated in so small a hospital, in a space of time 
covering only five months. This little institution now presents 
itself to you and your congregation, and solicits your and their 
aid. The defenders of our bleeding yet glorious Union implore 
your help. The cause of humanity begs you for assistance, and 
the soldier — sick and a stranger among us — asks you to give, and 
he knows that to ask will be to receive." 

Early in the year 1862, the hospital was placed under the 
charge of a committee of three ladies : Mrs. R. P. King, Mrs. 
William Struthers, and Mrs. Hatch, in addition to the Principal, 
with power to add three others to their number. The supply of 
drugs, which was quite complete, was under the charge of Mr. 
Robert Nebinger, who labored with great zeal to make the col- 
lection serviceable. The increasing demands upon the associ- 
ation for hospital care and treatment, and from a class who, 
having been discharged from the service of the United States, 
were still not beyond the bounds of humanity and mercy, induced 
the managers to project a Soldiers' Home, a charter for which 
was obtained on the 15th of February, 1862, from the Phila- 
delphia Court. Not until September could suitable apartments 
be procured. To raise the necessary funds to open it, and to form 
a nucleus for future efforts, a fair was held by the ladies associ- 
ated in the management of the Saloon, headed by Miss Ross, the 
Principal, from which the sum of $2400 was realized. The 
necessary repairs and preparations having been made, it was 
formally opened and dedicated to its purposes. Rut, on the very 



COOPER SHOP VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1037 

day that the dedication took place, she who had been among the 
foremost in laboring to establish it was called to her final rest. 
Possessed of a vigorous constitution, and urged forward by 
unfailing energy, in her zeal to minister to the infirmities of 
others she had utterly neglected to care for herself. " Fatigue," 
says Dr. Moore, in his history of the Saloon, " numbness, a sense 
of extreme cold, and finally paralysis supervened, and this faith- 
ful servant of God remained for days in a state of unconscious- 
ness. When she aroused from this, she felt as if death were 
approaching, and embracing her friends, peacefully breathed her 
last, . . . An immense concourse of people attended the honored 
remains to their last resting-place in Monument Cemetery, where, 
with clustering roses, beneath a stately cedar, her tomb is marked 
by a chaste monument of marble, and an appropriate inscription 
testifies the appreciation of her worth by sorrowing friends, 
records her virtues, and presents the passer-by with a noble sub- 
ject for emulation. On the day of her decease, while she 
lingered in the last struggles of expiring nature, the 'Cooper Shop 
Soldiers' Home' was dedicated. Thus she 'rests from her labors 
and her works do follow her.' She was about fifty years of age." 
After the death of Miss Ross, Mrs. Abigail Horner became 
Lady Principal of the hospital, and was ably seconded by Mrs. J. 
Floyd, Mrs. J. Perry, Mrs. R. P. King, Mrs. E. E. Roberts, 
Mrs. William M. Cooper, and Mrs. P. Fitzpatrick. An Act of 
incorporation of the Home was obtained from the Legislature on 
the 20th of April, 1864 ; but it was soon after merged in the 
Soldiers' Home of Philadelphia. The number of men under 
treatment from the organization of the hospital to May 25th, 
1862, was 159; to May 25th, 1863, 305; to May 25th, 1864, 
eighty-five were admitted, two died, and seventy-nine were dis- 
charged; and to 1865, twelve died and 291 were discharged. 
This number is exclusive of several thousands of soldiers who, 
passing through the city, received dispensary treatment. At the 
close of the war it had 160 inmates, and by the proceeds of a fair 
held for the purpose, in which the managers were aided by several 
influential citizens, at the head of whom was General Meade, it 
had an invested fund for its perpetual support of $100,000. The 
location of the Home was at first at Race and Crown streets, but 



1038 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was subsequently at Sixteenth and Filbert streets, in the State 
Arsenal, the use of which was kindly granted by the Legislature. 
"The institution," says Dr. Moore, "as the visitor enters, presents 
an appearance of great interest. The name of any patriot soldier 
or sailor is at once put upon the books, and his place assigned him. 
If he desires to read, an extensive, well-selected library provides 
him with a valuable and varied collection of books. A School 
furnishes instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other 
useful branches. The dormitory is spacious and well ventilated, 
while a hospital, complete and well ordered, receives the sick, who 
are attended by a Resident Physician, and daily by another in 
conjunction. The apothecary's shop is full of medicines, capable 
of relieving the maladies of the patients in all but desperate cases. 
These supplies, called to the aid of science, mitigate the sufferings 
of the brave defenders of their country, who are well cared for. 
There is a Bible class, in which a considerable number meet 
daily to read the Scriptures, and a spacious chapel where divine 
service is held. The supply at table is excellent, nutritious and 
plentiful. The inmates partake of the meals with good order, 
and it is an interesting sight to see them. The melodeon and 
other musical instruments are called into requisition during the 
evening, and the time passes delightfully away, all being improv- 
ing from the beginning to the end, morally and intellectually. 
On the occasion of the flag presentation in July, 1866, when the 
banners of Penns3*lvania regiments were delivered back to the 
hands of the Governor, to be deposited in the archives of the 
State, the orphan children of the soldiers were received at the 
Home. Seven hundred of them were hospitably entertained 
during their stay in the city. Through the whole period of the 
Rebellion, the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon was 
sustained by the noble and unremitted efforts of all classes of 
citizens of Philadelphia. The old and young contributed. Poor 
as well as rich gave freely according to their means. All classes 
vied with each other in endeavors to support the institution 
whose aims were purely those of patriotic philanthropy. But, 
while others contributed, the committee labored as well, and 
many of them fell victims to their noble ardor, or had the seeds 
of disease disseminated in their constitutions which no skill of the 



COOPER SHOP VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON. 1039 

healing art can eradicate. Thus the beneficent efforts made by 
the committee and their friends, by means of fairs and contribu- 
tions, passed not away, but became perpetuated in the Soldiers' 
Home." 

Of the number of those who sustained this association, and 
who were cut off in the midst of their labors, were Miss Clara T. 
Cooper, daughter of William M. Cooper, one of the owners of the 
building which gave name to the charity; Mr. William H. Den- 
nis, who was stricken down suddenly from prostration, "one of 
the most untiring members of the committee ; " Mrs. Mary Ann 
Haines, "one of the originals of the committee, whose loss was 
much felt and deeply regretted by the soldiers and a large circle 
of friends;" and Mr. William Morrison, who was the first of their 
number to be summoned from the stirring scenes of life. 

In the volume of Dr. Moore a daily record of troops is pub- 
lished, which shows that in the aggregate, during the little more 
than four years of its existence, six hundred thousand were 
received. The committee who originally had the Saloon in 
charge was constituted as follows : William M. Cooper, H. W. 
Pearce, A. M. Simpson, W. R. S. Cooper, Jacob Plant, Walter E. 
Mellon, A. S. Simpson, C. V. Fort, William Morrison, Samuel W. 
Nickels, Philip Fitzpatrick, T. H. Rice, William M. Maull, R. H. 
Ransley, L. B. M. Dolby, A. H. Cain, William H. Dennis, R. H. 
Hoffner, L. W. Thornton, Joseph E. Sass, T. L. Coward, E. J. 
Herrity, C. L. Wilson, Joseph Perry, R. G. Simpson, Isaac Plant, 
James Toomey, H. H. Webb, William Sprowle, Henry Dubosq, 
G. R. Birch, Christopher Jacoby, James Tosing, E. S. Cooper, 
Joseph Coward, J. T. Packer, A. Nebinger and R. Nebinger. 

The picture of the Saloon and of its operations as drawn by 
Dr. Moore is of interest: "The room was strictly clean and 
tidy, and every article shone by the careful hands of the active 
housekeepers who ministered to our braves. In the extensive 
fire-place was a large boiler for preparing the coffee, one for boil- 
ing meats, and all the required utensils of the culinary art. While 
the vegetables were cooking, and the viands preparing, each table 
was laid with a clean white linen cloth, on which were arranged 
plates of white stone china, mugs of the same, knives and forks, 
castors, and all that was necessary to table use. Bouquets of 



1040 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

flowers, the gifts of visitors, Avere frequently added, and lent their 
fragrance to the savory odors. The bill of fare consisted of the 
best the market could supply, and was not, in the articles pro- 
vided, inferior to that of any hotel. At all meals food was 
abundant ; consisting of ham, corned beef, bologna sausage, bread 
made of the finest wheat, butter of the best quality, cheese, pep- 
per sauce, beets, pickles, dried beef, coffee and tea, and vegetables." 
The treatment accorded soldiers at this - Saloon excited in the 
breasts of the hundreds of thousands of those who were its recip- 
ients the kindest and most enduring regard. Many letters were 
received from the field and from far off homes, from soldiers 
themselves and from the relatives of those who had fallen in the 
strife, tendering the warmest thanks for the Christian and 
humanizing influences bestowed. One will stand as an example 
of all, and will fitly conclude this notice. It was addressed by 
Fannie M. Overton, from Long Island, to Mr. Wm. M. Cooper : 
" Dear Sir : — I am under greater obligations to you and your lady 
committee than any others on this earth. " I am a widow with 
but little of this world's goods, and have received many favors, 
but thou hast outdone them all; and on the judgment day I hope 
my children will rise up and call you blessed. There is but little 
prospect of my seeing any of you, except the one who has been 
at my humble cottage, on such an errand of mercy with the law 
of kindness on his tongue ; but, do not fail to meet me in heaven. 
Dr. Nebinger: Thanks to you. God bless you for your faithful 
efforts to relieve the sufferings of and restore my dear, my oldest 
son. May the great physician hold you 2 irec ' l0lls m ms sight — 
soul and body — and when you are removed hence, may it be to 
the land where the inhabitants never say, ' I am sick.' Rev. 
Joseph Perry : You found my boy a disabled soldier in the hos- 
pital ; you reminded him that he had a soul to save, as well as a 
body to heal. A thousand thanks to you for it. The blessed in- 
telligence that ' he was enabled to say that his trust was in the 
crucified Saviour, and that we would meet in heaven,' made my 
heart beat with joy, while it ached with grief. Mr. Struthers : 
You, in unison with your lady, were a friend to the fatherless boy 
— the stranger among you. The Lord reward you a thousand- 
fold. To one and all, I return thanks, hearty thanks." 



CHAPTER IV 




the heaviest guns 



HE FORT PITT WORKS. In warfare, genius 
for invention, skill in overcoming difficulties in 
mechanical execution, and the provision of the 
necessary appliances for producing the most effect- 
ive weapons, have often saved a nation from dis- 
grace, and been the means of asserting its triumph. 
Bows and arrows could not stand against powder 
and balls. The catapult had to bow to the power 
of artillery, and the valiant little Monitor appeared 
upon the ocean at a moment opportune for saving 
the Union from dishonor in the assaults of the 
dreaded Merrimac. Napoleon was known to say 
that the Lord was on the side of the party with 
It is certain that the chances of victory 
should be with the one which has the best constructed and most 
powerful weapons. 

The subject of heavy ordnance has been a perplexing one on 
account of the difficulty of producing perfect pieces. In the 
Revolutionary War the size of the guns used, even on shipboard, 
was insignificant, and down to the close of the War of 1812 the 
heaviest gun employed in the military or naval service was a 
twenty-four pounder that barely weighed fifty-two hundred 
pounds. Among the earliest and most successful establishments 
for casting heavy ordnance in this country were the Fort Pitt 
Works at Pittsburg. They were founded by Joseph McClurg, in 
1814, and were located on the corner of Fifth and Smithfield 
streets, the present site of the Custom House and Post Office, and 
guns were cast there for use in the war with Great Britain, 
which had not then closed. The cannon balls and grape-shot, 
used by Commodore Perry, in his little fleet which achieved so 
glorious a victory on the waters of Lake Erie, on that memorable 



66 



1041 



1042 .MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

morning of the 10th of September, 1813, were cast at the little 
foundry from which the ordnance foundry originated. Mr. Mc- 
Clurg then entered into a contract with the Government to cast 
cannon for the navy, and erected new works on the site now 
occupied, which, by enlargements from time to time made, 
have come to occupy an entire city square, bounded on three 
sides by streets and a fourth by the Allegheny river. At first 
only boring and finishing were done here, the machinery being 
driven, for want of water-power, by horses. After three or four 
years experience with these, in which time some excellent work 
was turned out, the old, blind horses were discarded, and the 
steam engine, then just coming into use, was substituted. 

A board of military men, convened in 1819 by John C. Cal- 
houn, then Secretary of War, to consider particularly the subject 
of the use of heavy guns, reported that the twenty -four-pounder, 
the size then in use, was the largest gun required. Ten years 
later, a thirty-two-pounder was adopted, and in 1832 a forty-two- 
pounder, weighing eighty-four hundred pounds. 

The Works, which had descended to the sons of the original 
proprietor, and subsequently, in 1831, had come into the hands of 
Joseph McClurg and Major William Wade, were purchased in 
1841, by Charles Knap and W. J. Totten, and at this time in 
addition to the production of heavy guns and missiles turned out 
steam engines and machinery. In 1844, the two iron steamboats 
Jefferson and Bibb were built and armed for the United States 
revenue service. In 1840, trials proved that shells as well 
as solid shots could be fired from heavy guns, which had for- 
merly been confined to mortars ; and guns of eight and ten inch 
calibre were proven to be practicable. Six years later, experi- 
ments showed that a two-hundred-and-twenty-five-pounder, 
weighing twenty-five thousand pounds, using twenty-eight pounds 
of powder, and throwing a loaded shell of one hundred and eighty 
pounds three and a third miles, could be safely and conveniently 
used. 

In the making of heavy guns, the method pursued had been to 
first cast the piece solid, and then to bore it of the size of the 
desired calibre. In practice an objection to cast-iron guns had 
been found to be their liability to burst, so that the party firing 



THE FORT PITT WORKS. 1043 

was almost in as much danger as the party fired at. Lieutenant 
Rodman, who in 1846 had been employed to superintend the 
casting of guns for the Government at the Fort Pitt Works, con- 
ceived the idea that cooling from the outer surface inward had a 
tendency to weaken the strength of the metal, inasmuch as, 
when the outer layer had become firm, that lying next to it would 
shrink away by contraction, and so on as the successive layers 
cooled until the centre was reached. By reversing the process 
he believed that the metal would be correspondingly strength- 
ened. He accordingly proposed to cast the piece hollow, and by 
introducing a constant stream of cold water into the aperture, 
and at the same time surrounding it on the outside by air heated 
to eight hundred degrees, to cool the metal from within outward, 
so that each concentric stratum as it congealed would act like 
the tire on a carriage wheel, which, being put on hot, as it gradu- 
ally cools, hugs the tighter, and draws all together more firmly. 
After careful and thorough tests, his theory was found to be 
correct, and Mr. Knap secured a patent in Hodman's behalf for 
the invention, and in 1859, so superior were these guns found to 
be to those cast solid, that the Secretary of War ordered that all 
heavy guns made thereafter for the Government should be by 
this method. 

In 1851, after the decease of Mr. Totten, Major Wade again 
became a partner. In 1858 the entire Works were burned. They 
were immediately rebuilt on a much more extended scale, and 
H. F. Rucld and N. K. Wade succeeded Major Wade in the 
partnership. In 1859 a gun of fifteen inch bore was cast. Three 
furnaces were employed to melt the metal, of which seventy-six 
thousand pounds were used, and after mingling in a common 
reservoir it was conducted into the gun mould. Eighteen hun- 
dred tons of water were used to cool it, the process requiring an 
entire week. This gun was removed to Fortress Monroe, where 
it was fired five hundred times with charges of powder varying 
from thirty-five to fifty pounds, and with shells weighing from 
three hundred to three hundred and thirty pounds. 

Soon after the testing of this gun, Rodman proposed to cast a 
twenty inch gun, twenty feet long, to weigh a hundred thousand 
pounds, and to throw a ball weighing a thousand pounds ; but 



1044 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the breaking out of the Rebellion caused this project to be aban- 
doned, as the foundry was kept in operation to its full capacity 
in turning out guns of lesser mould for use both by land and sea, 
until February, 18G1, when, by order of Secretary Stanton, one 
was cast twenty-five feet long, five feet and a half in diameter in 
its largest part, for which one hundred and seventy-two thousand 
pounds of iron were melted. It was mounted at Fort Hamilton, 
New York, and was tested with one hundred pounds of powder, 
and a solid shot weighing one thousand and eighty pounds, without 
injury. A similar gun, somewhat shorter, was cast for the navy. 
A trial of the use of heavy guns in real conflict occurred about 
this time which gave a decided impetus to their production. It 
was the conflict of the Weehawken, Captain Rodgers, with the 
rebel iron-clad Atlanta. This craft was British built, and at 
Savannah, Georgia, had been iron clad, and so armed as to be 
thought invulnerable; so much so as to have been the object 
of exultation in advance, the haughty Southerners being hardly 
willing to fix any limit to the mischief it was destined to do — 
the raising of the siege of Charleston, and bringing the city of 
New York upon its knees, being only among the more common 
of its exploits. As it moved down from Savannah it was accom- 
panied by steamers, gayly decked, freighted with fair ladies and 
gallant men, who were to be witnesses to the triumph of the 
plant of the waters. Dupont had been apprised of her coming, 
and had despatched the Weehawken and the Naharit, which for 
several days had been on the lookout in Warsaw sound, to meet 
her. Finally, just after daylight on the morning of the 17th 
of June, 1863, the monster was discovered approaching with 
colors defiantly spread. Waiting till he had come within three 
hundred yards before answering the hostile fire, Rodgers opened 
with one of his heavy guns. The first shot struck and shivered 
i shutter to one of the port-holes of the Atlanta. The second 
carried away its pilot-house, severely wounding two of its three 
pilots. The fifth passed quite through it — massive iron armor, 
stout timber backing and all — and splashed into the water 
beyond, killing one and wounding thirteen gunners. This 
ended the battle, for the rebel flag was hauled down and a 
white one run up, and Commodore Rodgers towed off his prize to 



THE FORT PITT WORKS. 1043 

Hilton Head, the gay ladies of Savannah returning with poor 
appetites to a late breakfast. 

Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion the Fort Pitt 
Works were greatly enlarged, to meet the increased demand for 
cannon and ordnance stores, at an expense of over two hundred 
and forty thousand dollars, and in 1863 Mr. Knap became sole 
proprietor. Some idea of the extent of the works, and of what 
an adjunct they proved in crushing Rebellion, may be gained 
from the following description, taken from the history of 
American Manufactures : " The establishment is now one of the 
largest and most complete cannon foundries in the United States 
or in Europe, as no other is known having the capability of 
manufacturing guns of such enormous size, or of producing any 
other kinds with equal despatch. It is the oldest cannon 
foundry in the United States, having survived for more than 
twenty years all others which existed when it was first estab- 
lished in 1814. Its proprietors had each in continuous succession 
been previously engaged in conducting its operations, thus 
inheriting whatever knowledge of the art had been acquired by 
the cumulative experience of their predecessors for more than 
half a century. 

" The foundry contains six reverberatory air-furnaces, capable 
of melting from twelve to fifty tons each, and two cupola furnaces 
capable of melting twenty tons. If all of them were put in 
operation at the same time, they would be capable of melting one 
hundred and sixty tons of iron, and of making a casting of that 
weight in one single piece. . There are fifteen gun-pits in the 
foundry floor, in which the moulds are placed vertically on end 
when the guns are cast. Grate bars and ash pits are placed in 
the bottom of the pits for receiving fuel, with underground air- 
flues communicating with them for the purpose of heating the 
pits while the guns are cooling. The boring-mill contains thirty- 
one lathes, employed in turning, boring, and finishing cannon, 
besides other special machines for dressing irregular curves. 
which cannot be accomplished by ordinary turning or planing 
machines. The lathe constructed specially for the twenty inch 
guns is sixty feet long and eight feet wide, and weighs ninety 
thousand pounds. The boring tool does not revolve while the 



1046 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

gun is boring, but advances in the line of the axis of the gun 
while the latter is revolving. When all the lathes are in full 
work, the weight of guns in revolving motion at the same time 
exceeds four hundred tons. The lathes have turned, bored, and 
finished complete, eighteen heavy guns per week, viz. : two of 
fifteen inch, ten often inch, and six of eight inch ; or at the rate 
of nine hundred guns per annum, requiring eleven thousand tons 
of melted iron. 

" The casting and boring apartments contain twelve large 
cranes, eight of which are worked by steam power. Four of the 
latter are capable of lifting, lowering, and moving horizontally, 
forty-five tons each, and all others from fifteen to twenty tons 
each. By means of the steam-power cranes and other machinery, 
the heaviest guns are lifted out of the pits in which they are cast, 
and moved from place to place through successive lathes and 
machines until they are finished complete, when they are sent out 
of the works and loaded on railroad cars for distant transportation 
by steam-power alone. 

" The machine used for testing the iron was invented by Mnjor 
Wade, in 1844, and has since been enlarged and improved by 
Major Rodman. It is made to exert a force of one hundred thou- 
sand pounds, which is applied or removed with great facility by 
the simple turning of a hand crank, and it measures accurately to 
a single pound the resistance offered by the body under trial. It 
is arranged for measuring the resistance of metal to tensile, trans- 
verse, torsional, crushing, and bursting forces ; for measuring ex- 
tension, deflection, compression, and permanent set in either form 
of strain, and for determining the relative hardness of metals. 
The specific gravity is ascertained by a hydrometer, designed by 
Major Wade, which receives specimens of any weight not exceed- 
ing two pounds. It is exceedingly sensitive, and gives the weight 
lost by the specimen in distilled water, to the one-hundred-and- 
forty-thousandth part of the specimen weighed. Duplicates of 
these testing machines were obtained and sent to England for use 
in the Woolwich arsenal, by a special commission of English 
officers, who visited the United States in 1854, for the purpose of 
examining the machinery used in our national armories, duplicates 
of which, also, they procured for use in their public armory at 



PETERSBURG MINE. 1047 

Enfield. The instruments used in verifying the dimensions of 
cannon are numerous and well devised. The Star Gausre which 
measures the diameter of the bore, the part in which the greatest 
accuracy is required, denotes differences so minute as the one- 
thousandth part of an inch. And such is the perfection of the 
boring machinery, and the skilfulness of the workmen now em- 
ployed, that the variations from the prescribed diameter of the 
bore rarely exceed the one five-hundredth part of an inch. Gov- 
ernment inspecting officers are present, and witness all the succes- 
sive operations in the manufacture of cannon, from the selection 
of the iron for melting up to the completion of the gun, all of 
which they note and register. When the guns are finished, they 
are carefully inspected, weighed, and proved ; and when they are 
received, the inspector stamps upon them the official marks of 
reception. The instrument by which they are weighed has a 
capacity of one hundred tons. A register of all the details of the 
manufacture of each cannon cast, and of all the tests made, is 
kept in the foundry books also. So that a minute and exact 
history of every gun in the public service is preserved in the 
ordnance offices at Washington, and at the foundries. 

" There is probably no single establishment in the United States 
which attracted so much public attention during the war as the 
Fort Pitt Foundry. It was thronged daily with visitors. Many 
travelling strangers in passing would delay their journey a day 
or two in order to visit the Works. Distinguished military and 
naval officers from England, France, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Den- 
mark, Prussia, Sardinia, and Austria, who had come from Europe 
to observe the operations of our armies in the field, or to note the 
progress of the war, and the manner of conducting it, came from 
Washington City for the special purpose of examining the Works, 
and of witnessing the casting of the monster cannon." 

xTF^etersburg Mine. Few events in the late war created more 
{$$ interest, or will be longer remembered, than the explosion 
of the celebrated Petersburg Mine. Such operations are not 
uncommon in the history of warfare, but this is the only 
instance, in the several wars prosecuted upon this continent, in 
which it has been resorted to. It has few of the horrors of close 



1048 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

conflict with artillery, or even infantry; yet, as the direful 
moment approached, it was awaited with breathless anxiety; and 
when, after a deep, rumbling sound, like the roll of heaven's 
artillery, or the awful voice of the storm, a great fort, with all its 
immense enginery of war, and the entire garrison, rose bodily far 
into the heavens, and then fell back and outwards in unthought 
of confusion, — soldiers buried beneath heavy guns, and the bowels 
of the earth thrust up to the sunlight, encompassing and covering 
all, — a feeling of wonder and amazement succeeded. The conster- 
nation inspired among the enemy was unbounded. Each looked at 
the other dumb with terror, seeming to inquire if his own foothold 
would yield, and for a considerable time no movements on either 
side were undertaken. 

The man in whose brain the thought of this novel work origin- 
ated, and by whom it was planned and executed, was Henry 
Pleasants; and the men who performed the tedious labor of 
excavating and constructing it were the men whom he com- 
manded, the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment. He was born 
on the 17th of February, 1833, in the city of Buenos Ay res, 
Argentine Republic, South America. His father, John Pleasants, 
was a native of Philadelphia, descended from a Quaker family 
who settled early on the banks of the James ; his mother, Nieves 
Silveira, of Spanish origin. During his boyhood and to the age 
of thirteen, he was in the Spanish and English schools of Buenos 
Ayres. His parents then returned to this country, and he entered 
the Philadelphia High School. Here he continued from July, 
184G, to February, 1851, when he graduated, receiving the degree 
of Bachelor of Arts, and afterwards, in course, that of Master of 
Arts. He at once entered upon his chosen profession, that of a 
civil engineer, and was for seven years engaged upon the line of 
the Pennsylvania railroad. He subsequently went to the mining 
regions of Pennsylvania, taking up his residence at Pottsville, 
Schuylkill county. 

When the war opened in 1861, he recruited a company, of 
which he was chosen Captain, that became Company C of the 
Forty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment. It was composed largely 
of miners, and of men familiar with mining operations. He was 
with Burnside in North Carolina, and with the Army of the 



PETERSBURG MINE. 1049 

Potomac in the battles of Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, 
and Antietam, and at Marye's Heights, in the battle of Fredericks- 
burg, exhibited the most unhesitating bravery, receiving the pro- 
motion of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was with Hooker in his march 
to the shattered army of Rosecrans, and in Kentucky, Tennessee, 
and Georgia, did the most effective service. 

Having returned to the Army of the Potomac, Burnside's corps 
stood ready, at the opening of May, to advance with the armies 
of Grant on the Wilderness campaign. Lieutenant-Colonel Pleas- 
ants was still in command of his regiment, and in the engagement 
before Spottsylvania Court House, he manoeuvred his men so 
skilfully, as to capture two hundred of the enemy. Again on the 
18th of June, 1864, when first arrived before Petersburg, and 
when strenuous efforts were being made by the Union army to 
carry the place by direct assault, he by a brilliant stroke captured 
over three hundred more. 

The heroic efforts of the men in blue were unavailing in rout- 
ing the enemy from their well-chosen positions, rapidly strength- 
ened ; and the operations settled down into the slow work of a 
siege. And now the commander of the Forty-eighth came forward 
with his plan of a mine. Just below the crest of Cemetery Hill, 
and opposite the Second division of the Ninth corps, the enemy 
had constructed a strong work. Colonel Pleasants proposed to 
start a mine just inside the Union line, run it under this work 
and blow it up, thereby opening a way for a rapid advance 
within, and the turning of the enemy's positions to right and left. 
On the 24th of June, 18G4, he formally stated his plan to 
General Potter, and subsequently, in an interview with Generals 
Potter and Burnside, it was decided to undertake it, and he was 
ordered with the aid of his regiment to commence the work. 
Many of his men, having spent a good portion of their lives under 
ground, were entirely at home in such operations, and entered 
into the project with high zest. Beside, the idea of opening the 
gate to the coveted city in this way possessed a fascination which 
stimulated them to exertion, though encountering many incon- 
veniences, and being subjected to much severe toil. Strange as it 
may seem, army officers looked askance at the author of this 
novel undertaking, and at the head-quarters of the army little 



1050 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

faith was exercised in the scheme, even the use of engineering 
instruments and the ordinary implements of toil being denied him. 

The testimony of Colonel Pleasants before a committee of Con- 
gress discloses the feeling which prevailed, and the history of the 
enterprise : 

" Can you fix the time when you mentioned the matter to Gen- 
eral Burnside, when you commenced the work ? " 

" The work was commenced at twelve o'clock noon on the 25th 
of June, 18G4. I saw General Burnside the night previous, and 
commenced the mine right off the next day." 

" Did you have any communication with any other command- 
ers on the subject ? " 

<• No, .sir." ' 

" About how many men did you employ in the work ? " 

" My regiment was only about four hundred strong. At first I 
employed but a few men at a time, but the number was increased 
as the work progressed, until at last I had to use the whole regi- 
ment, non-commissioned officers and all. The great difficulty I 
had was to dispose of the material got out of the mine. I found 
it impossible to get any assistance from anybody; I had to do all 
the work myself. I had to remove all the earth in old cracker 
boxes. I got pieces of hickory and nailed on the boxes, and then 
iron-clad them with hoops taken from old pork and beef barrels." 

" Why were you not able to get better instruments with which 
to construct so important a work ? " 

" I do not know. Whenever I made application I could not 
get anything, although General Burnside was very favorable to it. 
The most important thing was to ascertain how far I had to mine, 
because if I fell short of, or went beyond the proper place, the 
explosion would have no practical effect ; therefore I wanted an 
accurate instrument with which to make the necessary triangula- 
tions. I had to make them on the furthest front line, where the 
enemy's sharpshooters could reach me. I could not get the in- 
strument I wanted, although there was one at army head-quarters, 
and General Burnside had to send to Washington and get an old- 
fashioned theodolite, which was given to me." 

" Do you know any reason why you could not have had the 
better instrument which was at army head-quarters ? " 



PETERSBURG MINE. 1051 

" I do not. I know this, that General Burnside told me that 
General Meade and Major Duane, chief engineer of the Army of 
the Potomac, said the thing could not be done ; that it was all 
clap-trap and nonsense; that such a length of mine had never 
been excavated in military operations, and could not be ; that I 
would either get the men smothered for want of air, or crushed 
by the falling of the earth ; or the enemy would find it out, and 
it would amount to nothing. I could get no boards nor lumber 
supplied to me for my operations. I had to get a pass and send 
two companies of my own regiment with wagons outside of our 
lines to rebel sawmills and get lumber in that way, after having 
previously got what I could by tearing down an old bridge. I 
had no mining picks furnished me, but had to take common army 
picks and have them straightened." 

" Was General Burnside the only officer who seemed to favor 
the mine ? " 

" The only officer of high rank, so far as I learned. General 
Burnside, the corps commander, and General Potter, the division 
commander, seemed to be the only high officers who believed in it." 

" How long from the time that you commenced the mine did it 
take you to finish it ? " 

" I finished the whole thing, lateral galleries and all, ready to 
put the powder in on the 23d of July." 

" How long would it have taken you had you been supplied 
with the proper tools and instruments?" 

" I could have done it in one-third or one-fourth of the time. 
The greatest cause of the delay was taking the material out." 

" How far did you have to carry it ? " 

" The whole length of the mine, and to where it could be de- 
posited ; and every night I had to get the pioneers of my regi- 
ment to cut bushes and cover it up, where it had been deposited ; 
otherwise the enemy could have climbed up the trees in their 
lines and seen the pile of newly excavated earth." 

" What was the length of the mine ? " 

" The main gallery was five hundred and ten and eight-tenths 
feet in length ; the left lateral gallery was thirty-seven feet in 
length, and the right lateral 'gallery was thirty-eight feet. The 
magazines were to be placed in the lateral galleries." 



1052 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

"What were the dimensions of the galleries?" 

" They varied at different places. I suppose the average was 
four and a half feet by four and a half feet." 

" Did the enemy discover that }ou were mining them ? " 

" Deserters came into our lines from the enemy, who stated 
that they had found out where the mine was, and were trying to 
countermine. They said that some deserters from the Fifth corps 
in our army had told them about it. General Burnside ordered 
me to stop all work on a certain day on that account, and to listen 
for one day; but not hearing anything of the enemy, we resumed 
our work. I did not hear the enemy until I got right under 
the fort. They did a great deal of hammering. While I 
was propping up the mine that we had dug I made no noise. 
I had the timber all framed and notched outside of the mine, 
and it was put together by hand, without any blows." 

" Was the mine placed directly under the fortification, or close 
by it?" 

" It was exactly under it, except that the right lateral gallery 
made a little circular direction on account of avoiding a shaft 
which we supposed the enemy were making near by. It did not 
move out of line much, so that when the explosion took place it 
would tear up all around there." 

" What amount of powder was used ? " 

" I called for twelve thousand pounds ; they gave me eight 
thousand." 

" What means did you take to consume the powder so that it 
would have the proper effect ? " 

" I had bags of sand interspersed with logs. There was no 
tamping between the magazines; it was left all open there so that 
there might be oxygen enough for the combustion of the powder. 
Outside the lateral galleries, in the main gallery, it was tamped." 

" What means did you use to insure the explosion of the 
powder ? " 

" I used three lines of fuze called the blasting fuze. I asked 

for fuze, and they sent me the common blasting fuze. There were 

troughs running from one magazine to the other, half filled with 

powder; and then from where the two lateral galleries joined 

* there were two troughs with fuzes in them. The troughs were 



PETERSBURG MINE. 1053 

half filled with fine powder; then from a certain distance out 
was nothing but three fuzes without any powder. The fuze I 
received was cut in short pieces ; some of them were only ten feet 
long." 

" Was there any danger that it would not communicate at those 
parts where it was joined ? " 

" It did not, and had to be relighted." 

" Who had the courage to go down into the mine and relight 
it?" 

" I had a Lieutenant and a Sergeant with me in the mine when 
I lighted it the first time." 

"How far did it go out?" 

" I had a fuze about ninety feet long, and it burned about forty 
feet — the whole three fuzes." 

" How long did you wait to find out whether it would explode?" 

" I waited from a quarter after three, the time it was first 
lighted, until quarter after four, when it was relighted, and ex- 
ploded at sixteen minutes to five." 

" Could you not procure fuzes that were not spliced ? " 

" It was too late after the fuzes came. The mine was prepared 
and ready for the powder to be put in on the 23d of July, and 
the enemy was trying to find me out all this time ; but I could 
not get powder to put in, or permission to put it in, until the 
28th or 29th." 

" What reason was given for that?" 

" No reason at all ; they were not ready, that was all. General 
Burnside told me he had not permission yet to explode it. I was 
afraid the enemy would find me out that week." 

" You state that you prepared three fuzes and laid them ? " 

" Yes, sir." 

"Why was that?" 

" I wanted to make a certain thing of it ; but all three of the 
lines were spliced, and all three went out. The whole of the 
tamping, putting in the powder, and everything, was completed 
at six p. m. on the 28th of July, and remained there until it was 
exploded on the morning of the 30th of July ; and the powder, 
remaining there a day and a half in the mine, of course became 
damp." 



1054 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

" Did it not require some nerve to go in there and relight those 
fuzes?" 

"At first it did ; but afterwards we felt certain that the reason 
the mine did not explode was that the fuzes had gone out." 

" Who went in to relight them ? " 

" Lieutenant Jacob Douty, First Lieutenant of Company K, 
Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Sergeant Henry 
Rees, now Second Lieutenant of Company F, of the same regi- 
ment." 

From Colonel Pleasants' official report, the following additional 
particulars are given: "The charge consisted of three hundred 
and twenty kegs of powder, each containing about twenty-five 
pounds. It was placed in eight magazines, connected with each 
other by troughs half filled with powder. 

" The mine was ventilated at first by having the fresh air go 
in along the main gallery as far as it was excavated, and to re- 
turn charged with the gases generated by the breathing and ex- 
halation of the workmen, by the burning of the candles, and by 
those liberated from the ground, along and in a square tube made 
of boards, and whose area was sixty inches. This tube led to a 
perpendicular shaft twenty-two feet high, out of which this viti- 
ated air escaped. At the bottom of this shaft was placed a grating, 
in which a large fire was kept burning continually, which, by 
heating the air, rarefied it, and increased its current. Afterwards 
I caused the fresh air to be let in the above mentioned wooden 
tube to the end of the work, and the vitiated air to return by the 
gallery and out of the shaft, placing a partition with a door in the 
main gallery a little out of the shaft, to prevent its exit by the 
entrance of the mine. The latter plan was more advantageous, 
because the gases had to travel a less distance in the mine than 
before. 

" The great difficulty to surmount was to ascertain the exact 
distance from the entrance of the mine to the enemy's works, and 
the course of these works. This was accomplished by making 
five separate triangulations, which differed but slightly in their 
result. These triangulations were made in our most advanced 
line, and within one hundred and thirty-three yards of the 
enemy's line of sharpshooters. 



PETERSBURG MINE. 1055 

" The size of the crater formed by the explosion was at least 
two hundred feet long, fifty feet wide, and twenty-five feet deep. 

" I stood on top of our breastworks and witnessed the effect of 
the explosion on the enemy. It so completely paralyzed them 
that the breach was practically four or five hundred yards in 
breadth. The rebels in the forts, both on the right and left of 
the explosion, left their works, and for over an hour not a shot 
was fired by their artillery. There was no fire of infantry from 
the front for at least half an hour ; none from the left for twenty 
minutes, and but few shots from the right." 

A writer in the New York Herald, in speaking of the secrecy 
with which the work was executed, says : " For a long time the 
project was unknown, even to those at whose side it was going 
on. It is true that reports were in circulation of a mine, but 
nobody could speak certainly of the matter. So much doubt was 
there, indeed, that for a time it was disbelieved that any such 
undertaking was on foot. One soldier in the breastworks, by 
whose side a ventilating shaft emerged, told his comrades in the 
most surprised manner that * there was a lot of fellows under 
him a doing something ; he knew there was, for he could hear 'em 
talk.' To guard against indiscretion on the part of the pickets, 
to prevent any meeting of our soldiers with the rebels, whereat 
the secret of the mine might be boastingly or imprudently dis- 
closed, our pickets were ordered to fire continually. Hence the 
never ending fusilade on the front of the Ninth Corps, so incom- 
prehensible to the other corps, and which was often referred to in 
newspaper paragraphs. The enemy, doubtless, suspected at first 
that the undermining was going on ; but when several weeks 
elapsed without any demonstration, their suspicions began to 
vanish, especially as their engineers must have thought the plan 
unfeasible." 

It was with feelings of the deepest anxiety that Colonel Pleas- 
ants took his place upon the parapet of the works and watched 
for the result of the explosion. Darkness was over and around 
all. Thirty thousand troops were assembled in close proximity, 
and were still noiselessly moving up. The time calculated for 
burning of the fuze came, but no explosion. For an hour the 
anticipated shock was awaited. The mine w r as entered, the 



1056 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

defect in the fuze discovered, it was relighted, and now the 
word passes from the lips of Colonel Pleasants, and it speeds on 
the telegraphic wires, that in a certain number of minutes and 
seconds the powder will be reached. At the precise second fore- 
told, the fort rose and quickly settled away, leaving a vast col- 
umn of smoke and dust, which for some time obscured all about 
the crater. The division of troops assigned to lead went forward, 
and were followed by others; but with feeble stroke. Failing 
to push on beyond the crater, confusion ensued, more troops being 
crowded into the rebel works than could be used. The terror in- 
spired by the upheaval passed away, and being reassured, the 
enemy pushed up on all sides with great energy, and rendered all 
possibility of gaining an advantage futile. On the day previous 
to the assault, General Meade modified the plan of General 
Burnside, directing that the colored troops which he had specially 
trained for many days in the evolutions necessary for entering 
and turning the rebel works, and who had not been exposed to 
sharpshooting at the front, and consequently had not acquired 
the habit of seeking shelter at every opportunity, should not be 
employed, and that one of the white divisions should be taken in 
its place. This derangement of plan, upon the very eve of so im- 
portant an undertaking, apparently had a disastrous effect. 
Added to this, there was a lack of energy in pushing forward the 
leading division. But, for this failure, neither Colonel Pleasants 
nor his intrepid regiment were in any way answerable. The 
mine which he had planned and had seen executed under 
his eye, and by his ceaseless care, was entirely successful, and 
with marvellous exactness had produced the result which he had 
predicted. 

Though having little faith in the project, and giving little 
countenance to its execution, when the explosion had taken place 
and had accomplished all that the most sanguine could have 
wished, General Meade hastened to make recognition of the 
service rendered by Colonel Plensants, in the following general 
order : " The Commanding General takes great pleasure in ac- 
knowledging the valuable services rendered by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Henry Pleasants, Forty-eighth regiment Pennsylvania Veteran 
Volunteers, and the officers and men of his command, in the ex- 



PETERSBURG MINE. 1057 

cavation of the mine which was successfully exploded on the 
morning of the 30th ultimo, under one of the enemy's batteries in 
front of the Second division of the Ninth Army Corps. The skill 
displayed in the laying out and construction of the mine reflects 
great credit upon Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants, the officer in 
charge, and the willing endurance, by the officers and men of the 
regiment, of the extraordinary labor and fatigue involved in the 
prosecution of the work to completion, is worthy of the highest 
praise." 

After the failure in the assault, the army settled down to the 
varied duty of siege operations, in which Colonel Pleasants 
participated with his accustomed fidelity and skill, till the end 
of his term in December following, when he was mustered out 
of service. Immediately after the successful result of the mine 
was known, President Lincoln, desirous of showing him a mark 
of esteem, ordered that the brevet rank of Colonel be bestowed 
upon him : but this he declined. In October following he was 
commissioned Colonel of the Forty-eighth regiment; but on ac- 
count of insufficiency of men in his command, he was not 
mustered. On the 13th of March, 1865, he was brevetted 
Brigadier-General by the President, for distinguished services at 
the Petersburg mine, in which he was confirmed by the Senate, 
and this distinction he accepted. General Pleasants, from lead- 
ing an active out-door life, has always enjoyed excellent health. 
He is a little above the medium height, and well preserved. He 
was married on the Gth of June, 1866, to Miss Annie E. Shaw, 
of Lexington, Kentucky. 

For two years past he has occupied the position of Chief 
Engineer of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com- 
pany, which he still continues to hold. He is at present engaged 
in one of the most important engineering projects ever under- 
taken in this country — the excavation of two vertical shafts 
through rock, to the mammoth coal vein. The drilling is done 
by machinery driven by compressed air, and applied by diamonds 
attached to the drilling bits. These are the first shafts ever 
made in this way in the world. One of them has already 
attained a depth of seven hundred feet. 



1058 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

T , icby Prison Tunnel. An exploit which gained great, noto- 
■g=4 riety at the time of its occurrence, both North and South, 
was the opening of the Libby Tunnel, which offered to the in- 
mates of that loathsome and detested place free egress to the 
streets of Richmond, at a point beyond the path of the sentinel's 
tread. At the writers request, Brevet Brigadier-General Thomas 
E. Rose, of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania regiment, the 
originator and moving spirit in its execution prepared a full 
and circumstantial account, which is given below substantially 
as he wrote it. No correct history of this thrilling event — 
which presented the novel spectacle of the inmates of a great 
prison, in the midst of a populous city, with keepers watchful 
and sentinels marching, walking off unchallenged — has ever been 
published; only the merest outlines mingled with many entirely 
erroneous statements having ever been given : 

" I was captured at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, on the 
20th of September, 1863, and taken to Richmond, Virginia. On 
my way thither, I escaped at Weldon, North Carolina, and after 
wandering about for a day, seeking a route to the nearest post of 
Union troops, I was recaptured by some rebel cavalry that came 
upon me accidentally. I was suffering at the time from the 
effects of a broken foot, which caused me to be too slow in reach- 
ing a place of concealment. I was taken thence to Libby, arriv- 
ing about the 1st of October, 1863, and received my first greeting 
of ' fresh fish,' that being the cry of the prisoners upon the notice 
of the latest arrival. I soon set about devising means of escape. 
At that time there were about two thousand prisoners in Libby. 
The windows were without bars, and the prison was insufficiently 
guarded. The officers consisted of the two Turners, Ross the 
clerk, the Adjutant, three Sergeants, one overseer of negro 
laborers, one officer of the guard, and sixteen enlisted men, 
making in all only twenty-five men. I thought that the whole 
party could be captured without alarm, and for this purpose 
organized a society among the prisoners, called the Council of 
Five. The whole number who joined in the league was 420. 

" Before the plan was fairly perfected, a notice was published in 
the Richmond papers, that a plot had been discovered among the 
prisoners to overpower the guard and prison officers, burn the 





,kNA. 




Thomas e rose 









LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 105<J 

city of Richmond, and escape to the Yankee lines. Whether this 
publication had allusion to our league or not, I do not know. 
Our organization was carried on with strict secrecy, and unless 
some one of our number divulged the plan, it was impossible for 
the prison officers to have found it out. My opinion is, and was 
then, that the publication alluded to was the result of a mere 
suspicion ; and the fact that our league was in existence was only 
a coincidence. At any rate the measures taken by the rebels, 
immediately after, prevented us from making the attempt. The 
doors were made more secure, the windows were closed with iron 
grating, and the guard was largely reinforced. I then attempted 
to escape by way of the carpenter shop, a room on the ground- 
floor of the prison, supposed to be inaccessible to the prisoners. 
This room I reached by tearing up a plank in the floor, and 
lowering a rope into the shop from the room above. I was 
assisted in this by Captain A. J. Hamilton, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, but who belonged to the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry. The 
rope used was given to me by Major Harry White, of the Sixtj'- 
seventh Pennsylvania infantry. The rope was first obtained 
from General Neal Dow. About that time the Union govern- 
ment sent a quantity of clothing to our prisoners at Richmond, 
and this rope came around one of the bales. General Neal Dow, 
Colonel Von Schrader, and Captain Boyd, Assistant Quarter- 
master, prisoners, had been selected by the rebels to issue this 
clothing, and they had by this means secured the rope. This 
rope was of immense importance in all our subsequent operations. 
It was an inch rope and nearly one hundred feet in length. The 
door of the carpenter shop was always open, and the plan was, 
when once down there, to stand by the door on the inside of the 
shop, and when the sentinel had just passed the door, to slip out 
while his back was in that direction, and walk off. There were 
several in the plot, but of course we could only escape singly, 
and I was to make the first attempt. I made the venture one 
very dark and stormy night. I easily passed the first sentinel, 
but unfortunately was seen by the second, who happened just at 
that moment to be facing towards me. He seemed to suppose 
that something was wrong and called out to the first, who, on 
hearing his name, faced about and saw me. My only chance to 



10G0 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

escape being shot or captured, was to run back into the shop, 
which was as dark as Erebus, and climb the rope into the room 
above. The sentinel called for the corporal of the guard, but 
before he could enter the carpenter shop and strike a light, I had 
drawn up the rope and replaced the plank. As there were some 
workmen sleeping in one end of the shop, the corporal must have 
supposed that one of them had tried to pass, as he soon gave up 
the search and did not enter the room above. 

" I went down into the shop several times afterwards, but 
found it impossible to escape in that direction. Once while down 
there I was discovered by one of the workmen. I seized a broad- 
axe with the intention of braining him if he attempted to call the 
guard, but he went to bed, blew out his light, and begged me not 
to come in there again. I was fearful that he would afterwards 
expose me, but if he ever attempted to do so, the guards paid no 
attention to his report, as I never observed any additional vigi- 
lance. 

" During my visits to the carpenter shop I secured some tools. 
They consisted of two chisels, some files, a kind of crow-bar, a 
hatchet, an auger, a hand-saw, a ripping-saw, and a carpenter's 
square. The rebels allowed us to send out and buy case-knives 
to cut our food, and clothes-lines to hang our clothes on to dry. 
All these things were more or less used in subsequent operations. 
The carpenter tools were kept secreted in blankets whenever the 
inspector of the prison was about. My next plan was to escape 
from the room under the hospital. This also was a ground-tloor 
room. 

a The Libby prison was a strong brick building extending in an 
easterly and westerly direction probably 160 feet, and northerly 
and southerly about 100 feet. It consisted of three equal divisions 
formed by strong walls running transversely from the ground up. 
The prison was four stories high. The ground-floor was on a level 
with the bank of the canal, on which was a wide paved street. 
The floor of the second story was on a level with Cary street. 
The prison was bounded on all sides by streets, along all of which 
sentinels were placed. The street or alley that bounded the east 
end of the prison was not graded or paved. We generally con- 
sidered this a vacant lot, as no persons except guards ever passed 



LIB BY PRISON TUNNEL. 1061 

through it. All the other streets were paved and graded. The 
three rooms on the ground-floor were not used by the prisoners, 
those at the two ends of the building being storerooms, and the 
centre one the carpenter's shop mentioned above. On the second 
floor the room at the west end was used by the rebels as an office, 
that in the middle as a cooking-room for the prisoners, and those 
at the east end as a prisoners' hospital. In the third and fourth 
stories the prisoners were quartered. 

" The cook-room, the middle one on the second floor as already 
mentioned, was accessible to all the prisoners at all hours. It 
was from this room that access was gained to the carpenter shop 
by raising the plank in the floor. It was also from this room 
that all subsequent operations were commenced and carried on. 
To gain the carpenter shop required but little skill ; but to reach 
the ground-floor of the eastern division was a very delicate opera- 
tion. It was evident, however, that if an escape was to be made 
it must be from this room, as it was at all times dark therein, and 
it was seldom visited by the rebels either day or night. 

" The plan to get into this room was to cut through the wall 
separating the middle from the eastern division of the building, 
diagonally across the plane of the floors beginning above that in 
the cooking-room, and ending below that in the room underneath 
the hospital in the eastern division of the building. To do this 
without the aperture being discovered was no easy task. 

" Near the north end of the cooking-room in the wall separat- 
ing the middle from the eastern division was a small dirty fire- 
place, in the mouth of which was a cooking-stove of considerable 
size used by the prisoners. It was in this fireplace that Captain 
Hamilton and myself commenced operations. We first moved 
the stove a little away from the mouth of the fireplace ; then took 
out the dirt and placed it carefully in a gum blanket; taking a 
chisel and the crow-bar we cut away the bottom of the fireplace 
for several inches, then worked diagonally through the wall to a 
point under the floor of the hospital. We were obliged to make 
no noise whatever in doing all this ; for one of the sentinels was 
just outside the door within ten feet of where we were. We 
were obliged to take out all of the front bricks without fracture so 
that they could be replaced ; for it was through this door that the 



10(32 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

prison inspector entered every day, and the first object he met on 
entering was this fireplace and stove. It therefore took a good 
many nights before we got this hole cut completely through. We 
could only work from about ten o'clock in the evening, when the 
last of the prisoners would retire, to four o'clock in the morning, 
when the first would begin to come down to cook. 

"As the morning hour approached, we would carefully replace 
every brick, and then put back the dirt, making the fireplace 
look as if it had never been disturbed. We would then replace 
the stove in its proper position, go up-stairs, conceal our tools, and 
go to bed. Thus we worked until at length we had cut a pretty 
large aperture in the wall, and I prepared myself to go through 
to the ground-floor of the eastern division. I did not think the 
hole was large enough to pass without trouble; but from the 
narrowness of the fireplace in one direction, and of the wall it- 
self on the other, Hamilton was of the opinion that the hole 
could not be made any larger without discovery. I also thought 
I could squeeze through, small as it was, and see how matters 
looked in that room. I brought forward the rope already de- 
scribed, fastened it securely to one of the brace posts in the room, 
and lowered it through the aperture to the ground-floor. I then 
entered it feet foremost, at the same time seizing the rope. As 
soon as my feet and legs were fairly dangling below, the inevitable 
law of gravitation forced my body into the hole as tight as a 
wedge. The fireplace was so narrow, and my body in such a 
position in consequence of the abruptness of the wall, that I could 
not use my arms, and of course I could not use my feet ; so that I 
was perfectly helpless. Of all the tight places that I ever was in, 
either figuratively or literally, before or since, that took the lead. 
I whispered to Hamilton that I was wedged so tight that I feared 
the whole Southern Confederacy could not loosen me. 

" He was a powerful man, and grasped my left wrist with both 
his hands; while with my right hand I endeavored to help my- 
self. He pulled with the strength of a giant, but it was of no use. 
I could not be budged an inch. He then left me sticking in the 
hole and ran up-stairs, awakened Major Fitzsimmons of the 
Thirtieth Indiana infantry, conducted him to the place, and they 
two after several vigorous efforts managed to pull me out. As 



LIB BY PBISON TUNNEL. 1063 

soon as they had forced me a little over the angle of the wall, I 
came out very easily, and as they gave another tremendous pull, 
I came up so light that we all three fell upon the floor with a 
prodigious noise. The sentinel who walked in front of the door, 
and the next one to him, seemed startled and confused. The 
prisoners up-stairs awoke and called to each other to inquire the 
cause of the crash. We all three lay where we fell perfectly 
motionless and almost breathless, for fear we would be discovered. 
The corporal of the guard did not come into the room ; and as 
soon as all was quiet again, we rose, replaced the bricks, dirt, and 
stove as quickly as possible, slipped up-stairs and went to bed, 
very much fatigued and considerably discouraged. The next day 
I went down into the cooking-room, and while pretending to cook 
at the stove so as not to attract the attention of the prisoners to 
my real object, examined the fireplace very minutely, and finally 
came to the conclusion that it could be deepened considerably and 
perhaps a very little widened, so that by entering the hole side- 
wise it could be easily passed. I did not get much reputation as 
a cook while I was making these observations, but when they 
were ended, I went up-stairs and communicated my conclusions to 
Hamilton. That night as soon as darkness came on we prepared 
ourselves for the work, and by twelve o'clock, by the call of the 
sentinel, the aperture was enlarged so that by passing down with 
my shoulders in a vertical instead of horizontal direction, as I had 
attempted the night before, I reached the ground-floor room of 
the eastern division. The darkness therein was perfect, but I 
examined every part of the room by feeling, then climbed up the 
rope and pulled myself through the hole in the wall without 
assistance. It was then that the problem was solved and the 
escape, with reasonable prudence, only a question of time. 

" Here then the work commenced. The rope was now made 
into a ladder with wooden braces, and fixed in such a manner 
that any one could go up and down into the cellar — as we called 
that room — without incurring the risks that I had run in being 
obliged to climb the single rope. It was also rolled up and placed 
in the interior of the aperture to build the wall upon instead of a 
large number of the bricks, and answered even a better purpose 
than to have used all every day. The next day I organized a 



1064 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

working party, consisting of the following named persons : Major 
Fitzsimmons, of the Thirtieth Indiana; Captains Gallaher, of 
the Second Ohio; Lucas, of the Fifth Kentucky; Clarke, of the 
Seventy-ninth Illinois; Johnson, of the Sixth Kentucky; Major 
McDonald, of the One Hundred and First Ohio infantry; Lieu- 
tenants Fistler, of the Twelfth Indiana artillery; Mitchell, of the 
Seventy-ninth Illinois infantry; Garbet, of the Seventy-seventh 
Pennsylvania infantry; Ludlow, of the United States artillery; 
Clifford, of the United States infantry; Costin, of the United 
States infantry; Wallack, of the Fifty-first Indiana infantry; with 
Captain A. J. Hamilton, Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, and myself, 
to superintend and direct the work. 

" My first plan was to go under the foundation of the prison 
building by digging alongside the wall, and then into a large 
sewer that we knew ran parallel with the canal, and about thirty 
feet south of the prison building. We had often seen laborers go 
down into this sewer, and I judged it to be about seven feet in 
diameter on the inside. We commenced digging just behind the 
partitioned corner in the southeast side of the room. The stone 
pavement in the floor of the room was raised and relaid in places 
every night to conceal the dirt. We soon got to the bottom of 
the stone work of the building, but found that it rested on piles. 
To cut through these piles with the tools we had to work with 
was a tremendous undertaking; but we toiled at it night after 
night until at last we got entirely through, and began digging 
towards the large sewer already mentioned. 

" From the time we had commenced cutting through the piles, 
we had been very much interrupted by the water running into 
our tunnel. We managed to bail it out, but as we dug farther 
into the sand the water accumulated until at last a very heavy 
stream rushed in so as to completly drive us out of the tunnel. 
Long before this time one after another of the party had quit the 
work, and a few others whose names I have lost took their places, 
only to work a short time, and then give up as the others had 
done, thinking the object hopeless. Finally, Hamilton and myself 
were left alone. We two then tried another plan. At the southeast 
corner of the building was a trough that came down from above on 
the inside to carry off the prison filth. By examination we found 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1065 

that it went into the ground, and of course it must reach the 
main sewer somewhere. We first dug down to the end of this 
trough, and found a small sewer leading through the wall. This 
was too small, however, to admit the passage of a man. It was 
made of wood, and we tore it out and endeavored to get through 
the wall. While we were removing the dirt from the aperture, 
the pavement on the outside of the prison building, where the 
sentinel walked, caved in. This of course was caused by our 
having taken away the plank sewer. We heard the rattling of 
the bricks and the call of the sentinel for the corporal of the 
guard. Of course we got away from there as quickly and quietly 
as possible. The next day we looked through the gratings of the 
windows from above, and saw the prison officers inspecting the 
place on the outside, and some negro laborers repairing the 
damage we had done. How it was that they did not discover 
anything wrong I never could imagine. We listened intently and 
overheard them saying something about rats, but could not hear 
enough of the conversation to make out whether they had any 
suspicion of the true cause or not. We had secreted the planks 
of the sewer where they could not easily find them. The next 
night I went down into the ground-floor room of the eastern 
division very cautiously, knowing that if the rebels had made any 
discoveries they would set a trap to catch me when I came into 
this room ; but I found it as silent and tenantless as ever. We 
had now been working more than two months, and many interest- 
ing events had taken place during that time ; many have passed 
from my memory and those that I do recall are too numerous to 
mention in this narrative. 

" It was at this time that my friend Hamilton gave up all hope 
of final success. It did seem to be hopeless on account of the 
difficulty of getting men to work. I did not despair, but resolved, 
if possible, to organize another party and dig straight through 
from near the northeast corner of the room to a yard, enclosed 
by a high board fence directly across the unpaved street or alley 
that bounded the east end of the building. This point being 
near Cary street, we would of course have plenty of earth between 
us and the surface so that the tunnel would not cave in, and at 
the same time be several feet more elevated than we were while 



1066 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

working in the former tunnel. Besides, it was a dryer locality, 
so that we would not be troubled with water. The only objec- 
tion that I had to this plan was, that when we made our exit 
from the tunnel we would not be perfectly safe from being seen 
by the sentinels. Still the yard where the exit would be was 
closed on three sides by tenantless buildings, and on one side 
by a very high board fence, so that a dozen men would not be 
seen in the yard unless by accident. Through the building that 
stood on the south side of this yard was a gateway for carriages, 
and this gateway was about twenty feet from the end of the beat 
of the nearest sentinel, at a point that he was not required to 
guard ; besides the other end of his beat was full sixty or seventy 
feet from this gateway. A man therefore could watch when the 
sentinel's back was turned, then slip out at the gate, and get some 
distance away before the sentinel would turn to come back to- 
wards the gate. In fact he could turn the corner of the building 
on the east end of the yard and be out of sight by walking 
quickly. 

" This plan therefore was the best that I could adopt, if not the 
only one that had any promise of success. Accordingly the next 
day I had a consultation with some of the prisoners. None of them 
seemed to have much hope, but several of them said they would 
work if for no other purpose than to ' pass away the time,' as ex- 
change was despaired of and prison life had become exceedingly 
irksome. I therefore organized a party composed as follows : Major 
Fitzsimmons, of the Thirtieth Indiana; Captains Clarke, of the 
Seventy-ninth Illinois; Gallaher, of the Second Ohio; Randall, 
of the Second Ohio; Lucas, of the Fifth Kentucky; Johnson, 
of the Sixth Kentucky; Major McDonald, of the One Hundred 
and First Ohio; Lieutenants Fistler, of the Twelfth Indiana; 
Mitchell, of the Seventy-ninth Illinois; Simpson, of the Tenth 
Indiana; Garbet, of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania; Foster, 
of the Twenty-ninth Indiana artillery; and McKeon, of the 
Forty-fourth Illinois infantry; with Captain A. J. Hamilton and 
myself to superintend and direct the work. 

" The first thing was to cut a hole through the wall of the 
prison. This task was assigned to McDonald and Clarke. As 
already mentioned this room was seldom visited by the rebels 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1067 

either day or night — at night I may say never. When they did 
come in during the day, which sometimes was not once in a week, 
it would be to stay but for a few moments. To a person coming 
in from out-doors it was very dark even in the middle of a bright 
day, so that he could see but a few feet in any direction, and as 
the room was 100 feet in length, a person standing in the north 
end was secure from being seen by the person entering from with- 
out. To a person entering this room in the night, however, and 
staying there all day, as Hamilton or I often did, and sometimes 
both of us together, it was light enough to see to do any kind of 
work. Many a time I have seen the rebels come in there and 
stand and look directly at us, and frequently look exactly in my 
direction. To my accustomed eyes it was nearly as light as day, 
but to them it was dark as night, especially towards the north 
end of the room, where I always took care to stand when any one 
came in. If they stayed too long, or came too far into the room, I 
would lie down behind the straw, a bale of hay, or whatever 
happened to be at hand. It was therefore resolved that the cut- 
ting of the wall should be done in the daytime, for two reasons : 
if we worked at night we would be obliged to use a candle, 
which might be seen through the cracks of the door which opened 
towards the canal; again if we worked in the daytime we could 
make as much noise with our tools as we pleased, and it would 
not be noticed by the rebels or by the other prisoners, on account 
of the noise throughout the building and in the streets. 

" This last consideration was of immense importance, because 
we could cut through the wall in one-tenth part of the time by 
not beiniz; obliged to do it without noise. It was on this account, 
and being obliged to take the bricks out without fracture, that 
Hamilton and I were so long in cutting through the first wall. 
Another consideration in favor of working in the daytime was, 
that we could work the whole day through without interruption ; 
whereas at night we could only work from three to four hours, 
as already explained. Accordingly, that night McDonald and 
Clarke were provided with the tools used in cutting the first wall, 
and as soon as the prisoners had retired to sleep, I went down 
with them into the cooking-room, opened the hole in the fire- 
place, and we three descended to the ground-floor room. I 



1068 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

showed them the point I had selected to commence operations, 
and after remaining and conversing a little time went up the 
ladder to the cooking-room, drew it up after me, put it in its 
place, rebuilt the wall in the fireplace, replaced the dirt and the 
stove, and left McDonald and Clarke to their fate as had been 
done to Hamilton and myself on many an occasion before. 

" The next morning I was up early and went to the windows 
where I could see whether any of the rebels would enter the 
ground-floor room of the eastern division. Either Hamilton or 
myself were on watch all day, and as night came on we had the 
satisfaction of knowing that the workmen had not been disturbed 
in their labors. As soon as the prisoners had all retired, Hamil- 
ton and myself went down into the cooking-room, took the dirt 
from the hearth, opened the wall and let down the ladder, when 
McDonald and Clarke came up and reported that they had been 
successful. 

" I then went down and found that they had cut a hole 
entirely through the wall of sufficient size to admit a very large 
man easily. Going up into the lower middle room I gave a pre- 
concerted signal, that would not be noticed by any of the prison- 
ers except my own party. It was for the first relief of the work- 
ing party to turn out. I preceded them and directed them to 
the aperture in the wall which had been cut by McDonald and 
Clarke. A blanket was now spread in the form of a screen so 
that the light of the candle could not be seen through the cracks 
of the door in the south end of the room, outside of which a 
sentinel walked his beat. We then took one of the chisels, a 
pretty broad one, and commenced digging. 

"The earth we dug through was composed of compact sand, 
nearly as hard as a rock. There was therefore no danger of 
caving in ; and the tunnel was dry as I had supposed. We made 
very rapid progress until we had proceeded about fifteen feet, 
when the air became so vitiated as to support life but a very 
short time. The Hame of the candle would then expire, and the 
digger would be obliged to crawl out of the tunnel; notwithstand- 
ing, one man stood constantly at the mouth driving fresh air into 
it with a rude fan, constructed for the purpose. Still we made 
comparatively rapid progress. One night I dug six feet with my 



LIB BY PBISON TUNNEL. 1069 

own hands. In order to draw the dirt out of the tunnel as it was 
dug, we used a wooden spittoon with a clothes-line tied to it so 
that the digger could pull it in to him while at work, and the man 
at the mouth of the tunnel could pull it out when filled, a double 
line being continuous. My whole party was divided into reliefs 
of five men each, so that the same set of men went down to work 
every third night. 

"Of the five men who composed a relief, it was the duty of one 
of them to stand guard in the cooking-room. It was his duty to 
draw up the ladder, build up the wall, replace the dirt after the 
others came up, also to open the hole and let down the ladder 
before the others came down to the cooking-room. It was also 
his duty, when any of the relief were working in the daytime, to 
stand guard at one of the windows in the prison above, and notice 
whether any of the rebels entered where they were at work, and 
see if they were discovered and captured ; and to make his report 
to me, so that I should know whether I could send down the next 
relief with safety. The other four men of the relief went down 
to the tunnel. Of these one man dug in the tunnel and filled 
the spittoon. Another pulled the spittoon out, emptied it into a 
second and notified the digger to pull it back. A third man took 
the second spittoon and placed the dirt under the straw. The 
remaining man of the relief fanned fresh air into the tunnel. 
They were allowed to take turns at the different kinds of work, 
except the man who stood guard in the cooking-room ; but they 
did not generally do it, each man being most expert at his own 
part. 

" They went to work generally about ten o'clock p. m. Taps 
were always sounded at nine, when, of course, the lights went 
out; but the prisoners did not generally all retire until ten 
o'clock. As soon as they retired, I sent the relief down. They 
always worked until four o'clock A. m., by the call of the senti- 
nels, when they would come up and go to bed. The guard then 
performed his duty as explained. Sometimes the whole four 
would remain down and work all day, in which case the guard in 
the cooking-room would draw up the ladder, rebuild the wall, 
replace the dirt and stove, and go to bed, but as soon as it was 
light he would go to the window and watch all day. 



1070 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

" This was considered extremely hazardous, however, and was 
not often done. It more frequently happened that one or two of 
the four would stay down all day and do what work they could, 
in which case the others would go up at four o'clock A. m., and the 
guard would perform the same duty as when the whole relief 
stayed down. We proceeded in this manner for some time, when 
an event occurred which effectually put a stop to our work in the 
daytime, and which greatly embarrassed all our operations. It 
was always the custom of the prison officers to count off or call 
the roll of the prisoners every day. The manner up to this time 
had been to cause the prisoners to stand up in four ranks exactly 
covering their files ; then Ross, the clerk, would pass down the 
front rank from the right of the line to the left and count the 
files. As long as they pursued this method we had no difficulty 
in accounting for absentees; because if a man belonged to a file 
that had been counted, all he had to do, if he was in the rear 
rank, was to stoop and run quickly to the left of the line before 
Ross got there, and stand up in another file, when he would be 
counted by Ross a second time. Thus, almost any number of 
men could be accounted for, and thus our party used at first to do 
when any of them were below. Other prisoners used to see us 
doing this thing, and thought we were doing it for fun — devil- 
ment they called it; and they got to doing the same thing — for 
devilment sure enough. The consequence was that Ross could 
not make the same count by from twenty to thirty, two days 
alike, and towards the last we did not take the trouble to account 
for our men at all, Ross seemed so careless about it. All of a 
sudden one day, without the slightest previous intimation, the 
prison officers changed their plan. It was to cause all the prison- 
ers to go into the eastern division of the building, place guards at 
the doors, and then call the roll. As soon as a prisoner answered 
to his name he was obliged to pass through the door into one of 
the other divisions. There was therefore no possible chance of 
accounting for an absentee. 

" On the day that the rebels adopted this plan, Johnson and 
McDonald were down below at the tunnel. The day before I 
was down myself. Dick Turner was calling the roll. Every- 
thing went well until he called out I. N. Johnson, I. N. Johnson, 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1071 

I. N. Johnson, I. N. Johnson ; but nobody answered. The next 
name was then called, answered, and the man passed out, and so 
on everything went smoothly as before, until the name of B. B. 
McDonald was called, when the same result followed as in the 
case of I. N. Johnson. The remaining names of the prisoners 
were then called and answered, and the eastern division was 
cleared. Turner then went through the rooms calling the names 
of the missing prisoners for some time, but of course he could not 
find the absentees. 

This affair caused me considerable concern, as it awakened not 
only a great curiosity among the prison officials, but also among 
the prisoners themselves. One of the prisoners told Turner that 
he had seen Johnson the day before. This gave me additional 
uneasiness. The next night as soon as it was safe I went down 
and opened the aperture in the wall. Johnson and McDonald 
came up, and the facts were immediately communicated to them. 
They asked my advice as to what they had better do. There 
were only two plans for them to pursue. One was to face the 
music, and tell the prison officials the most ingenious story they 
could invent. The other was to remain concealed every day 
down below. McDonald immediately chose the former course ; but 
Johnson chose the latter. I was not in favor of this, because the 
excitement would be continually kept up, while in the former it 
would soon die away ; besides it was extremely dangerous to the 
whole enterprise for Johnson to remain below; but he insisted 
upon it. Thenceforward Johnson came up-stairs every night, 
and went below and remained concealed every day. The next 
day McDonald was called to account. He told the prison officials 
that he had been concealed in the upper west room, where he 
had been asleep, and was afraid to come down to answer to his 
name. He was dismissed without punishment, and we tried to 
prevail upon Johnson to do the same thing; but he refused. The 
consequence was, that he was obliged to remain concealed until 
the final escape was made. There was no more work done 
during the daytime after this; still we made considerable pro- 
gress. 

" When we had extended the tunnel about thirty-eight or forty 
feet, some of the workmen got it into their heads that we had 



1072 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

reached the desired point inside the enclosure across the alley. 
I tried to convince them of the absurdity of the notion. They, 
however, insisted upon it, and among the most positive was 
McDonald. Hamilton, I believe, was also of this opinion. To 
ascertain the space we had to pass under was not an easy matter. 
We could only see this street or vacant lot from the windows of 
the third and fourth stories at the east end of the building, and as 
these windows were closed with iron bars, we could not see the 
whole width of the street. It therefore looked much narrower 
than it really was. I had, however, taken observation of this 
street some months before, when there were no bars in any of the 
windows. Besides, even yet, there were one or two points from 
which I could trace the beats of the sentinels from the corners of 
the yard opposite to near the corners of the prison building. It 
was seldom that any sentinel would walk entirely to the corner 
of the yard opposite: they generally turned within about ten 
feet of it; but they did occasionally do so; particularly the one at 
the southeast corner. When any sentinel did walk the whole 
distance, I counted his paces as far as I could see him approach 
the prison building. By placing my head close against the bars, 
I could see the sentinel on the northeast corner make generally 
eighteen paces ; and the sentinel at the southeast corner fifteen 
to sixteen paces. The latter being so much lower than the 
former, I could not see him, from my point of observation, ap- 
proach so near the building. By sitting in the window and 
making a great many careful observations, I came to the conclu- 
sion that one walked about ten feet more than I could see, and 
the other about fifteen feet. I had no other instrument than the 
carpenter's square, but by measuring the height of the stories I 
soon determined the distance from the window to each of the 
sentinel's beats, and finally arrived at a pretty accurate estimate 
of the distance we had to dig, and I knew very well we had not 
dug far enough yet. The principal cause of their belief that we 
had extended the tunnel far enough was this : there was a 
point in the tunnel where the tread of the sentinel appeared to 
all of us to be directly overhead ; and this point was much nearer 
the prison building or mouth of the tunnel than to the point 
reached. We all supposed that the path of the sentinel was in 
the middle of the street. Hence their conclusion. 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1073 

" By this time our progress had become much slower than at 
first, principally from the fact that the digger had to crawl so far 
every time he came out for fresh air, and had to come out so 
much oftener ; for, as the tunnel extended, the flame of the candle 
expired quicker. I knew that if an aperture was made to the 
surface, however small, the difference of temperature between the 
atmosphere outside and that in the room, where the mouth of the 
tunnel was, would cause a current to pass through it, and thus 
obviate the necessity for the digger to crawl out so often for fresh 
air. I therefore took the matter pretty easy when they talked 
about digging upward to the surface. I did not agree to it, how- 
ever, for I feared the sentinel might discover it by the noise, 
though I did not apprehend much danger, for I remembered too 
well the affair of the caving in of the pavement on the south side 
of the building. One night the second relief was going to work ; 
of this relief McDonald was the digger. I had dug the night 
before and had worked hard to extend the tunnel as far as possi- 
ble. McDonald insisted on striking at once towards the surface. 
I told him that I wanted it distinctly understood that they were 
not far enough by at least fifteen or twenty feet ; but he might 
go cautiously to the surface to let fresh air into the tunnel, and to 
satisfy himself of the fact. I then went up-stairs and retired. 

" About one o'clock A. m., McDonald came to me in great con- 
sternation, and told me the whole thing was discovered. I rose 
up and asked him to explain how that was. He said that he had 
dug a hole out, as he expressed it, and had come right to the feet 
of the sentinel. He said if it was not already discovered that it 
would be without fail when daylight came. I asked him if they 
had closed the hole in the fireplace ; he said ' No, that is played out,' 
using his own phrase. I told him to come along with me and we 
would go down and give the place a little examination. I felt 
certain that the statement, that he had come right up to the feet 
of the sentinel, was as erroneous as was the belief that we had 
got far enough when he commenced to dig out to the surface. 
We went below and into the tunnel. As soon as I entered I 
noticed that the tread of the sentinel did sound very loud, and 
exactly at the other end of the tunnel. I went to the place, 
however, and quickly discovered that the opening was not within 

68 



1074 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ten feet of the sentinel's path. The air in the tunnel, as I had 
expected, was now pure and delightful, so that one could stay in 
any length of time. The orifice at the surface was very little 
larger than a rat-hole, and was on the slope of a bench where the 
ground fell off abruptly towards the yard opposite in a southeast 
direction. It was therefore the most unlikely thing in the world 
for the sentinel to discover it, besides the earth was as hard as a 
rock entirely to the surface, so that the orifice would not become 
any larger ; but in order to prevent this effectually, I took one of 
my working garments and shoved it into the hole, so as not only 
to prevent it from getting larger, but to keep any one from the 
outside discovering it. 

" We then went up-stairs to bed. Hamilton went down with 
Johnson and closed the wall and replaced the dirt and the stove. 
The next night the third relief went down with me, but veryre- 
luctantly. They seemed afraid to have the orifice opened at the 
surface in order to let the fresh air in. It made the tread of the 
sentinel sound so loud that they were afraid he would also hear 
them while dragging the spittoon through the tunnel. The next 
night the first relief went down, and I did the digging. After 
this it was very evident to all that the escape would be made, 
at least that the tunnel would be a success. McDonald and I 
were, by great odds, the best diggers of the party. McDonald 
dug a great deal more earth than I did, but he never made such 
an extent of tunnel from the fact that I always lay perfectly ilat 
while digging and made my part very low and narrow'. He, on 
the contrary, sat upright to dig and made his part verywide and 
high. It was at this time that McDonald and I concluded to 
finish the tunnel alone, taking turns at digging. In two nights 
from this time we went through into the yard and out at the sur- 
face. As soon as the hole was opened, I went out into the yard, 
thence down to the gate, opened it and out into the street that 
ran along the canal. I then went back. We closed up the end 
of the tunnel, and went up-stairs to bed. Hamilton secured the 
fireplace. 

" For several days previous to this, we had been making our 
arrangements for taking our departure from the prison. Our 
plan was this : each one of the working party was to select a 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1C75 

friend from among the other prisoners, to take with him. This 
would make thirty in all to escape the first night. We were all 
to assemble in the ground-floor room of the eastern division. The 
working party were to pass out first, headed by myself and 
Hamilton. Our friends were then to follow. I then arranged to 
leave the ladder in charge of Colonel Hobart, of a Wisconsin regi- 
ment. He was to bring out a party the next night after our 
escape. By this time we had found means of accounting for 
absentees at roll-call, by parties slipping into the eastern division 
above stairs after their names had been called, then answering to 
other names, and passing out the second time. In this manner 
Hobart's party were to account for us the next day and then get 
others to account for his party in like manner after they should 
escape. 

"On the night of the 9th of February, 1864, my whole party, 
with our friends, assembled in the room so frequently mentioned 
as the ground-floor room of the eastern division. This was as 
soon as it began to get dark. Lieutenant Mitchell of the work- 
ing party refused to go. A Colonel of the Twenty-third Michi- 
gan (name lost) went in his place. After they were all as- 
sembled I started out, followed immediately by Hamilton. I 
opened the mouth of the tunnel, walked down to the gate, opened 
it, then went back to the tunnel and told Hamilton to come on." 
We then went together down to the gate and as soon as the 
sentinel's back was turned slipped out, walked down the street 
along the canal to the first corner, then went north two squares 
and turned east one square. At this point we encountered some 
rebel soldiers that were guarding a hospital. I went right on, 
but Hamilton turned back, and we became separated. I did not 
see him again for several months. How the others came out I 
only know from report. I know, however, that they all passed 
out of the tunnel safely. The plan to have been adopted by 
Colonel Hobart failed. Hamilton and I passed out about seven 
and a half or eight o'clock in the evening. We started as soon 
as it got dark. Of course the escape of our party soon became 
generally known among the prisoners and caused great excite- 
ment. They could not be controlled, and about twelve o'clock at 
night they commenced going out indiscriminately. It is said 



1076 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

one hundred and nine went out altogether and many more would 
have gone, but some one created a false alarm and the remainder 
rushed back to their quarters in a great panic, after which no 
others made the attempt. I only give this part as I heard it 
from others. It took just seventeen days to dig the last tunnel. 

" No plan had been arranged to be pursued after we left the 
prison. It was expected of each man to take care of himself and 
be governed by circumstances. After Hamilton and I became 
separated, I passed out of the city of Richmond to the York 
River Railroad. I followed this to the Chickahominy bridge. 
Here I discovered a sentinel standing. I then turned to the 
right and went some distance until I came to a cavalry camp of 
the rebels. It was just at daylight, and they were sounding 
reveille. I found a large sycamore tree that was hollow. I con- 
cealed myself in this until late in the afternoon, when I slipped 
out and waded across the Chickahominy. At that point it was 
pretty deep, and I got my clothes thoroughly soaked. After I 
had crossed the river, I proceeded a short distance, and seeing 
several rebel cavalry I lay down until night. When I at- 
tempted to rise, I found myself perfectly stiff and my clothes 
completely frozen. I pushed right ahead, however, and in cross- 
ing the bottom I found several deep places filled with water. I 
did not try to avoid them much, but plunged through until I 
reached the high ground on the other side. After I reached the 
high ground, which was covered with timber, I proceeded about 
one mile, when I came upon a rebel picket. This I easily avoided 
and kept on over the country, crossing several roads. I was still 
very lame from the effects of a broken foot, which I had received 
before my capture at Chickarnauga, at a place called Liberty Gap, 
Tennessee, or rather it had been broken at Murfreesboro', Ten- 
nessee, and again broken at Liberty Gap. This wound now 
became very troublesome, as the nights were dark and I could 
not see the inequalities of the ground. 

" During the night I was obliged to stop, my clothes being still 
very wet and frozen in places, and I was in great danger of 
freezing to death. 1 had with me a haversack in which I carried 
provisions; this 1 had held at arms' length while crossing the 
Chickahominy and the sloughs in its vicinity, in order to keep it 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1077 

dry. In this I also had a box of matches, and upon coming into 
a large thicket of cedars I resolved to build a fire. I gathered 
some fuel and started a fire, and after inspecting the surrounding 
vicinity, I found that the fire was concealed by the cedars ; I 
then went to the fire and lay down, and was soon in a profound 
sleep. When I awoke I found that I had been nearly in as 
much danger of burning to death as I was before of freezing. 
My coat was burned through in several places, as well as my 
pants and the legs of my boots. I now rose and pursued my 
journey, and after proceeding about two miles I came to Crump's 
Cross-roads. Here a picket post was encountered. This I 
avoided. I now resolved to travel all day, and before night 
reached New Kent Court House. 

" Here also a cavalry picket was stationed. This I also 
avoided; but in crossing a small open space at some distance from 
the post I was seen by one of them, and the man rode up to me. 
He was a stupid fellow, and asked me if I belonged to the New 
Kent cavalry. I had on a gray cap. Of course I answered in the 
affirmative. He turned and rode back, and I slipped into a 
thicket of laurels. I pushed through this as quickly as possible, 
and soon gained an open woods on a hill of some elevation. I 
then looked back and found that the others had taken the alarm, 
as I had supposed they would, and were in full pursuit. Some of 
them had evidently seen me enter the laurel thicket, and in a 
minute it was surrounded. I did not wait to see them beat up 
the bush, but pushed away from the spot as fast as my lame foot 
would permit. As soon as I came to the edge of the woods, I 
found another picket post, and directly in front of this was a 
large open field which I had to cross to gain a place of safety, 
because it would not do for me to remain in this woods. I could 
not cross this open ground without being in full view of the rebel 
party. I slipped along the edge of the woods, avoiding the enemy, 
until I came to a place where a gully ran entirely across. This 
was neither wide nor deep, but it afforded my only chance of 
escape, so I threw myself into it and commenced crawling toward 
the other end of it. It must have been more than half a mile 
in length, but I crawled the entire distance without raising my 
head. When I reached the end of the gully I found myself at 



1078 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Williamsburg road, on the opposite side of which was a 
thicket of pines. I quickly went into this and looked back. I 
could see the rebel pickets very plainly, but they had not seen me 
while crawling across the open space in front of them, though I 
had passed immediately before them. 

" I remained concealed in the pine woods for several hours, and 
then proceeded cautiously along the Williamsburg road. Fre- 
quently I had to take to the bushes on account of rebel cavalry, 
or armed citizens travelling through the country. At dark I 
crossed Diascen bridge. Here also was a picket post. I passed 
this without the risk I ran at New Kent Court House. I kept on 
until near midnight, when I found myself completely exhausted, 
and, leaving the road, went some distance into a woods, lay down 
and slept until daylight. I then rose and took a pretty close 
survey of surrounding objects, walked down to the road and saw 
an old ruined brick building on the opposite side of the road. 
This place I afterwards learned was called Burnt Ordinary. I 
found myself this morning almost unable to move, but crawled 
along in the direction of Williamsburg, and after travelling for 
some time, suddenly came upon a spot where a picket had been 
posted the night before. As I was now so close to Williamsburg, 
it became a question with me whether it was a Union or a rebel 
picket. I soon discovered by the tracks that the men had been 
fronting towards Williamsburg, and therefore concluded that it 
had been rebel. I now became exceedingly cautious and with- 
drew to the woods. I kept on through the woods in a southeast 
direction until I came to an open space. Here, to my great joy, 
I saw a body of United States troops moving on the road to 
my left. I sat down very much exhausted and awaited their 
approach. 

" While sitting there and watching their movements, a noise 
attracted my attention to a point in my rear, but evidently on 
the road which lay to my left. When I looked fairly in that 
direction, I saw three men standing like pickets at a point where 
the United States troops were approaching. These men were all 
fully dressed in United States uniforms. The circumstance that 
I had not seen them before excited a suspicion that all was not 
right and I watched them closely. They did not appear to pay 



LIBBY PRISON TUNNEL. 1079 

any attention to the advancing troops, but one would frequently 
step into the middle of the road and look intently in the opposite 
direction. From this I thought they were all right, and that 
they were merely videttes that had been sent forward from the 
advancing column. About this time the troops I had first seen 
appeared to come to a halt. These men then moved towards the 
column, and by so doing placed some elevated ground between 
them and me, and I supposed they had gone to join the troops. 
I now rose and walked towards the troops I had first seen. When 
I had walked about fifty or seventy-five yards, I came again in 
sight of the three men in the road, who now saw and challenged 
me. They had not advanced as far towards the troops as I had 
supposed ; consequently when I came in sight of them the second 
time I was much nearer than at first. Except for a moment 
when I first saw them, I firmly believed that they belonged to the 
troops below, and they were now very nearly within gun-shot, and 
apparently advancing towards them. 

" I hesitated a moment, and then obeyed their summons to 
approach. As soon as I came close to them, I saw that I was 
entrapped, even before they spoke. Their manner indicated that 
they were in great fear of the troops that had halted below. I 
endeavored to make them believe I was a rebel soldier, but they 
concluded to retain me as a prisoner. My first impulse was to 
break and run, but my lameness and enfeebled condition pre- 
vented me from doing this in the face of three active men. I 
therefore waited for a better chance. One of these men appeared 
to be an officer. He directed one of the men to take me in 
charge, and go across the field that lay on the left of the road. 
I started off with him limping fearfully, but when he had got 
about half-way across the field, I sprang suddenly upon him, 
disarmed and prostrated him, fired off his piece, and started to 
run towards the troops, and would easily have escaped had it not 
been for my lameness. The man I had disarmed did not attempt 
to follow me, nor did the two we had left in the road. On the 
contrary, these two ran across the field diagonally to the rear ; 
but several other men whom I had not seen before sprang up from 
behind the fence on the side of the field opposite to the road. 
They ran so as to intercept my approach to the troops. Two or 



1080 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

three of them outran me and struck me with their muskets. This 
prostrated me, and they all rushed around me. I heard one of 
them say, ' Be quick ; the Yanks are right here.' 

" Several of them now seized me, and dragged me to and over 
the fence into a thickly timbered ravine. They then turned and 
went up this ravine in a northerly direction it seemed, for about 
200 or 300 yards. Here the whole party assembled, including 
the three men I had seen in the road. These three men were 
completely in United States uniform ; the others were only par- 
tially so. The man I had disarmed seemed to be badly hurt. 
He wanted to kill me at once. The man, Lieutenant Hughes — 
I think they called him — whom I had taken for an officer in the 
road, spoke roughly to this man and ordered him to keep quiet. 
Just then one of the men, who came crawling up the bank of the 
ravine, called out, l Be off quick,' when the whole party started 
and ran. They forced me along with them for a short distance, 
when, finding that I was unable to travel, they halted. 

" The officer then detailed a guard to take charge of me, and 
instructed them by no means to let me escape or be taken from 
them alive. The officer and his party then ran off very rapidly 
in a northeast course it seemed, but the guard conducted me 
through a dense woods in a northwest course until we came to 
another ravine, also densely wooded. Here they found an old 
man about sixty-five years of age. They asked him if he could 
guide them by a safe route to Barhamsville, saying to him the 
Yanks are thick as hornets on the other road. He replied that 
he could, and I was then taken by a circuitous route to Barhams- 
ville, thence to White House, and thence to Richmond, where I 
was again incarcerated in Libby. I was kept in a cell for several 
days, and then sent to my old quarters. Long before this our 
means of egress had been discovered by the rebels. About this 
time, or perhaps before, a system of special exchanges was 
commenced. This took out most of the officers of higher rank, 
and soon I was the only Colonel left in the prison. At length 
my exchange was effected, April 30th, 18G4. I was sent to 
Annapolis, Maryland; thence to Columbus, Ohio; and thence to 
my regiment in the field, where I arrived June 6th, 18G4." 



C II A P T E R V. 




INCIDENTS. 

NE of the first thoughts which seizes the home 
population, when it is known that an enemy is 
approaching, is of hiding the valuables. Where to 
secrete becomes a serious study, and ingenuity is 
tasked to its utmost; for soldiers, after a little 
practice, acquire great skill in searching for hidden 
treasures. It is said that Sherman's bummers 
could smell the whereabouts of a watch, though it 
were hidden in a swamp five miles off. They had 
an uncontrollable propensity for running their 
bayonets into every ash-pile and heap of rubbish 
which they came upon, and the very barrel of 
meal which contained the treasures was sure to be 
overturned. Feather-beds were ripped open, fires were extin- 
guished and the ashes hauled from the hearth, false bottoms of 
drawers, chairs, and trunks were unloosed, and the very pumps 
were unpacked and wells made to disclose their secrets. 

When the legions of Lee began to show themselves to the peo- 
ple of Gettysburg across the South Mountain, and their white 
tents to cover all the plains below, it became evident that the 
town would nill in the track of the invader, and the inevitable 
labor of secreting began. It chanced that an old man, who kept 
a plain farmer's inn, had just laid in a heavy invoice of choice 
liquors. He knew that in the event of a great army occupying 
the town, or even passing through it, his stock would be sacrificed. 
Nor was it so much the loss of his liquors that he dreaded; for 
he realized that the effect of strong drink was to deprive men of 
reason and all self-control or decency, and he shuddered at the 
thought of a soldiery infuriated with the fiery demon. He was, 
accordingly, incited to use his best resources in devising some 

1081 



1082 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

plan to put his store beyond their grasp. It was too late to re- 
ship it to Baltimore, and the only alternative was to dispose of it 
on the premises. After anxiously revolving many an ingenious 
scheme, he finally settled upon this : going to his garden as soon 
as the shadows of evening had fallen, he dug a deep long trench, 
into which he rolled his precious but dangerous treasures. 
lie then covered the earth neatly over them, and smoothing it 
down in the most careful manner, proceeded to plant the newly 
stirred ground to cabbage plants, as if in hope of a profitable crop 
of this savory esculent. When all was done, and in tl*e morning- 
light he regarded his night's work with complacency, he be- 
thought himself of calling in one of his neighbors to admire his 
fine patch. The neighbor came, saw, and commended ; but had 
no suspicion. This was regarded as a fortunate omen. But he 
must needs have some excuse for having no liquors. To this end 
he had saved out a few gallons of each of the poorer brands, and 
pouring these into several empty barrels rolled them into an 
obscure corner of his inner cellar, and piled his potatoes over 
them. 

Amidst the din and turmoil of that terrible day, when, 
ploughed by shot and shell, the First and Eleventh corps were 
obliged to yield the ground which they had heroically held, and 
fall back rapidly through the town, the rebels came. They 
poured through all the streets, and levelling the fences, filled the 
enclosures. No house nor private apartment was secure from 
their intrusion. The inn and the cabbage patch were no ex- 
ceptions. One of the first questions when they came upon the 
premises was : 

"Where is the liquor?" 

Looking very serious, the host answered that his stock was 
entirely exhausted. 

"That will do for the marines," exclaimed one, "but it's too 
thin for us. We have travelled." 

So saying he cocked his musket, and, levelling it at the old 
man's head, told him to show where the liquor was, or he would 
have no time to say his prayers. Regarding this a very careless 
way to handle fire-arms, and believing discretion the better part 
of valor, he led the way to the innermost cellar, and taking down 



INCIDENTS. 1083 

the elaborately piled- up barricades, and removing great bars and 
bolts, commenced levelling the potatoes. The soldiers, eager for 
a sip, lent him a helping hand. Finally the barrels were reached 
and the moiety of the liquor brought to light. The foil was com- 
plete. No further search was made nor questions asked. 

Patiently during those hot July days, while the booming of 
cannon and the tramp of the armies resounded and shook the 
dwellings of the city, and the volumes of sulphurous smoke ob- 
scured the sun in the mid-day heavens, the old man toiled in 
cultivating his cabbage plants, hoeing the same ground again and 
again. The rebels were constantly passing, their line of battle 
running just in front of his premises, and were frequently in and 
out of his house ; but they had no suspicion of his secret. 
Finally came that terrible cannonade on the afternoon of the 
third day, when the trembling fled to their cellars for safety, 
when the very earth quaked, and the stoutest held his breath, 
followed by the rush of armed thousands and the clash as of 
giants ! Gradually the sound of battle died away, and as the 
shadows of evening began to lengthen, the timid stole forth from 
their hiding-places; when, lo ! a marked change was apparent. 
The rebels, who before had been so boastful and jubilant, had 
suddenly become reticent, and their faces were lengthened like 
the shadows. The night passed and the morning came, and, oh ! 
what a joyful morning! The rebels had departed, the soldiers of 
the Union with their star-lit banners were advancing, and the 
cabbage was no longer an object of cultivation ! 

JjT/g)ATE on the afternoon of the 27th of October, 1864, General 
^M Mulholland, then commanding a brigade, received orders 
to storm a rebel fort in front of his line. One hundred men of 
the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania were selected 
for the storming party. Captain Henry D. Price, who was at the 
time Adjutant-General of the brigade, insisted on accompanying 
it. Drawing his sword he handed the scabbard to Lieutenant 
Lee, saying, " Tom ! if I am killed send this home to my mother." 
When the order to charge was given, he leaped over the works 
and ran in front of the troops to the enemy's line, where he fell, 
shot through the head. Thus expired one of the bravest, most 



1084 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

i 

unassuming, gentle, beloved, and accomplished young officers in 
the army. He was a native of Chester county, where he was 
born on the 17th of August, 1843. 

tiiE victim of cruelty and starvation in the loathsome prisons 
of the South, by his suffering and fortitude borne in the 
common cause, challenges the admiration and gratitude, the honor 
and lasting commemoration of all his countrymen. The torments 
therein endured, and the agonies of the parting hour, will never 
be known until those patriot graves give up their secrets. As an 
illustration of this life the following narrative, prepared by Lieu- 
tenant Thomas F. Roberts, Company D, Fifth Pennsylvania 
cavalry, is here given. He was in command of his company at 
the battle of Stony Creek Station, in the Wilson and Kautz raid, 
on the 29th of June, 1864, and was taken prisoner with twenty- 
two of his men. They were immediately sent to Andersonville, 
where they remained about three months. We suffered here, he 
says, dreadfully from the hot sun, having no shelter excepting an 
old horse-blanket which the rebels did not think worth robbing 
us of. There must have been 30,000 in this prison, and the 
average deaths per day from starvation and neglect were at least 
fifty within the prison, and likely as many more in the hospitals 
outside. Our Sergeant-Major, John Griffith, died here, and I do 
not think there ever was a man who died in so much misery, as 
he was perfectly alive with vermin. Privates Granville Hoskins 
and Stacy Baxter also died miserably here. 

In September, to keep us out of the hands of Sherman, we were 
removed by rail tc Charleston and placed in a pen upon the race- 
course. Here we were treated better, as far as food was con- 
cerned, as ladies from the city brought us many things ; but the 
ground was very low, so that when we got up in the morning we 
were wet and covered with mud. We remained here until the 
stockade at Florence was finished, which was early in November, 
when we were removed thither. The nights were now getting 
quite cold and damp on account of heavy fogs. By this time we 
were almost without clothing, and with not more than one 
blanket of any kind to six men. It was almost impossible to get 
a stick of wood, as those who had been first turned in had appro- 



INCIDENTS. 1085 

priated all. Among men suffering as we were, the claims of 
friendship had little weight, and those who had fuel would see 
their destitute companions die rather than give up an article of 
such priceless value. Here Sergeant Joshua E. Dyer died. Poor 
fellow ! Starvation and cold were too much for him, and after 
giving a message to his mother, he expired in a hole which we 
had dug into the earth, and covered with dirt. In this we had 
lived, and here he died, so changed with starvation and pine 
smoke that his mother would not have known him. Sergeant 
Bryan also died here after suffering over two months. I do not 
think he would have weighed more than seventy-five pounds, 
although he had been a large man. Privates Garrett, Lenney, 
Kelly, Wood, and Moran expired after long suffering. 

In November there was a special exchange for those who were 
considered so near dead that they would be of no further use to 
our army as soldiers. None of my company were included in 
this exchange, although many of the regiment were. About this 
time I came near dying with the typhoid fever, having no one to 
give me so much as a drink of water until a young man, Charles 
Carpenter, became acquainted with me. To him I no doubt owe 
my life. At this time the average deaths per day were about 
fifty, as the fever was very fatal amongst us. 

In January the nights became severely cold, and hundreds of 
poor fellows had their toes frozen off, and you may imagine how 
they must have suffered, as they had not so much as a rag to put 
around them. This in many cases led to gangrene, which almost 
invariably ended in the loss of both legs, a result not favorable to 
further service, but entirely satisfactory to our keepers. About 
the middle of January the prisoners on the east side of the creek 
were moved across to the west, to bring the whole body more 
together. By this change hundreds, who had made themselves in 
a measure comfortable, w r ere thrown out of shelter, when they 
suffered terribly, and died by thousands. 

In February we were removed to Wilmington, North Carolina, 
for exchange. But as General Terry had attacked the place, we 
were hurried on to Goldsboro, out of the way. We were trans- 
ported on platform cars at night, with nothing to lie on, and no 
covering except it was a rag that had once been a horse-blanket. 



1086 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

It is impossible to describe our sufferings on these cars, as seventy- 
five or eighty were forced on to each, rendering it wholly impos- 
sible to lie down, and almost certain death to stand up. Every 
time the train stopped to take wood or water, some half dozen 
frozen bodies were thrown off by the roadside, and it may seem 
past belief when I state that those bodies still remained where 
they had been thrown, three weeks afterward, when we returned 
to Wilmington. At Goldsboro we fared much better than at any 
previous place in the matter of a supply of food, as we had 
sufficient corned beef and crackers to satisfy hunger; but we suf- 
fered terribly from the inclement weather, as we lay in the woods 
without any shelter. On the night of the 28th of February we 
were crowded on the cars and started towards Wilmington, and 
although it rained steadily on us all day we were comparatively 
happy, as we knew we were on the way to be exchanged. I can 
never forget my feelings when I first caught sight of our flag, as 
we drew near our lines after an imprisonment of nine months. I 
do not think a man can feel the joy I felt but once in a lifetime, 
as I heard myself counted an exchanged man, and walked between 
the United States and rebel officers who stood to receive us and 
pass us from slavery to freedom. This ended our prison life, but 
not our suffering, for we were crowded in our passage to Annapolis 
almost beyond endurance. So much reduced was I when I 
reached the hospital that I only weighed ninety-four pounds ; but 
I thanked God for the deliverance and was happy. 

" artin L. Shock, Adjutant of the Fifty-first regiment, relates 



:4 t the following incident illustrative of coolness and fortitude 
while suffering from a most horrible wound: At Spottsylvania, on 
the 12th of May, 18G4, the brigade to which I belonged while 
charging on the rebel works was defeated and driven, followed by 
a large force of the enemy, who in their turn were sent whirling 
back to their lines. After the battle I was ordered upon the field 
with a small squad in search of our wounded. Near the edge of 
the woods where the charge had been made, I found an old man, 
one of the enemy, sitting on the ground leaning against a tree and 
smoking a short clay-pipe. On examination I discovered that his 
entire left hip had been carried away by a grape shot. He seemed 



INCIDENTS. 1087 

entirely unconcerned, puffing away at his pipe. As he saw that 
I was moving off, he asked me whether we could not take him 
to the hospital. I must confess I was out of humor on account 
of our defeat, and am sorry to say that I answered the poor old man 
gruffly that we had to take care of our own wounded first. He 
then requested me to get him a hat, as he was bareheaded and the 
sun was sending its slanting rays full in his face. I soon found 
a large-brimmed straw hat, belonging to a dead rebel Lieutenant, 
which I placed on his head, lie thanked me and I left him to 
search for our own men. The last I saw of him he was still 
smoking. The next day I went to find the old man. He was 
sitting in the same position, the straw hat on his head, the pipe 
in his mouth — dead. 

Shock himself was afterwards severely wounded. He was 
making a charge with his regiment on the enemy's works at Cold 
Harbor early on the morning of the 3d of June, when he received 
a Minie ball in the left shoulder, cutting the shoulder-blade. For- 
tunately he had still the power of locomotion, and could leave the 
field ; but for two years his wound was open. He had originally 
enlisted in the Fourth, and afterwards in the Fifty-first, with 
which he served in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, and Georgia, and in the campaign for the reduction 
of Richmond until he received his wound. 

t private of the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania regiment was on 
the picket line on the night of the 3d of July, 1863, at 
Gettysburg. His attention was attracted by the cries and piteous 
moans of a wounded rebel in his front. For some time he heard 
the calls and passed them in silence, well knowing that he could 
not leave his post without forfeiting his honor, and that the 
instant he advanced he might be fired on by the rebel pickets on 
his front. Filled with a soldier's generous sympathy he could not 
hear those groans unmoved. Finally his manhood got the better 
of his discretion as he exclaimed to his companion, " I cannot 
stand this," and taking a canteen of water, and a little cordial 
which he had in a vial, he determined to go to the assistance of 
the suffering man. Crawling stealthily along on the ground, he 
had advanced over a third of the distance when a flash in front 



1088 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

told that he was discovered, and the next instant the hot blood 
was coursing down his body. Staunching the flow as he best 
could, he lay quietly for a while, and then began to move back 
and reached his post. He was found on the following morning, 
cold in death, but still grasping his musket. 

fHE most famous of the numerous batteries built upon and 
around Morris Island was the Swamp Angel, a name now 
historic. Between Morris and James Islands are about two miles 
of intervening swamp. Grown over with a tall coarse grass, 
furrowed and netted in all directions by the daily flow and reces- 
sion of the tides, it is next to impenetrable, and the bed of mud, 
beneath, bottomless. From the centre of this swamp, with long- 
range guns, the streets of Charleston might be reached. No 
stretch of audacity was too great for Yankee ingenuity, and this 
was tried. Colonel Sorrell, of the New York Volunteer Engineers, 
gave the necessary orders to his Lieutenant. The latter, upon 
being shown the field of this new evangelism for spreading the 
gospel of the Union, declared the work impossible. The Colonel 
knew no such word, and told him to make his requisition for 
what he needed. It was promptly made upon the proper officer 
for "one hundred men, eighteen feet high, to wade in mud six- 
teen feet deep." He further requested his Surgeon " to splice the 
eighteen men as they were furnished." His humor cost the 
Lieutenant a temporary arrest. But the work was commenced 
and went bravely on. Night by night, floats bearing timber, 
sand-bags, and all manner of material, were carried out through 
the tide-filled channels or the mud, almost as fluid. The bottom 
was finally reached by the sinking mass of timber, brush, and 
sand-bags. The latter were filled nearly two miles distant. The 
whole work was executed under the eye of the gunners, and the 
range of rebel guns which swept it from a semi-circle round 
about. 

At length, rising above the tall marsh grass, it began to present 
a suspicious appearance, and the rebels opened on it with their 
mortars; but mortar shells were of no account to Morris Island 
troops. It was begun on the 4th and finished on the 19th of 
August. In due time the Angel lit upon its perch. It was in 



INCIDENTS. 1089 

the form of a two-hundred-pounder Parrott, a species sui generis. 
To transport and mount this gun cost an amount of patience, 
muscle, and brain, that can with difficulty be appreciated. It 
was put in position at last, charged with a due portion of gospel, 
opened its mouth, and sent its message into the streets of 
Charleston, spanning a distance of 8800 yards. Standing, as 
the Angel did, down upon a level with the city, it could only 
carry a shot over, at the great and trying elevation of 36°. A 
dozen or two of such shots finished its mission. It burst, jumped 
from its trunnions, leaped the parapet, and sank in the fathomless 
depths of Charleston mud. The Greek Fire, which Beauregard 
reported to have been rained upon the city, was a myth. No suc- 
cessful use of it was ever made during the war. 

The batteiy was afterwards repaired, mounted with mortars, 
and used as a picket post. The sand-bags alone, employed in its 
construction, cost the Government $5000. Sergeant Felter, of the 
New York Volunteer Engineers, suggested the novel name which 
the battery bore. 

^^v7' niLE m y re Si men t> sa y s a Pennsylvania Colonel, was on 
;Q* picket duty at Hazel river, with Stuart's rebel cavalry 
on the opposite shore, one evening a man, who lived five miles in 
the rebel rear, came to the bank of the stream, and calling across 
inquired if we had a surgeon in camp. Being answered in the 
affirmative, he entreated that he be sent across, as his wife was 
mortally sick, and the surgeon of Stuart's command having gone 
to Richmond, there was not a doctor within twenty-five miles. 
Moved by the earnestness of his manner, and being assured that 
an escort would be furnished, I consented. When the surgeon 
arrived, he found a houseful of women, all curious to behold a 
Yankee doctor. The proper remedies were administered, and 
relief obtained; and as the surgeon was about to return, the hus- 
band, his heart overflowing with gratitude, asked how r he could 
render a suitable reward for the great boon bestowed. " I ask," 
said the surgeon, " no pecuniary compensation. I am only too 
happy to have relieved suffering ; but there is one request which 
I have to make." " Present it," said the husband, " and it shall 
be joyfully accorded." " Name this fine boy Abraham Lincoln." 

69 



1090 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Holding up his hands in horror, he exclaimed, " My God ! I 
would willingly do it, but the rebels would kill the baby and me 
too ! " Since the war he has called upon the doctor in the city, 
the most grateful of men. 

f% B. Lower, a private in the Twenty-third Ohio regiment, 
•a having received a wound at Antietam, was sent to a 
hospital in New York, but, deserting, returned to his regiment, 
and having served until April, 1863, when his wound proved 
troublesome, he was discharged. Not satisfied with home life, he 
enlisted in the Old Bucktail regiment and foiurht with it to the 
close of its service, receiving wounds at Mine Run and the Wilder- 
ness. On the very last day of its term, after fighting heroically, he 
was, towards evening, struck on the head by a flying brick hurled 
by a solid shot, and severely injured, falling into the enemy's 
hands. We were sent, he says, to Libby Prison, where we 
remained till June 9th, when we were moved to Andersonville; 
and now comes the most trying part of my military life. About 
twenty-five members of the Bucktails were captured with me, 
among them Sergeant Thompson, and while at Libby we had 
elected him Captain, and laid a plan for escaping from the cars 
while on the way to Andersonville. We were to overcome the 
guard, bind and gag them at a concerted signal and leap from the 
car. I had stationed myself near the door after leaving Burks- 
ville, just beside one of the guards, with courage screwed up and 
nerves strung, ready to do my part. Just after dark it was an- 
nounced to me that the enterprise had for some reason been 
abandoned. 

I then made up my mind to escape alone. The weather was 
warm and the guard permitted the door of the car, a box, to stand 
open. His gun rested across it. I stood for more than an hour 
by his side just on the point of springing out, but still held back 
by the dread of what might be the result. I cannot describe my 
feelings at that time. I knew that in a moment I might be a 
mangled corpse, or I might be alive and free; or, what was more 
likely, I might be disabled from travelling, recaptured, and sub- 
jected to the punishment that I knew would follow. I took out 
my watch, which, through some unaccountable oversight on the 



INCIDENTS. 1091 

part of the rebels, had not been taken from me, and in the dark- 
ness felt the hands, and- found that it was eleven o'clock. I con- 
cluded that we must be about fifty miles beyond Burksville, and 
that whatever I did must be done at once. So, only waiting for 
a favorable moment, I caught hold of the gun, thrust it to one 
side, and leaped out into the darkness. The next moment I felt 
myself tumbling and rolling down an embankment. I heard the 
cry of the guard, trying to raise an alarm, as with a rush and a 
roar the train swept out of sight and hearing, and I was left alone 
and free, but far in the heart of the Confederacy. I got upon my 
feet and felt to see if I was all right. I found that I was slightly 
bruised, somewhat scratched, and that I was terribly scared ; but, 
with the exception of breaking open the wound I had received in 
the Wilderness, I was not much hurt. 

Alone, unarmed, I was in the midst ot an enemy s country. 
Above me to the north I could see the pole star, which was to be 
the beacon to guide my footsteps by night. To attempt to go by 
the seaboard I knew would be to invite certain capture. Hence 
I shaped my course to the north, intending to travel until I had 
crossed the East Tennessee Railroad, and then to strike west till I 
reached New River, which I meant to follow down to the Kan- 
awha. My first purpose was to get something to eat, for which I 
felt ready to make any desperate attempt. I travelled through 
woods and fields for three hours, before I came to a house. By 
that time I was nearly famished, having had nothing to eat for 
fourteen hours, and then only a small piece of corn-bread. At 
last I came upon a large Virginia mansion, and having thought 
of a plausible story to tell, walked boldly up and knocked at 
the door. Two large dogs answered my summons by rushing out 
and barking at me furiously, but I stood my ground, and soon an 
upper window was thrown open from which a man asked, " Who's 
there ?" Without answering his question I said, " Quiet these 
dogs or I will shoot them." This he did, and I then told him to 
come to the door, that I was a friend, had command of a scouting 
party of Confederate soldiers, that we were out of rations and 
wanted something to eat. He at once came down and proceeded 
to get what I wanted, all the time talking to me and asking the 
news. I invented some stories which made him think that the 



1092 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

war would soon be over, and that Southern independence was an 
accomplished fact. He gave me a large piece of corn-bread and 
about a pound of boiled pork. Thanking him, I bade him good- 
night and hurried away. Seeing him follow me, I got into the 
-woods as quickly as I could, and in a tone of command I called 
out, "All right, boys! Fall in! Forward! march !" and being 
afraid that my little ruse would be discovered, I was not long in 
putting a considerable distance between me and that house, after 
which I sat down and ate a hearty meal, and then securing a 
comfortable bed among some dense undergrowth, I lay down and 
slept till daylight, which was not more than two hours. 

During the next five days and nights I travelled as fast as I 
could in the direction I had determined to pursue, meeting with 
many adventures, making several very narrow escapes from cap- 
ture, and getting my food as best I could, mostly from the 
negroes, whom I could trust at all times and under every circum- 
stance. On the morning of the sixth day I heard from a woman, 
at whose house I had stopped to get something to eat, that the 
Yankees were at Buckhannon, twenty-five miles across the Blue 
Ridge. I afterwards learned that it was General Hunter, on his 
disastrous raid to Lynchburg. I determined to reach his lines; 
so I pushed ahead, keeping in the woods as much as possible. 
During the day I passed over the Great Otter Mountain (Big 
Peak), and in the evening, about an hour before sundown, came 
down into a valley, and then there was nothing between me and 
Hunter's forces but the Blue Ridge, which I determined to cross, 
if possible, during the night. In the valley I saw a log-cabin, 
and it being the only one I could see, I thought I would go to it 
and try to get some food before I commenced the ascent of the 
mountain ; so I went into the house and asked the woman who 
,. was there if I could get something to eat, and, being told that I 
could, sat down to wait till it was ready. Of course I had to 
give an account of myself at every place I stopped, and I was 
always prepared with some plausible story. Sometimes I was a 
rebel soldier, going home on furlough ; at others I was a scout on 
important business pertaining to the government. It was only to 
the negroes that I revealed my true character. To this woman I 
concluded to tell the truth. So I said I was an escaped prisoner 



IXCIDESTS. 1093 

and trying to make my way north. While talking and waiting, 
I was startled to see coming round the corner of the house, with 
musket in hand, a genuine rebel guerilla. There was no escape. 
He walked straight up to the door, cocked his musket, and said, 
" You surrender!" I cannot describe my feelings on hearing that 
word as he repeated it, "You surrender!" Instead of the bright 
vision, which had almost come to be a reality, of reaching the 
Union lines, I saw before me the prospect of probable death by 
hanging, or, upon the least provocation or pretext, by the hand 
of my captor; and if I escaped immediate death, then starvation 
at Andersonville. A heavy weight seemed resting upon my 
heart. I could feel my lips quiver. I could not control my 
voice, and for a moment my feelings were those of complete 
despair. But in another moment I was myself again and my 
eyes took in the situation exactly. It did not take me many 
seconds to make up my mind that at all hazards I would escape 
from my captor or lose my life in the attempt. I could not fore- 
cast my course, but determined to take advantage of any chance 
that should present itself. He directed me to pass out of the door 
and take the path up the mountain side leading to the highway. 
I started, but was stopped by the woman, who said, " Wait till I 
get you something to eat," and brought out two pieces of corn- 
bread, one of which she handed me which I put in my haversack, 
and the other to my captor, who was standing with his gun lying 
across his left arm. Just as he turned his eyes from me, and 
reached out his right hand, I sprang upon him, seized him by the 
throat, threw him over upon his back, and with both hands 
caught hold of his gun, knowing that if I once had possession of 
it, the tables would be turned. The situation was interesting, as, 
between the North and the South, the North so far seemed to have 
the best of the battle, the South being about to be captured with 
all his musketry. But to him unexpected reinforcements were 
advancing upon my rear, and in another moment I felt myself 
clasped in an embrace which, under other circumstances, would 
not have been regarded as a hostile manoeuvre. That woman 
had me surrounded, and the only thing left for me to do was to 
beat a retreat and take the chances of a shot. I slipped my hand 
down the barrel, cocked the piece, and pulled the trigger, think- 



!094 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ing I could fire it off and get out of sight before my escort could 
reload ; but it missed fire. So I tore myself away from those 
loving (?) embraces and lied. The rebel followed some distance, 
calling upon me to halt or he would shoot me, and when I was 
within a few rods of the woods I heard the cap snap ; but again 
the gun missed fire, and in another moment I was over the fence, 
into the woods, and out of sight. I travelled all night and in the 
morning about daylight came upon General Hunter's pickets, and 
Avas soon in camp, safe at last. I went with the army to Lynch- 
burg, then back to Charleston, and thence home. After a short 
visit I rejoined my regiment in front of Petersburg, and had a 
part in every battle till the surrender of Lee. In the winter of 
1865 I received a furlough, for meritorious conduct in making my 
escape from the enemy. 

X1^7illiam Rickards, Colonel of the Twenty-ninth regiment, 
5cr received a terrible wound while leading the head of his 
brigade on the enemy's works at Pine Knob, Georgia, on the 15th 
of June, 1804. It was thought to be mortal, and his friends took 
a final leave of him. His three years' term of service had ex- 
pired a few days before, and to fulfil a pledge made to his family 
he had sent in his resignation. Before the battle occurred, how- 
ever, at his earnest solicitation, he had been released from his 
pledge, and had promptly recalled his resignation. But his letter 
of recall miscarried, and after rallying sufficiently to reach his 
home, though still in a critical condition, an event occurred 
which came near proving more painful than the wound itself. 
It was an order issued from General Thomas' head-quarters, in 
whose army he was, dishonorably dismissing him from the ser- 
vice. This intelligence, in his feeble state, cut to the quick. To 
a faithful soldier of three years standing, dying of wounds in- 
flicted while gallantly battling with the enemy, it was indeed a 
cruel blow. Fever was already preying upon his body, and now 
wounded pride was devouring his spirit. Constant wakefulness 
was fast leading to delirium. At this juncture the faithful 
wife started for Washington to endeavor, by a personal interview 
with the President, to have the order revoked. Arriving after 
the hours for receiving visitors, the President's ushers declined to 



INCIDENTS. 1095 

admit her. But on presenting the case as vital, and refusing to 
leave the house, she was finally allowed to enter. After kindly 
and patiently hearing her statement, Mr. Lincoln said : 

" Madam, there must be other charges against your husband, 
or else he has had great injustice done him." 

She answered, "All my husband desires is an investigation." 

Thereupon Mr. Lincoln wrote upon the discharge paper these 
words, to which he affixed his signature : " So far as I can under- 
stand, the order, dismissing this officer, should be immediately 
revoked. Will you examine into the case and report?" This he 
directed her to take to the War Department. 

" Here," she says, "I did not meet with that benevolent, 
pleasant reception which our President gave me, and all who 
came to him with heavy hearts." After looking at the paper, 
Mr. Stanton said : " The Generals at the front know best what 
course to pursue. We cannot interfere with their action. I have 
full confidence in General Thomas." 

Having said this, he turned away ; but noticing that she was 
not disposed to be satisfied with this, he gave her a searching 
glance, as she said : 

" I believe it is the order of the President that this case be ex- 
amined, and I shall esteem it a great favor, if it can be done 
speedily, as my husband's life may depend on my prompt return." 

Judging by the earnestness of her demeanor, and the apparent 
agony of her heart, that the case was really one of wrong and in- 
justice, he directed her to take the paper to General Chipman, to 
have the military record of Colonel Rickards investigated. This 
was politely accorded by General Chipman, who directed her to 
take the report which he had made out to Judge Advocate Holt, 
whose indorsement was necessary before action could be had. 
After reading General Chipman's memorandum, the Judge Advo- 
cate made the following indorsement thereon : 

" This I consider a case of hardship. This officer has a mili- 
tary record any man might envy ; " at the same time observing to 
Mrs. Pvickards, " Madam, this is only another instance of a coun- 
try's ingratitude, and I am sure, if you will now take this to the 
President, he will revoke the order of dismissal, and you can start 
for home with good news for your husband." 



109G MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

On visiting Mr. Lincoln he promptly revoked the hateful order, 
at the same time inquiring particularly about the wound of Col- 
onel Rickards, and in a laughing, pleasant way said, " Well, 
never mind. We will heal it all soon by making him a General." 
It would have been but an act of justice which Colonel Rickards 
richly merited, and a graceful acknowledgment of the wrong 
which had been done him. But in the absorbing duties of main- 
taining the great contest, now at its height, the wounded soldier 
was forgotten, and others were ever ready to push forward and 
trouble the waters before him. 

1t~)iiilip R. Palm, M. D., Surgeon of the One Hundred and 
V^>? Tenth, and afterwards of the One Hundred and Thirty- 
seventh regiment, and member of the operating board in the 
battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, gives some interest- 
ing incidents of those engagements. On the 30th of April, 1863, 
he says, our division hospital was located near the Fitz Hugh 
House. Here I dressed the wounds of six or seven of the enemy. 
1 could hardly get a word from them, which seemed strange. 
Gradually, however, they all became quite communicative. One 
of the " Louisiana Tigers," by the name of Stuart, was shot 
through the head, the ball, a large one, entering the temple on 
one side and making its exit through the other, passing through 
the cerebrum. Although he was blind, he conversed rationally. 
One day I mentioned the name of Stuart. He said that was not 
his name. On one occasion he got up and walked out of the 
hospital. Inflammation succeeded and he died at the end of a 
week. 

To illustrate the delusion under which many of the enemy 
acted, I will relate the case of a private from Atlanta, Georgia. 
He was one of the party alluded to. After dressing his wounds, 
which were mortal, he became quite familiar. He informed me 
that he was a lawyer. He said the rebels had been told that if 
they were taken prisoners they would be subjected to cruel and 
inhuman treatment. I asked him if they believed such stories. 
He replied that they did. "Well," said I, "how do you find it?" 
He smiled and said, " Oh ! I could not be treated better by my 
friends ; no, not so well, because we have not things as you have 
them." He died soon after. 



INCIDENTS. 1097 

At the battle of Fredericksburg I witnessed a novel conflict 
between three stallions. A large number of horses of officers 
were parked near the hospitals. Among them was a little black 
stallion belonging to one of the surgeons. At the time when the 
cannonading was most furious, and the air was filled with shriek- 
ing shells and sulphurous smoke, the same fiery spirit that im- 
pelled the men on to conflict seemed to infect the horses. With 
heads erect and distended nostrils they snuffed the air of battle. 
The little black soon broke loose, and rushing in among others 
made an attack on two other stallions. These, too, broke loose, 
and the three made a rush for each other. With eyes glaring, 
they seized each other by the neck, fairly screaming with rage, 
rearing and plunging with their steel-shod feet, until the three 
lay prostrate, without for a moment letting go their hold. In 
that position they kept up the fight for a considerable time, and 
were finally separated with the greatest difficulty. The little 
black was led back to his place with head and tail erect as if tri- 
umphant. He again attempted to break away, but was unable to 
accomplish his object. While the combat lasted it drew a good 
house. 

fiiE following illustrates the power of the human system to re- 
sist, and recuperate from injury. Major John Fritz, of the 
Ninety-third Pennsylvania regiment, received a wound through 
the right thigh from a Minie ball in the early part of the day, at 
Fair Oaks, May 31st, 18G2. Towards evening he was hit in the 
left thigh, causing a compound fracture of the bone, the result of 
which was the stiffening of the knee-joint and the shortening of 
the limb two inches. On the 5th of May, 1864, having measura- 
bly recovered and returned to the field, he received a scalp-wound 
from a musket ball at the battle of the Wilderness. On the 9th 
of May following, at Laurel Hill, he got a flesh-wound from a 
rifle ball in the left arm. Three days later, at Spottsylvania 
Court House, a Minie ball struck him in the left cheek below the 
eye, fracturing the upper jaw, resulting in the loss of the teeth, 
the injury of sight and hearing, and a troublesome open wound. 
On the 25th of March, 1865, he received a Minie ball through 
the right arm, fracturing the large bone, in consequence of which 



1098 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the wrist and fingers were stiffened, and the nerves permanently 
paralyzed. Notwithstanding he was thus, as it were, shot to 
pieces, he survived all his injuries and served as postmaster of 
the city of Reading for several years. He died in 1873 

tHE intelligence and sensibility displayed by dumb brutes has 
excited the wonder of, and challenged a solution from the 
keenest investigators. The case of one of the canine race widely 
known, and well authenticated, is given below. The account 
was prepared for the author's use under the direction of Brevet 
Major-General Richard Coulter, with whose regiment, the Elev- 
enth Pennsylvania, the events recorded occurred. 

SALLIE. 

" She was a gash an' faithful tyke 
As ever lap a sheugh or dyke ; 
Her honest sonsie pleasant face, 
Aye gat her friends in ilka place." 

In the month of May, 1861, the Eleventh regiment Pennsylva- 
nia volunteers, being enlisted for the term of three months, and 
commanded by Colonel Phaon Jarrett, together with the Ninth 
regiment, occupied the Fair Grounds near West Chester. The 
camp was an exceedingly pleasant one, the quarters comfortable, 
and the rations plenty and good. War then, at the North, was 
but the fancy of poesy and the dream of fiction ; its sorrows and 
its miseries were to come, and soldiers and camps were but novel- 
ties and shows. The citizens at the pleasant old town welcomed 
the volunteers, although the roll of the drums and .'the tread of 
the inarch broke upon the wonted quiet of the Sabbath-day ; and 
during their stay entertained them as holiday visitors, treating 
them with a hospitality and kindness which in after times called 
up gentle memories and grateful emotions. The ladies of the 
town and vicinity, beautiful and accomplished, daily visited the 
camp, talked with them, prepared a banquet for them, and by 
their smiles, presence, and delicate sympathy, gave to Camp 
Wayne more the semblance of a May time picnic or a pleasure 
excursion, than what it was intended to be, a school of instruction, 
drill, and discipline. 

One bright morning a civilian, carrying on his arm a small 



INCIDENTS. 1099 

market-basket, came to Captain Terry's quarters, Company I, and 
stated that he had brought him the pup he had promised him, 
producing from the basket a little puffy, pug-nosed, black- 
muzzled canine, scarce four weeks old, and barely able to toddle 
upon its short and clumsy legs. The pup was taken into quar- 
ters, a nest provided for it under the Captain's bunk, fed, cared 
for, and duly christened Sallie. She soon became accustomed to 
her new friends, and thrived rapidly. Milk and soft bread were 
to be had in plenty, and there was nothing for her to do but eat 
and sleep, snugly rolled up in her bed or lolling lazily on the 
blankets. No shadow of future trouble or hardship cast a gloom 
over her spirits, nor darkened the sunshine of her happy infancy. 
Such was our heroine's introduction to a life which proved an 
eventful one, changing from quiet, ease, and plenty, to hardship, 
weary travels, bloody scenes, excitement and suffering — a life, 
with its surroundings, such as few men have lived, and such as 
no other of her race ever lived before. 

Whilst the regiment lay in its different camps, she stayed at 
the Captain's quarters, at the marque, or about the company 
street, was fed, petted, and played with, soon becoming a general 
favorite, and when the term of three months expired she had 
grown to respectable size and was able to take care of herself. 
When this regiment was reorganized for three years' service, Sal- 
lie returned with Company I, and again took her place in the 
field. The winter of 1862 was passed in doing provost-guard 
duty in the city of Annapolis, Maryland, drilling, fatigue duty at 
the Naval Academy, and in guarding the Annapolis Branch Rail- 
road. Sallie took part in all these various duties, having become 
a regimental institution, and formed new acquaintances. and made 
new friends throughout the entire company, always evidencing 
some particular intimacy, as her fancy or whim suggested, which 
would be continued for weeks. 

She knew the roll of the drum at reveille, was out of quarters 
among the first, and regularly attended the morning roll-call. At 
the squad or company drills she patiently followed the particular 
soldier she had selected, until it was over. When the regiment 
formed for battaliomdrill, she sought out the Colonel's horse, who 
soon began to know and recognize her, and barking and leaping 



1100 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

led the way with him to the drill-ground, remaining until the 
regiment was dismissed. At dress-parade she sought the Color 
Sergeant, and after the regiment was formed, lay down in front 
of the colors, watching the " beat off'," and not moving from her 
position until the parade was over. These two positions, to lead 
off with the Colonel's horse when the regiment moved, and to 
front the line at dress-parade, thus chosen by her at Annapolis, 
were sure to be taken, and the habit continued until the day she 
led the column from the camp at Hatcher's Run. 

The regiment left Annapolis on the 10th of April, 18G2, for 
Washington, going thence to Manassas Junction, to Falmouth 
and Aquia Creek, and back again by way of Alexandria to Man- 
assas and Thoroughfare Gap, Front Royal, and the Shenandoah ; 
then to Warrcnton and Waterloo, and down to the Rapidan. The 
battle of Cedar Mountain was fought; Pope's retreat, Rappahan- 
nock, and Bull Run rapidly succeeded. In all these Sallie w;is a 
participant, faithfully following in the long and hurried marches, 
by night and by day, under fire for the first time at Cedar Moun- 
tain, sticking close by the colors at Bull Run, and falling back 
with them to Centreville and Chantilly. In the disorganization 
subsequent, through the toilsome march to South Mountain, 
through cities and towns, she managed to thread her way, and at 
An tie tarn went out into the corn-field with one of the skirmishers 
who vainly endeavored to drive her back, fearing she would be 
killed. A ball did, indeed, strike her here on the side, but for* 
tunately only left its mark through her hair. 

At Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, Sallie was again 
with the regiment in the thick of the fight, crossed the river in 
her accustomed place, and went on regardless of the heavy firing. 
Daring the afternoon Colonel Coulter was wounded and obliged 
to leave the field. The regiment had been exposed to a terrible 
fire, had suffered severely, its ranks thinned and broken, and Sal- 
lie, for the first time in her life, became demoralized. Missing 
the accustomed faces and forms, she sought safety in a flank 
movement to the rear, and for the Pontoon. She was seen to 
approach it at a rapid rate, and " Old Daddy Johnson," detailed 
in the hospital department, to whom she was much attached, and 



INCIDENTS. 1101 

whom she frequently followed, whistled for her; but she only 
gave one look of recognition, hurried on, and, 

" With drooping tail and humbled crest," 

passed across the bridge and sought the temporary hospital on the 
other side to which the wounded were conveyed, anticipating by 
a few hours a similar movement by the entire army. 

On the expedition to Mine Run, Burnside's advance, again in 
front of Fredericksburg, at Chancellors ville, and all the marches, 
movements and operations of the regiment, the faithful animal 
steadily shared the toil, and privation, and danger, escaping un- 
hurt, remaining true to her friends in all changings of camps and 
amidst the confusion and intricacies of a vast army — through 
woods and forests, across rivers and swamps, on march or counter- 
march, in advance or retreat, a very embodiment of devotion, 
courage, patience, and endurance. Bullets had no terrors for her, 
and she never straggled nor deserted. Hunger and thirst, heat 
and cold, were disregarded, and hardship and exposure utterly 
unheeded. 

At Gettysburg, having kept with the regiment the whole of the 
long and rapid march from the front of Fredericksburg, Sallie went 
into the first day's fight ; but during the repulse and falling back 
of our line through the town, became separated from it, and, 
being unable or unwilling to pass the rebel lines, returned to the 
crest of the hill, where the regiment had been engaged, and, 
seeking out the dead and wounded, remained with them, licking 
their wounds, or patiently watching by their lifeless bodies. 
Captain Cook, of the Twelfth Massachusetts, with the Provost 
Guard, on the morning of the 4th, while in search of strag- 
glers and prisoners, found her and took her back with him to the 
brigade and her own regiment. During this faithful vigil of three 
clays and nights, she must have been without food, and appeared 
quite lean and emaciated from her long fasting. Why she was 
not either captured, or wantonly killed by the straggling rebel 
soldiers, seems strange, and can only be accounted for by the 
fact that she knew a rebel uniform from our own, and from her 
antipathy to them would give the wearers as wide a berth as 
possible. 



1102 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Following the regiment closely in the battles through the 
Wilderness, she was, on the 8th of May, struck in the neck by a 
Minie ball. The wound was examined by one of the field sur- 
geons, bandaged, and she was sent back with some of the 
wounded to the hospital. Plere her wound was carefully re-ex- 
amined by Dr. Chase, the surgeon in charge, and pronounced not 
dangerous ; but the ball could not be extracted. She stayed about 
the hospital a while, but soon returned to the field to the regi- 
ment, and about her first performance on her return was to tear 
the seat out of the breeches of a conscript from another regiment, 
who being scared at the firing, had broken ranks, and was re- 
treating through the line of the Eleventh. 

Sallie carried this ball for several months, it becoming enclosed 
in a cyst in the fleshy part of her neck, the size of a hen's egg, 
where it could be plainly felt. Afterwards the neck began to 
fester; and finally the unpleasant appendage dropped out and the 
wound healed, leaving a well-defined scar. 

During the operations on the Weldon Road, the Hickford raid, 
and siege of Petersburg, she travelled along, or stayed with the 
men in the trenches or at the forts, or on the picket line, always 
at her old place at the head of the column when it moved, an- 
nouncing the departure by barking and jumping at the horse of 
the officer in command until the line fairly started, when she 
quietly trotted along, sometimes at the horses' heels, sometimes 
in the rear, or winding through the legs of the men in the middle 
of the column. 

Sallie's career, at length, was brought to an end, and after a life 

of most disastrous chances, 

Of moving accidents by flood and field ; 

Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach, 

she was killed on the Gth of February, 18G5, at Hatcher's Run, 
Virginia. 

The Adjutant of the regiment, at the close of his official report 
of the battle, says : " Sallie was killed when the regiment was 
making its first advance upon the enemy. She w r as in line with 
the file-closers when shot. We buried her under the enemy^s fire/' 

One of the men, in a letter dated " Camp near Hatcher's Run, 
Virginia, February 11th, 1865," writes: "Poor Sallie fell in the 



INCIDENTS. 11C3 

front line in the fight at the Run — a bullet pierced her brain. 
She was buried where she fell, by some of the boys, even whilst 
under a murderous fire, so much had they become attached to 
the poor brute, who so long had shared with them the toilsome 
march and the perils of battle. It would, indeed, be a pleasant 
reverie if one could reconcile to himself the poor Indian's theory 
of the happy hunting-grounds, where his faithful dog would bear 
him company." 

Sallie was a brindle, bull-terrier, of a fine breed, and showed 
marks of blood. She was of undoubted courage, generally good- 
tempered, always so towards any one in the regiment ; but had 
an extreme dislike to civilians, women, and strange darkies, 
whom she would make battle with anywhere in the camps. She 
was cleanly in her habits, and strictly honest, never touching the 
rations of men unless given to her. She would lie down by 
haversacks full of meat, or stand by while fresh beef was being 
issued and never offer to touch it. She seemed to know that -she 
would get a share, for the men never let her suffer if they had 
anything themselves, and she patiently waited until it was given 
her. The men grew very fond of her, and so far from any of 
them ever striking or kicking her, they immediately resented or 
punished any attempt of the kind. She was of medium size, 
squarely but handsomely built, her coat soft and silky, chest 
broad and deep, her head and ears small, and her eyes a bright 
hazel, full of fire and intelligence. She was active, quick, and 
had remarkable powers of endurance. Her knowledge of the 
individual members of the regiment was truly wonderful, and one 
was at a loss to know how she acquired it ; a whole corps might 
pass her, but she could make no mistake about her own regiment, 
and never followed any other. She could distinguish and recog- 
nize her own people under all circumstances, whether in camp or 
on the march, and even when at home on furlough. She knew 
the teamsters belonging to the regiment, although they were 
necessarily much absent from it, and when, about the time of 
crossing the James river, she missed the regiment, she hunted up 
the wagon belonging to the head-quarters, remained with it, and 
came into camp the first time it was ordered up seeming highly 
delighted at getting back again. 



1104 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

The night preceding the movement to Hatcher's Run, where 
she was killed, Sallie quartered under the tent occupied by a ser- 
geant and three men of Company D, and at intervals awoke them 
with a prolonged and mournful cry. They endeavored to drive 
her away, but she persistently returned, repeating her moaning, 
as if predicting the sad fate of the morrow. The sergeant and 
one of the men were killed by her side upon the field, and each 
of the other two was severely wounded. 

In the long after years, when the gray-haired veteran of the 
war for the Union repeats the legend of his earlier days, he will 
tell his listening grandchildren the story of Sallie. 

Sf5 obert Montgomery, a Lieutenant in the One Hundred and 



J^V Sixteenth regiment, was mortally wounded while in com- 
mand of his company, and leading it in the celebrated charge on 
Marye's Heights, in the battle of Fredericksburg. He was shot in 
the groin while crossing the bridge in the rear of the town, and 
fell into the canal. He succeeded in reaching the shore, and was 
carried to the hospital, where he expired a few days after. He 
was a Southern man, a native of Lynchburg, Virginia, and at the 
breaking out of the Rebellion owned numerous slaves. But his 
love for the Union was greater than his desire for wealth, and 
abandoning everything, he followed the fortunes of the national 
army until he gave his life a sacrifice. 

tHE Rev. Robert Audley Browne, D. D., a chaplain without 
fear and without reproach, of the One Hundredth (Round- 
head) regiment, since State Senator, and President of Westmins- 
ter College, in the following narrative furnishes many interesting 
particulars of the battle of Chantilly, and reminiscenses of the fall 
of Stevens and Kearny, which can never fail to interest the 
American people, deeply reverencing, as they do, the names of 
those two heroic Generals. 

The night that closed the battle of Bull Run (August 30th, 
1862) saw Pope's army defeated, but formidably drawn up on 
the strong heights at Centreville, with the roads well guarded, 
and Reno's corps, the Ninth, picketing at the crossings of Bull 
Run. Pollard's account of the frantic passage of this stream, by 



INCIDENTS. 1105 

the Union troops, I judge, from my own observation, to be a pure 
fiction. 

The next day was the Sabbath, when church-bells were ringing 
and peaceful congregations assembling all over the country. It 
opened with a dreary rain on the army around Centreville. The 
sharp battle at Chantilly followed close, which has for some cause 
been overlooked and its history left unwritten. Its relations to 
the campaign were of great importance, inasmuch as it was a vic- 
tory to the National arms, gained by much gallantry and blood- 
shed. It was Lee's plan to again force Pope to battle while still 
remote from his base of supplies, and crush his army, or at least 
cut his communications with Washington and capture his trains. 
To bring this about he attempted a repetition of Thursday's 
manoeuvre, which had brought on the battle of Bull Run. He 
accordingly ordered Stonewall Jackson to make a left flank move- 
ment around Pope's forces. This was done by crossing Bull Run 
at Sudly Springs Ford and advancing upon our line of communi- 
cation at Fairfax Court House by the Little River Turnpike. 
But it was Monday evening before Jackson neared his objective 
point, when he was brought to bay, and forced to fight the battle 
in which Reno's and Kearny's troops were left in possession of 
the field. 

On Monday afternoon Stevens' division of Reno's corps lay on 
the heights of Centreville, while the white covered wagons — an 
immense train — formed and moved, hour after hour, along the 
turnpike leading to Washington. Even then Jackson was ad- 
vancing by the Little River Pike, which, after passing through 
Chantilly and Germantown, leads into the Washington Pike at 
Fairfax Court House, where, if not intercepted, he would have 
been among our trains in a few hours. Of this, however, Pope 
was advised, and as a precaution his various corps were well 
posted at points between Centreville and Fairfax, while it was 
assigned to Reno, supported by Kearny, to lead the advance upon 
the approaching column of Jackson. 

While the wagon train was thus moving along, on the after- 
noon of Monday, suddenly the order came to Stevens' division, 
lying on the heights of Centreville, to Ml in. We marched on 
the same road with the trains a half mile or more, and then 
70 



1106 MARTIAL LEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

northward, by an obscure way, and halted. Advancing again, a 
fence is laid low, and we pass through a meadow, an orchard, 
and a narrow strip of wood, when, suddenly, as we reach its 
farther side — whiz — crack — the bullets whistle past us, and cut 
the twigs and leaves over our heads ! We have struck Jackson's 
line of march, and he receives us in line of battle ! Then comes 
the order to form, which is done under a rapid fire. The crash 
of the musketry is deafening. But a sound more terrible than 
the noise of battle bursts upon us. It is the voice of the storm ! 
Beneath the crash of Heaven's artillery and the descending tor- 
rents, the battle is fought. The line of Stevens is formed under 
a withering fire and the no less confusing uproar of the thunder- 
storm, and under his immediate orders makes a charge. 

The movement was so rapid that the mounted officers had 
barely time to dismount, tie their horses, and repeat the proper 
commands. General Stevens was near me and dismounted. I 
did the same, and after tying my horse took my place in the line. 
It was less than five minutes afterwards that the General hailed 
me from the right to say that his son, Captain Hazzard Stevens, 
his Adjutant-General, was wounded, and wished me to conduct 
him to the surgeon, which I did. He turned to press on with his 
gallant division, his face to the foe. Knowing the desperation of 
the hour, and the character of the leader he was encountering, he 
threw himself unreservedly in the face of the battle. Seizing the 
colors of the Seventy-ninth New York State Militia, to encourage 
and inspire them for the torrent that was bearing upon them, he 
was heroically advancing at their head, when he was instantly 
killed by a musket ball. As his wounded son leaned on my arm, 
while we walked to the rear, he was loud in deprecating his 
father's rashness, and said he would be killed. I returned to 
find that the son's prediction had been speedily verified. 

Before again reaching the line of battle, Stevens' division, not- 
withstanding the loss of their General, had made a bold advance 
across the field, and had retired for lack of ammunition. By this 
time General Kearny's troops had been thrown forward under 
General Birney, and were engaging the enemy, the fight raging 
furiously. At this juncture, in the midst of the gathering dark- 
ness of the evening, an officer rode up and asked, 



INCIDESTS. 



1107 



"Who commands these troops?" 

I did not notice that he had but one arm, nor did I know at 
the moment that it was Kearny. I took him immediately to 
Lieutenant-Colonel Lecky, of the One Hundredth, who was com- 
manding the brigade. 

"Colonel," exclaimed Kearny, "I want to put my battery just 
here. I want to know if you can support it." 

To this the Colonel replied, stating his loss of officers and men, 
and lack of ammunition. Kearny did not stop to argue, but in- 
stantly turning to the ranks, cried out, 

" Men ! I want to put my battery on this ground : will you 
defend it?" 

A rousing cheer was the only response, and the General was 
satisfied that his guns would be safe. At this time I heard 
Lieutenant Critchlow express to Lecky a fear lest room had been 
left for the rebels to pierce our lines. Birney also reported to 
Kearny a gap on our right, when the latter put spurs to his horse 
and rode in the direction indicated, where, encountering some 
troops, he demanded who they were ; discovering his mistake he 
turned to escape, and bent low on his horse to shun the fire, 
when one of the bullets showered after him pierced and ranged 
completely through his body, killing him instantly. He was 
alone and his fate unknown. General Birney, on whom the com- 
mand devolved, supposed him captured. Having repulsed the 
foe, the Union army withdrew next day towards Washington, 
when the enemy, taking possession of the ground, announced his 
death. Our corps left before day. Learning from Dr. Kimble, 
our division surgeon, that the ground was not to be held, I 
decided to remain with our severely wounded, for whose convev- 
ance to Washington no provision could be made. The wounded 
of our regiment had been moved to the farm house and barn near 
by, and in the orchard hundreds of men, separated from their 
commands, exhausted with the march and the fight, and wet to 
the skin, had kindled large fires from the neighboring fences. 
They were now in their blankets in the tired sleep which a sol- 
dier only knows. At about four in the morning, Dr. Kimble and 
myself went through the orchard and announced that every man 
would fall into rebel hands who remained, when full five hundred 



1108 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

.started up, and in twenty minutes were on their way to Wash- 
ington. It was nearly eleven before the rebels appeared, and 
then but a few cavalry pickets ; afterwards a portion of a regiment 
of infantry. Colonel Tieman Brien, First Virginia cavalry, 
paroled us and gave me a pass to Washington. It was on the 
third day, near evening, that ambulances, under a flag of truce, 
arrived, and carried the first instalment of our wounded to Alex- 
andria. Our condition had been pitiable enough. Thirty-three 
of our wounded were dead. We had scarcely force enough to 
bury them. On the battle-field were more. I walked over it on 
Tuesday evening with Dr. O'Farrell, of a Massachusetts regiment. 
Our dead lay upon it. The rebel dead had been removed. Here 
and there the ground, hard beaten, showed where two lines oppo- 
site each other had encountered as foes in the darkness. Some 
of our men were stripped of their clothing, and as we advanced 
we met here and there a ragged pair of butternut pants, left by 
the Confederate, when he had hastily donned the blue of his 
fallen countryman ; and here and there we came across a mound 
that showed where burial had been given one of Jackson's men. 

/Oaptain' William Htndman, a veteran soldier of the Fourth 
^-^ Pennsylvania cavalry, was wounded through the ear and 
back of the head at Sulphur Springs, while acting with his regi- 
ment on the rear guard to the army in its retrograde to Centre- 
ville, on the 12th of October, 18G3, and while lying insensible 
upon the field fell into the enemy's hands. He was a brave man, 
and had made many daring scouts. On being taken to the rear, 
he found himself in company with one hundred and fifty-six 
others of his regiment. The struggle had been a desperate one 
against vast odds and in a forlorn hope. With his companions 
he soon found himself incarcerated in Libby Prison, where the 
treatment was at its worst, and the suffering from the uncared-for 
wound intense. Believing that he would soon have to succumb 
to his misery if he much longer remained, he determined to make 
his escape. It was the practice of the prison officials to send a 
number each day to the cook-house on Eighteenth street, under 
guard, to labor. Seeking a companion, Corporal Alexander Wel- 
ton, a true man, who had been sadly gashed with sabre wounds, 



INCIDENTS. 1109 

he began trading for rebel caps and uniforms. Accoutring them- 
selves in all but caps, and throwing blankets about their shoul- 
ders, they watched their chance as they turned the corner of the 
street on their way to the work-house, handed their blankets to 
those in rear, donned their rebel caps, stepped from the ranks, 
faced about and sauntered back, whistling as they went, meeting 
the rear guard without exciting suspicion. They had taken 
Richmond without a battle. Passing out of the city, pausing to 
watch the workmen at the navy-yard, they made their way toil- 
somely towards the Union lines. Narrowly escaping capture from 
the enemy who discovered them upon the James, and enduring 
untold hardship in making their way over swollen streams, pools 
of mud and stagnant water, their wounds still open, they finally 
reached the National camps at Williamsburg, where they were 
joyfully received and tenderly cared for. 

fENNY Wade, the heroine of Gettysburg, who sacrificed her 
young life in that great contest, will ever be regarded with 
tender emotions. When on the morning of the 1st of July, 1863, 
the battle opened, and the weary and wounded came pouring into 
town, this girl, with a heart moved to all tender accord, began to 
bake bread for the fainting and famished soldiers. When the day 
was ended, and the Union army was forced to abandon the place 
to the enemy with a great multitude of wounded, recognizing in 
them a common humanity, she continued her devoted labors. In 
the progress of the battle, the house where she was at work came 
in exact range between the two lines. She was admonished to 
leave, but she refused to heed the injunction, and continued to 
prosecute her labor of love and noble self-sacrifice. The battle 
raged furiously, and as the one side or the other surged to and 
fro over the plain, more imminent became her danger; but she 
was blind to the portents of destruction, and deaf to the awful 
voice of the storm, while the savory loaves steadily issued from 
her hands. In an evil hour, as the conflict came near and more 
near, an enemy's bullet pierced her pure breast, and she sank in 
death, pouring out her life-blood while ministering to the victims 
of the strife. Nearly coincident with her fall, a rebel officer high 
in rank perished near her dwelling, and his comrades prepared 



1110 MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

for him a coffin ; but before it was completed, the enemy was 
obliged to retire, and the form of the maiden was laid therein in 
place of the rebel. A ballad, signed E. S. T., lamenting her fate 
and recounting in romantic strain her saintly deeds, soon after 
made its appearance, from which the following extract is given : 

Beside a little streamlet, that sparkled clear and bright, 
Reflecting back in beauty the morning's rosy light, 
There stood a little cottage, so humble yet so fair, 
You might have guessed a fairy had found a refuge there. 

There bloomed the sweet syringos, there blushed the roses red, 
And there the stately lily its rarest perfume shed ; 
Within that humble cottage there dwelt a maiden fair, 
And those who knew pronounced her the fairest flower there. 

But to that lowly dwelling there came, one summer's morn, 
The muttering of the tbunder, which told the coming storm : 
"Fly to your country's rescue!" the rousing tocsin said, 
"And sweep the base invaders to slumber with the dead." 

And Jennie's father heard it ; her lover heard it too ; 
And those intrepid freemen asked not what they should do ; 
They had no thought of keeping a coward watch at home, 
While sweeping through their country the rebel foes did come. 

So calling to his daughter, the hardy yeoman said ; . . . 
" I hear, my darling Jennie, the rebel foeman's tread ; 
And ere the strife is ended, I may be with the dead ; 
May God in mercy keep you, and every blessing send, 
And should I fall, in William you'll find a faithful friend." 

"And I, my darling Jennie," the gallant William said, 
" May in the coming conflict be numbered with the dead ; 
And yet," with trembling accents, and misty eyes, said he, 
" I only fear, my treasure, lest harm should come to thee." 

" Fear not for me," she answered, " but I will breathe a prayer, 
That God will guide and cherish the lives to me so near ; 
And when the conflict 's over, come to this home so dear, 
And I will wait to welcome, and bless your coming here." 

The summer days went gliding in golden circles by, 
And Lee's impetuous army to Gettysburg drew nigh ; 
The fierce and bloody conflict swept through that region fair, 
Yet still heroic Jennie dwelt in the cottage there. 

And while her heart was aching lest those she loved were dead, 

Her plump and rosy fingers moulded the soldier's bread. 

" Fly ! fly ! heroic maiden," a Union soldier said, 

" For through this vale there sweepeth a double storm of lead." 



1 



GENEPw 1 INDEX T0 PR0PER NAMES - 



Abercrombie, J. J., 134. 
Academies founded, 34. \ 
Ahl, T. J., 924. 
Albright, Chas., 816. 
Alien and Sedition Laws, 48' 
Allabach, Peter H., 823. \ 
Alleman, F. 0., 945. 
Alleman, H. C, 760. 
Allen, E. J., 866. 
American Manufactures, 1045 
Anderson, James Q., 599. 
Anderson, Major, 72, 116. 
Andrew, John A., 1029. 
Apple, T. G., 374. 
Armor, David M., 832. 
Arnold, I. N., 115. 
Averell, W. W., 369, 848. 
Ayer, Ira, Jr., 818. 



Bacon, Lord, 75. 

Baker, E. D., 387. 

Ballier, John F., 653. 

Bank of England, 1005. 

Banks, N. P., 149. 

Barbara Fritchie, 149. 

Barlow, Gen., 224. 

Barnes, J., 273. 

Barrows, Arad, 1024. 

Bayard, Geo. D., 427. 

Beaver, James A., 657. 

Beecher, H. W., 964. 

Bell, Thos. S., 522. 

Bonner's Hill, 282. 

Betts, Chas. M., 732. 

Biddle, Chapman, 215. 

Biddle, Chas. J., 641. 

Bierer, Everard, 683. 

Birney, David B., 134, 256, 262, 

Life, 556. 
Black, J. S., 73, 1002. 
Black, Sam. W., 536. 
Blakeley, Arch., 946. 
Bodine, Robt. L., 609. 
Bohlen, Henry, 476. 
Bolton, Wm. J., 712. 
Bossert, H. M., 943. 
Boston Journal, 1026. 
Bowen, R. B., 835. 
Bowen, Wm., 439. 
Boyd, Wm. H., 177, 6S0. 
Boyer, Margaret, 1032. 
Boys in Blue, 1022. 
Braddock, Gen., 39. 
Bradford, Gov., 152. 



Brandywine, 41. 
Breck," Samuel, 35. 
Brenholtz, Thos. S., 465. 
Brinton, Joseph P., 716. 
Brockett, L. P., 1028. 
Brooke, John, 275. 
Brooks, W. T. H., 168. 
Brown, Bazilla S., 1023. 
Brown, H. L., 748. 
Brown, Washington, 437. 
Browne, R. A., 1104. 
\3ryant, Wm. C, 157. 
Wuchanan, James, 62, 82. 
Ituckingham, Gov., 1030. 
I'ickshot War, 985. 
elder, Chas. H., 829. 
.ford, J., 195, 202, 204, 205, 
1 117, 209, 235. 

\ iham, H. B., 727. 
B . 1S) John L., 209, 222, Life, 
B Vs. 

Wde, A. E., 1049. 
Bu itt, L., 936. 
Bu -wes, Thos. H., 35, 966. 
Bm *beck, Adolph, 676. 
Bus -field, Gen., 185, 193,201, 
Butt 253. 296, 342. 
24. j 

\e-patch at Gettysburg, 
Cabbi\ * 

lOSi ,hn H., 688. 
Cain, , j. c., 273. 
Caldwt John C, 49. 
Calhou t, admitted, 61. 
Califori ' 992. 
Callis, C vmes, 410. 
Cameroi \,non, 129, 969. 
Cameron W. T., 938. i 

Campbell ' 944 



Campbell 
Campbell, 
Campbell, 
Cantador, ) 
Cappell, Co 
Carle, Jame 
Carroll, Edw 
Carrutli^rs. 1 
Cass, Lewis, 1 
Catholics, 32. 
Cemetery Rid; 
Cemetery, Sol 

352-361. 
Chamberlain, G 
Chambersburg. 
Chandler, Jus.) 



102. 
«43. 



Chapman, Lansford F., 420. 
Childs, James H., 435. 
Cincinnati, Society of, 145. 
City Troop, 179. 
Clark, Gideon, 788. 
Clark, John, 644. 
Clav, Cassius M., 125. 
Cob'b, Howell, 64. 
Cobham, George A., Jr., 446. 
Cochrane, John, 971. 
Collis, Chas. H. T., 916. 
Columbia, 190. 

Confederation, Articles of, 46. 
Conner, Eli T., 503. 
Congress, First 1747, 39. 

Constitution, interpretation ol 
50. 

Convngham, John B., 584 

Cooper, J. H., 220. j34. 

Cooper Shop Saloon, K 1034. 

Cooper, William II.. , 196. 

Couch, D. M., 168. ., 673. 

Coulter, Richard J# 

Cox, R. C, 83? t A., 525. 

Craig, Calvir j. W.,2Sl,Life, 810. 

Crawford, P . harles C, 830. 

Cresson, C . n> J. J., 88. 

Crittende ie Samuel, 440. 

Croasda' ( J. W., 530. 

Crosbv her, J., 485. 

Crowt am Geo. W., 738. 

Cull' ,ps' Hill, 189. 

Cul nimins, R. P., 532. 

Cu urr y, Wm. L., 456. 

c Jurtin, Andrew G., 74, 86, ID, 

' 120' 128, 141, 150, 152, 168, 

170', 175, 183, 377, Life, 957. 
I Curtin, John L, 713. 
' Curtis, C. B., 873. 
Cuyler, Theodore, 9o. 

• Dale, R. C, 538. 
I TVt"' 1, Prosner, 587. 

"., 53. 

80S. 






1114 



&S&&* 



°*****.ito mx 



TO p 



-Devin. Tl, c 



256. 



J)j ck n.so.i p"n •' 6s '~. 



D. 

J 09. 



£«, Miss, 



651. 



134, 
34, 



Dwight, ^jl. 

r if e 2 ekiah, 531. 



«g* *"■ 



-astoa 4 



2.17 y o*' Is 8, to ^»e, 7.5b. 
GihhJ M £ J -> 194 > 255, 299, 302. 

g^Joh n , 253 a>m.;il0b. 

GW £ V,I J A -> -i, Gen., 315. 
OoWb jTfi Science Hall, 95. 
Good Til i > 9,i > Management of, 38. 
! : ' lsli k John 13 Ii: ' S ' TeacherS '» 35 - 

Gowen c > i ' ** 

Grahani, A > sJ^ob.. 921. 

GrebJe, John # '£ »> Andrew, 51, 87. 

Greene, Q. g 9<« S C " F -> 534 - 

Qr r G Sg, D. UoM i! ,n ' G - W -' 8L 

r L ^e, re^ ^ lfmj S . M., 711. 

~ re £g, J. I or, ,on, Stonewall, 134. 

X r - es ' J - Af"' 4*9 )8, Prof., 189, 246, 294, 309. 

X r,es > Wm ''fi i rson College, 33. 

Grover, J\I,-* S t'. °°';rson, Thos., 56, 113. 

G«8s, h. K/'flfi* >'«m» Gen., 172. 

Gustavu 8 Affl " "ings, W. W., 177. 

Gw ya, JanTes, ^ mson/Geo. E.| ^ 



„ "common Jt™" § r a«s Mj lw>, ' Jnnson, Pres., 1009. 

Elder, UG *2b°h" 35 34 ; §Hh Ej, 'sha 504 ^nston, Gov., 81. 
Elder' t ^G-,.835. gall, L. w l '™*- l ohnston Jos. E., 134. 



r ^ e r, J. G Q9o 
!- Urt , ('lias i?" > 3 °19. 

Ei K ci,ii R -' T 5 ^. 

®y f John, «88' 935> 

°' » -Delaware, 2 
'^^,358; 

. • «., 952 
i;? 5, 178. 

1029 

'OtJ 

'~, 1 



-, L. 
Balleek. 



H. ty l J° nes > D. M., 795. 



& aIIer i G. o "17 Jones, J. R., 434 

n*! nlin > Han'nib Jones > 0wen ' ( ? 50 



t-neaon 
English^ 

-trerett, J 
Everhart 
Ewel] 



Jordan, Francis, 999. 
Jordan, Thos. J., 704. 
J add, Mr., 105. 



Kane, Marshal, 110. 

Kane, Thos. L., 287, 291, Life, 

890. 
Kansas, 61. 
Kearny, Philip, 1107. 
R. S.'eenan, Peter, 550. 

-im, Wni.U, 121, 132. 
''ales, Samuel j/ucky Legislature, resolves 
Eaneuil Hall 11s s - 
Faulkner. Ch'as j t, Theo., 944. 

t? 1 * 011 ' Samuel \i "' iV*' 4l6> 
gsher, Jos. W gV-^Iicbael, 764. 

£°3'd,J.B..73'7a'- *•.?"•- - 



1-1 



. 73, 79. 
J ohn, 9i 5> 




F "'t Pitt Wm± s ;\o4l. 



J., 195, 297, 310. 
io, 73. 
. P., 1036. 
870. 



£ox, George, 24. 

Eranklin C'M 
5S?S a ' ld *^U col 
Errand Slave States in 

Frn> T.,i... '.JJb ^3. 



1810 



John. 



1097. 



Gala„] ]e TJ 

^al igher/ j^l Leasft 

llnr. ' ' 



04, 217, 223, 

., 583. 

k,23. 
3., 840. 

is E. G., 1018. 
s M., 451. 
308. 




Dan 

Leech, William A., 606. 

Lee, Robert E., 148, 159, 166, 
174, 190, 191, 195, 233, 248, 
258, 294, 298, 300, 312, 316, 
326. 

Legislature, Resolutions of, 86. 

Lehmann, Theo. F., 758. 

Leidy, A. S., 889. 

Leni Lenape, 22. 

Lessig, W. II., 807. 

Libby Prison Tunnel, 105S. 






GENERAL INDEX TO PROPER NAMES. 



1115 



Lincoln, Abraham, 62, 74, 88, 
89, 90, 93, 94, 99, 103, 109, 
117, 131, 162, 174, 359, 381. 

Littell, John S., 796. 

Little Round Top, 1S9. 

London Times, 67. 

Longstreet, J., 159, 202, 260, 
302. 

Loomis, A. W., 88. 

Lossing, B. J., 66, 105. 

Louisiana Tigers, 284. 

Lower, C. B., 1090. 

Lowry, Ellen J., 1032. 

Lowry, M. B., 128, 983. 

Lyman, C. A., 874. 

Maceuen, Chas. I., 498. 

Madison, Pres., 103. 

Magraw, D. W., 754. 

Mahler, Francis, 503. 

Maish, Levi, 744. 

Majilton, A. L., 933. 

Mark, John M., 722. 

Markoe, John, 692. 

Mason and Dixon's Line, 25. 

Massachusetts, 6th, 127. 

McCall, Geo. A., 143, 624. 

McCalmont, A. B., 623. 

McCalmont, J. S., 752. 

McCandless, A. G., SI. 

McCandless, Wm„ 707. 

McCauslaud, Gen., 369. 

McClellan, Geo. B., 151. 

McClure, Alex. K., 154, 169. 

McClure, Win. M., 930. 

McClurg, Joseph, 1041. 

McCormick, C. C., 934. 

McCoy, D. W. C. 655. 

McCoy, T. F., 870. 

McCrearv, D. B., S24. 

McDonald, Edmund, 119. 

McDowell, Irwin, 139. 

McFarland, Geo. F., 229. 

Mcintosh, John B., 694. 

McKean, H. B., 832. 

McKeen, H. B., 500. 

Mc Ken nan, Wra,, 88. 

MeKnight, Amor A., 411. 

McKnight. Robt., 27. 

McLane, J. W., 423. 

McLean, Geo. P., 939. 

McLean, Joseph A., 4S5. 

McNeil, Hugh W., 481. 

McPherson, Edward, 989. 

Meade, Geo. G., 186, 193, 197, 
198, 199, 205, 233, 242, 245, 
251, 254, 255, 26S, 296, 322, 
330, 341, Life, 590. 

Meredith, S. A., 647. 

Meredith, Win. H., SS. 

Merrick, Geo. W., 861. 

Miftlin, Gen., 41. 

Miles, David, 834. 

Miles, Dixon H., 149. 

Miles, John B., 493. 

Milroy, R. H., 165. 

Miller, James, 484. 

Miller, James, 951. 

Mintzer, Wm. M., 723. 

Missouri Compromise, 56. 

Mobile Advertiser, 79. 

«*fct. 1104. 



Moore, Frank, 1009. 
Moore, J. W., 490. 
Moore, Mrs. Hannah, 1017. 
Moorhead, J. K., 82. 
Morgan, A. S. M., 649. 
Morgan, John, 363. 
Morris, David, Jr., 586. 
Morris, D. B., 942. 
Morris, Gov., 40. 
Morris, Robert, Jr., 575. 
Moultrie, Fort, 83. 
Mulholland, S. A., 709. 
Murray, Wm. G., 541. 
Musser, John D., 547. 

Nagle, Daniel, 946. 
Nagle, James, 927. 
Napoleon, 974. 
Nebinger, Dr. A., 1035. 
Negley, James S., 134, 949. 
Neill,'Thos. H., 740. 
Newton, John, 296. 
New York Herald, 183, 977, 

1055. 
Nicholson, John P., 766. 
Nicolay, 93. 
Niles' "Register, 76. 
Nisbet, Chas., 33. 
Normal Schools, 35. 
Nowlen, Garrett, 492. 
Nullification, 49. 

Oakford, R. A., 450. 
O'Brien, E., 873. 
O'Kane, Dennis, 548. 
Opp, Milton, 529. 
Orr, Robert L., 720. 
Orwig, B. M., 953. 
Our Country's Call, 157. 
Overton, Ed., Jr., 878. 
Owen, J. T., 805. 

Packer, Gov., 85. 
Palmer, Speaker, 101, 102. 
Palmer, Wm. J., 904. 
Palm, P. R., 1096. 
Paoli Massacre, 41. 
Parsons, John E., 314, 836. 
Patterson, F. E., 133. 
Patterson, R., 128, 132, 135, 

Life, 953. 
Patterson, R. H., 81. 
Pearce, H. W., 1034. 
Pemberton, Gen., 121. 
Perm, John, 40. 
Penn, Wm., 22, 75. 
Pennsylvania, 19, 24, 27, 29, 31, 

36, 44. 
Pennsylvania R. R. Co., 966. 
Pennypacker, G., 896. 
Penrose, Wni. M., 604. 
Petersburg Mine, 1047. 
Petroleum, 22. 
Philadelphia, 27, 94. 
Phillips, J. W., 766. 
Pilgrims, 32. 

Piukerton, Detective, 105. 
Pipe Creek, 199. 
Pittsburg, 84, 94. 
Pleasanton, A., 163, t 

272. 
Pleasants, Henry. ' 
^''inimer *~ ' jis. 



Populations of States by de- 
cades, 52. 
Porter, F. J., 135. 
Potter, R. B., 1049. 
Press, 174, 183, 383. 
Prevost, Chas. M., 784. 
Price, H. D., 1083. 
Price, I., 874. 
Price, R. B., 800. 
Pryor, R. A., 89. 
Purviance, Harry A., 498. 

Quakers persecuted, 29. 
Quay, Matthew S., 681. 

Rauch, E. H., 98. 
Raymond, H. J., 107. 
Read, T. Buchanan, 1032. 
Rees, Henry, 1054. 
Reid, Whitelaw, 289. 
Reisinger, J. W. H., 884. 
Reno, Marcus A., 728. 
Reserve Corps, 143. 
Reynolds, John F., 151, 164, 

195, 204. 209, 212, 231, 233, 

Life, 46^ 
Richmond Examiner, 118, 277. 
Rickards, Wm., 930, 1094. 
Ricketts, R. B., 285, 780. 
Rippey, O. H., 501. 
Ritner, Gov., 35. 
Roberts, Joseph, 645. 
Roberts, R. B., 827. 
Roberts, R. P., 505. 
Roberts, Thos. F., 1084. 
Robinson, Wm., 81. 
Robinson, Wm. A., 72S. 
Rodgers, John, 1044. 
Rodman, Lieut., 1043. 
Rogers, I., 8S3. 
Rose, Thos. E., 862, 1058. 
Ross, Anna M., 1035. 
Round Top, 1S9. 
Rowe, D. W., 746. 
Rowley, Thos. A., 215, 791. 
Rudd, H. F., 1043. 
Ruflin, Edmund, 89, 116. 
Ruhl, N. G., 948. 
Russia, 974. 
Ryan, James F., 757. 

" Sallie," 1098. 
Scandlin, W. G., 347. 
Schall, Edwin, 458. 
Schemmelfinnig, A., 226, 643. 
Schenck, Robt. C, 161, 184, 197. 
Schneck, Dr., 372. 
Schools, Supt. of, 958, 9S2. 
Schwenk, S. K., 905. 
Scotch-Irish, 32. 
Scott, Thomas A., 197. 
Scott, Winfield, 73, 105, 109, 

129, 132, 135, 137. 
S*d£jwick, J., 205, 979. 
'<ridge, J. L., 801. 
'■>er, J. B., 119. 
ary Rid^e, 188. 
.rd Wm. H., 104, 1020. 
i.ciftesbury, Earl of, 1005. 
haler, Judge Chas., 81. 
Sharp, J. McDowell, 173. 
Sheafer, H. J., 821. 
Sherman, John, 132. 




1116 



GENERAL INDEX TO PROPER NAMES. 



Sherman's Battery, 75. 
Ship Island, 82. 
Shippen, Joseph, 1019. 
Shock, M. L., 1086. 
Shorkley, George, 742. 
Shryoek", John K., 374. 
Sickel, H. G., 844. 
Sickles, Dan. E., 205, 239, 255, 

269, 275, 280. 
Silver Wave, 80. 
Simmons, Seneca G., 117, 406. 
Simpson, C. R., 81. 
Simpson, Edward, 82. 
Sirwell, Win, 931. 
Slave Representation, 55. 
Slemmer, A. J., 72. 
Slifer, Secretary Eli, 120. 
Slocum, Gen., 199, 205, 241, 244, 

251, 287, 337. 
Small, Wm. F., 125, 879. 
Smith, Chas F., 574. 
Smith, Dr. George, 35. 
Smith, E. L., 121. 
Smith, Geo. F., 942. 
Smith, N. M., 725. 
Smith, William, 33. 
Smith, Wm. F., 196,365. 
Snyder, Abraham H., 493. 
Soldiers' Orphans, 963. 
South Carolina Exposition, 49, 

88. 
Spangler's Spring, 230, 283. 
Speakman, F. B., 936. 
Spear, Geo. C., 533. 
Stainrook, II. J., 528. 
Stanton, Edwin M., 73, 83, Life, 

976. 
Starr, James, 654. 
Steiner, Dr., 349. 
Steinwehr, A. Von, 224, 229. 
Stephens, Alex. S., 63, 69. 
Stevens' Battery, 285. 
Stevens, Gen., Death of, 1106. 
Stevens, Thaddeus, 35, 9S1. 
Stone, Roy, 215, 219, 227, 855. 
Stratton. F. A., 921. 
Straw-bridge, D. W. C, 719. 
Strawbridge, Samuel I)., 721. 
Struthers, Mrs. W., 1U36. 
Stuart, Geo. H., 1003. 
Stuart, J. E. B., 165, 190. 
Stumbaugh, F. S., SSI. 
Sully, Alfred, 739. 
Sumner, C, 75. 
Sumter, Fort, S3, 117. 



Swamp Angel, 1089. 
Swart/welder, Mr., 82. 
Swedes and Finns, 23. 
Sweitzer, J. B., 913. 
Swinton, Wm., 202. 
Sykes, G., 205, 263. 

Taggart, J. H., 919. 
Talk-v, W. C., 926. 
Tapper, Thos. F. B., 722. 
Tariff of 1828, 49. 
Taylor, Bayard, 360. 
Tavlor, Chas. F., 433. 
Taylor, John P., 929. 
Tearney, James, 864. 
Telegraph, Harrisburg, 97. 
Texas, Admission of, 59. 
Thomas, Geo. II., 134. 
Thomas, P. F., 73. 
Thompson, Jacob, 73. 
Thompson, Robert, 685. 
Thomson, J. M., 919. 
Thorpe, T. B., 978. 
Tilghman, B. C, 934. 
Tippin, A. H., 621. 
Todd, L., 3S0, 745. 
Totten, W. J., 1042. 
Town, G. W., 491. 
Town, Thos. J., 724. 
Treaty-tree, 29. 
Trist, N. P., 109. 
Troxell, E. S., 754. 
Tschudv, Martin, 547. 
Tyndale, Hector, 859. 

Union Volunteer Refreshment 

Saloon, 1023. 
University of Pennsylvania, 33. 

Van Buren, Martin, 62. 
Vincent, Strong, 265, 431. 
Virginia Legislature, Resolves 
of, 88. 

Wade, Jenny, 1109. 
Wade, Mary B., 1032. 
Wade, N. K., 104-5. 
Wade, William, 1042. 
Wagner, Louis, 924. 
Wakefield, A. W., 805. 
Walker, Rebel Sec., W., 118. 
Walking Purchase, 29. 
Ward, Dr. Eliab, 1024. 
Ward, Gen., 261. 



Warner, A. J., 885. 

Warren, G. K., 194, 229, 243, 

251, 263. 
Warren, H. N., 689. 
Washington, Geo., 38, 74, 95, 

103. 
Watkins, Guy H., 456. 
Wayne, Anthony, 41. 
Weaver, Jas. F., 823. 
Webster, Daniel, 49. 
Weehawken, 1044. 
Weed, Gen., 268. 
Welsh, Thos., 581. 
West India Company, Dutch, 

Swedish, 23. 
Westminster, 196. 
Wetherill, John M., 755. 
Wheatfield, The, 280. 
Whelan II. C, 578. 
White, Harry, 1059. 
White, Thomas, 88. 
Whittier, John G., 149. 
Wigfall, 107. 
Wilcox, V. M., 718. 
Wilkes' Spirit, 980. 
Wilkins, William, 81. 
Willauer, S. G., 932. 
Williams, Gen., 289, 194. 
Wills, David, 351. 
Wilmot, David, 59, 88. 
Wilson, Edwin C, 79. 
Wilson, Jos. H., 580. 
Wilson, Mavor, 81, 91. 
Winger, B. F., 826. 
Winslow, Robt. E., 928. 
Wistar, I. J., 777. 
Wister, L., 221, 227, 659. 
Wolf, Gov., 35, 982. 
Wolf Hill, 189. 
Woodward, E. Morrison, 798. 
Woodward, O. S., 881. 
Woolworth, R. H., 444. 
Wren, James, 119. 
Wyoming Massacre, 42. 

Yeager, Thomas, 119. 
Young, S. B. M., 690. 

Zeigle, Thos. A., 578. 
Zeiu'ler, Edwin E., 889. 
Zeigler's Grove, 189, 249. 
Zell, T. E, 797. 
Zinn, Henry I., 441. 
Zulick, S. M., 789. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




005 803 305 4 



VBmHH 



M 



8M 




■ 






